Contents

Part 1: Use the Built-in Shortcut (The Fastest Way)
Part 2: Fix "Black Screen" to Use Print Screen Key
Part 3: The Best Way to Capture High-Quality Frames (Universal Method)
Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How to Capture Still Image from Video in Windows Media Player (Fix Black Screen)

Q: Question 1. How do you take a screenshot on Mac?

When you have the need to take a screenshot on Mac , you can simply press the Cmd + Shift + 3 keys together to capture the full Mac screen.

March 09, 2026Ashley Mae

Screenshot

Capturing a perfect moment from your favorite movie or saving critical information from a video is a common need. However, many users find that using the standard "Print Screen" key in Windows Media Player (WMP) results in a blank or black image.

This happens due to "Video Overlays" designed to hardware-accelerate playback. In this guide, we’ll show you proven ways to capture high-quality still images from WMP without the black screen glitch.

Part 1: Use the Built-in Shortcut (The Fastest Way)

To capture a still image from a video in Windows Media Player, you can rely on its built-in screenshot feature.

Step 1.

Press “Ctrl + I” while the video is playing or paused in WMP.

Step 2.

A "Save Captured Image" window will pop up, allowing you to choose a save path and filename.

This method works best with WMP-supported files like MPEG, MPEG2, and WMV. If your file is in a different format (like MKV or MP4), this shortcut might not trigger. For that video, you can also convert the video first before using this shortcut.

Part 2: Fix "Black Screen" to Use Print Screen Key

Windows offers you a Print Screen key to quickly capture a full-screen screenshot on computer. So, when you want to take a screenshot in Windows Media Player, you can also use it. But you must first disable Hardware Overlays. Here’s how to do it on Windwos 11:

Step 1.

Open Windows Media Player on Windows 11 and go to “Now Playing” > “More Options…”.

Step 2.

Click the “Performance” tab.

Step 3.

Unselect “Turn on DirectX Acceleration”.

Step 4.

Click “OK”.

Step 5.

Restart WMP for changes to take effect.

Step 6.

Now you can press “Alt + Print Screen” keys together to screenshot a video with ease. The keyboard shortcut will take a screenshot in Windows Media Player of the active window.

Remember to re-enable this setting after you are done to maintain optimal video playback performance for HD movies.

Part 3: The Best Way to Capture High-Quality Frames (Universal Method)

Whether you want to capture still image from video in Windows Media Player or screenshot on Windows 10/8/7 PC and Mac, you can rely on the free screenshot software, Screen Recorder. It is specially designed to record video/audio and capture screen. It allows you to free capture anything on computer screen with high image quality. You can free download ti and take the following guide to capture still image from video.

Downloads

Screen Recorder

Free capture still images from video in Windows Media Player.
Take a screenshot of your computer screen with high image quality.
Screenshot on computer with full screen, active window or customized region.
Take a screenshot and save it in any popular image format like JPG, PNG, HEIC, or GIF.
Powerful editing features to edit screenshot and add various elements to it.

Free DownloadFor Windows

100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor macOS

100% Secure. No Ads.

Step 1.

First, you need to free install and run this screenshot software on your computer. To free capture still images from video in Windows Media Player, you can choose the Screen Capture feature.

Step 2.

Now you can freely capture still images from the playing movie. As it mentioned above, it allows you to take a screenshot with entire screen, active window, or custom region.

Step 3.

After you take the screenshot, you can edit it and adjust its output image effect.

Step 4.

Click the Save button to save the screenshot in any popular image format like JPG/JPEG, PNG, HEIC, BMP, GIF, or TIFF. Besides the screenshot feature, it also has the capability to record online meetings, video/audio calls, lectures, gameplay, music and more. Just free download it and have a try.

Part 4: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Question 1. How do you take a screenshot on Mac?

When you have the need to take a screenshot on Mac, you can simply press the Cmd + Shift + 3 keys together to capture the full Mac screen.

Question 2. How to change the default screenshot location in Windows?

Open File Explorer and then select the Screenshots folder. Now you can enter its Properties window. Click the Location tab and then click Move… to select a new location for screenshots. By doing so, you can easily change the default screenshot location on your Windows PC.

Question 3. Where do I find my screenshots in Windows 10?

To find screenshot in Windows 10 computer, you can Open the File Explorer. Click the This PC in the left sidebar, and then choose the Pictures option. Now you can find a folder called Screenshots.

Conclusion

In summary, while Windows Media Player has evolved, the need to capture still images in WMP from video remains. Whether you are using the classic WMP or the new Windows 11 Media Player, the quickest fix for the "black screen" issue is switching to modern screenshot tools.

If you're looking for a one-stop solution to screenshot videos, record high-quality clips, or edit your captures on the fly, we highly recommend downloading Aiseesoft Screen Recorder. It's the most efficient way to handle all your screen capture needs across Windows and Mac.

Free DownloadFor macOS

100% Secure. No Ads.

Free DownloadFor Windows

100% Secure. No Ads.

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