The short answer : Shift + Win + S.
This will launch the Windows built-in snipping function, but not exactly the snipping tool. Windows 10 Creators Update is required, which should be already installed about 4 years ago.
Before this, I have tried to figure out an alternate short cut because the print screen button is not working. Windows 10 comes with a snipping tool. But launching it every time is not too convenient. Now, I am surprised there is such a handy hot key to capture part of the screen directly.
There is also a way to customize the hot key for the snipping tool actually. An extract from superuser.com forum below:
- Find your Snipping Tool shortcut (what you use to start the Snipping Tool manually). If you can not find the shortcut, you can make a shortcut from SnippingTool.exe (in theSystem32 folder).
- Right-click the shortcut and select properties.
- Select the Shortcut tab.
- Click inside the Shortcut key box, then hit the hotkey(s) you want. Note that you can not type the key you want.
More information can be found here : Is there a way to snip part of the screen with a hotkey?
Anyway, advanced users may just want to use a paid solution like Snagit.