The crop shortcut key depends on the program. In Paint, select an area and press Ctrl + Shift + X to crop to it. In the Windows Photos app, Ctrl + E opens the editor, where the crop frame appears first. On a Mac, Preview crops a selection with Command + K.
If you only need part of the screen, skip cropping altogether: Win + Shift + S lets you drag a box around exactly the area you want, and the capture is already cropped.
Quick facts
Paint
Ctrl + Shift + XPhotos editor
Ctrl + ECapture an area
Win + Shift + SUndo a crop
Ctrl + ZMac Preview
Command + K
Crop shortcut key in each program
| Program | How to crop |
|---|---|
| Paint | Select, then Ctrl + Shift + X |
| Photos app | Ctrl + E, drag the corners, Save a copy |
| Snipping Tool | Win + Shift + S captures only the area you draw |
| Word and PowerPoint | Picture Format tab, Crop |
| Mac Preview | Select, then Command + K |
| Mac screenshots | Command + Shift + 4 captures an area |
Cropping removes the outer parts of a picture. It is different from resizing, which keeps the whole picture but makes it smaller.
Crop a photo in the Photos app
- Open the picture in Photos.
- Press Ctrl + E to open the editor; the crop frame is shown.
- Drag the corner handles, or choose a ratio such as square or 16:9 from the aspect menu.
- Click Save as copy to keep the original, or Save to replace it.
Saving a copy is the safer habit, because the original can then be cropped again differently later. The editor also straightens tilted photos with the rotation slider in the same crop view.
Crop pictures in Word and PowerPoint
Click the picture, open the Picture Format tab and click Crop. Black handles appear; drag them inward, then press Esc or click outside to finish. The cut parts are only hidden, so you can crop again to bring them back. To save space, use Compress Pictures and tick Delete cropped areas of pictures. Crop to Shape in the same menu turns a photo into a circle for profile pictures. Pressing Alt shows letter keys for each ribbon button if you prefer the keyboard.
Crop screenshots and on a Mac
For screen captures, cropping in the capture tool is fastest: after Win + Shift + S, the clip opens in Snipping Tool, which has its own crop button. On a Mac, Command + Shift + 4 draws an area, and in Preview you drag a selection and press Command + K. More capture options are in screenshot shortcut key and Mac screenshot shortcut.
When cropping does not work
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Crop greyed out in Paint | Make a selection first |
| Photo looks blurry after crop | A small area was enlarged; crop less tightly |
| File size did not shrink in Word | Compress Pictures with Delete cropped areas ticked |
| Cropped by mistake | Press Ctrl + Z, or reopen the original if you saved a copy |
Frequently asked questions
What is the crop shortcut key in Paint?
How do I crop in the Photos app?
Press Ctrl + E to open the editor and drag the corners.
Is there a crop shortcut in Word?
No default key; use the Crop button on the Picture Format tab.
How do I crop part of the screen?
Capture only that part with Win + Shift + S.
What is the crop shortcut on a Mac?
Does cropping in Word delete the hidden part?
Not until you compress with Delete cropped areas ticked.