They are downloaded and maintained from the Windows Store, which is safer than trying to figure out which download button to click on a website, and apps don’t come with unwanted additions. Windows Runtime apps have lots of advantages.

Microsoft is in the process of replacing old Win32 programs with apps written to a new programming interface called Windows Runtime, which was introduced with Windows 8 in 2012. The problem with Snipping Tool is that it’s a traditional desktop application: it dates back to the launch of Windows XP tablets in 2002, and was included in Vista in 2006. You may need to try a few to find one that meets your needs. However, there are more than 100 screen capture programs of various sorts, and there isn’t one that’s best for everyone. If it doesn’t do what you want, you can suggest improvements, while looking for a suitable alternative. The Snip & Sketch app is the intended replacement, and if you don’t have this month’s updated version of Windows, it’s available from the Windows Store.

On 27 June, in a note on a preview version of the next release (1809 AKA Redstone 5), Microsoft said: “Currently, we are not planning to remove the Snipping Tool in the next update to Windows 10 and the consolidation work underway will be a feedback and data-driven decision.” So, Snipping Tool has been reprieved, at least temporarily.

Greenshot vs snagit