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For a general Windows 11 screen pixel, use Microsoft PowerToys Color Picker: enable it in PowerToys Settings, press Win+Shift+C by default, point at the pixel, and select it. PowerToys copies HEX by default; you can display and copy other configured formats, including RGB and HSL-related values, in its editor.
Windows 11’s Snipping Tool also has a Color picker, but Microsoft’s current support page limits that feature to Copilot+ PCs. If it is not available on your PC, PowerToys is the general-purpose alternative.
Key takeaways
- PowerToys Color Picker is Microsoft’s documented general screen-sampling option for Windows.
- Its default shortcut is Win+Shift+C, and its default clipboard format is HEX.
- PowerToys supports configurable formats, including RGB and HSL-related values, and an editor for reviewing and copying them.
- Microsoft says PowerToys keeps a history of up to 20 picked colors. [Microsoft Learn]
- Snipping Tool Color picker may be convenient, but current Microsoft Support documentation says it is available only on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs.
- PowerToys does not currently support wide color gamut or HDR color formats.
Which Windows 11 color picker should you use?
Use PowerToys for a general screen pixel or when you need configurable formats and an editor. Try Snipping Tool’s Color picker if your Windows 11 device is eligible and the feature appears in the capture toolbar.
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| Option | Availability | Setup and workflow | Formats and tools |
|---|---|---|---|
| PowerToys Color Picker | General Windows screen-sampling option | Install PowerToys, enable Color Picker, then use the configured shortcut; the default is Win+Shift+C | HEX by default; configurable formats, editor, fine-tuning, and color history |
| Snipping Tool Color picker | Microsoft Support currently says Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs only | Open the Snipping Tool capture toolbar and select Color picker if available | Microsoft’s July 2025 announcement describes HEX, RGB, and HSL output and zoom controls |
Microsoft’s July 2025 Windows Experience Blog announced the Snipping Tool picker for all Windows 11 PCs, but current Microsoft Support documentation gives narrower Copilot+ PC eligibility. Because the current support page controls present-day instructions, do not assume the feature is available on every Windows 11 device. [Microsoft Support] [Windows Experience Blog]
How do you find the HEX code of a pixel in Windows 11?
Enable PowerToys Color Picker, activate it, and select the pixel. HEX is the default clipboard format. Microsoft describes Color Picker as a utility that picks colors from any screen and copies them to the clipboard in configurable formats. [Microsoft Learn: PowerToys Color Picker]
Set up PowerToys Color Picker
- Install and open Microsoft PowerToys using a Microsoft-linked installation method.
- Open PowerToys Settings.
- Select Color Picker in the sidebar.
- Enable the utility and check its activation shortcut. The default is Win+Shift+C; you can configure another shortcut and activation behavior.
Sample and copy a screen color
- Display the image, application, or other screen content containing the target pixel.
- Press Win+Shift+C, unless you configured another shortcut.
- Point at the target area. Scroll to zoom if you need to inspect a small detail.
- Left-click to select the color and open the editor. A scroll-wheel click selects the color and closes the picker; right-click closes it without copying.
- Read or copy the selected value in the editor. The selected value is copied in the configured default format, HEX by default.
For a non-hover style on a webpage, Microsoft advises moving the pointer close to, but not over, the element. Scroll up to zoom and freeze the image, then select the color in the enlarged area. [Microsoft Learn]
How do you get RGB values from a screen pixel?
Pick the pixel with PowerToys, then display or copy an RGB format from the editor. PowerToys supports configurable formats and custom format parameters for color channels, so the exact punctuation and syntax depend on the format you enable.
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Enable and copy RGB output
- Open PowerToys Settings > Color Picker.
- Review the configured color formats and enable an RGB format or add a custom one.
- Pick the pixel and open the editor if it is not already open.
- Copy the RGB representation shown for the selected color.
Check the active format in settings rather than assuming every installation uses the same RGB string.
How do you get HSL values from a screen pixel?
Pick the color with PowerToys and use an enabled HSL-related format in the editor. PowerToys supports custom format parameters for hue, saturation, and lightness; the exact displayed syntax depends on the configured format. [Microsoft Learn]
- Open PowerToys Settings > Color Picker.
- Enable or add an HSL-related format.
- Pick the screen pixel again and open the editor.
- Copy the displayed value, checking its format before pasting it into another application.
What does the PowerToys Color Picker editor do?
The editor lets you review, fine-tune, and copy picked colors in the formats enabled in settings. Microsoft Learn says the editor history holds up to 20 picked colors; it also documents fine-tuning controls for HSV, RGB, and HEX. [Microsoft Learn]
How do you use Snipping Tool’s Color picker?
First check whether the feature is available on your PC: Microsoft Support currently says Snipping Tool’s Color picker is only available on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs. On an eligible device, open the Snipping Tool capture toolbar, select Color picker, select a screen color, and copy the value. Microsoft’s July 2025 announcement describes HEX, RGB, or HSL output and zooming with the mouse wheel or Ctrl plus/minus. [Microsoft Support] [Windows Experience Blog]
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The 2025 announcement said the feature was added for all Windows 11 PCs, while the current support page limits availability to Copilot+ PCs. Follow the current support eligibility statement; if Color picker is missing, use PowerToys instead.
What is the difference between a rendered pixel and a source color?
A screen picker selects the color rendered under the pointer. That value may differ from an original image value or a webpage’s CSS declaration when the displayed result has been affected by opacity, antialiasing, scaling, or other rendering and display processing.
| What you need | Recommended approach | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Copy a color visible on screen | PowerToys Color Picker | It picks screen colors and copies them in configurable formats. |
| Get HEX, RGB, or HSL using Snipping Tool | Use Color picker if it is available on your Copilot+ PC | Current Microsoft Support documentation limits eligibility to Copilot+ PCs. |
| Sample a small detail without selecting a nearby hover state | PowerToys zoom workflow | Microsoft advises moving near, not over, the element, then zooming before selecting. |
Why is PowerToys Color Picker not working?
Check the shortcut and activation behavior in settings, and consider the content being sampled. Microsoft documents that wide color gamut and HDR color formats are not currently supported. [Microsoft Learn]
The shortcut does nothing
Confirm Color Picker is enabled and that you are using its configured shortcut. The default is Win+Shift+C, but it can be changed in PowerToys Settings.
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The sample does not match an HDR or wide-gamut source
PowerToys does not currently support wide color gamut or HDR color formats. Do not treat its result as a guaranteed value in those wider color spaces.
The sampled color is not what you expected
Confirm that you selected the intended screen area, zoom in if needed, and account for the difference between a rendered pixel and an underlying image or webpage value.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
What is the Windows 11 shortcut for PowerToys Color Picker?
The default shortcut is Win+Shift+C. You can change the shortcut in PowerToys Settings.
Does PowerToys copy HEX by default?
Yes. Microsoft documents HEX as the default clipboard format. Other formats can be configured and copied from the editor.
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Can Snipping Tool pick colors on every Windows 11 PC?
Do not assume so. Microsoft Support currently says its Color picker is available only on Windows 11 Copilot+ PCs, despite a broader availability claim in Microsoft’s July 2025 announcement.
Does PowerToys support HDR and wide-gamut colors?
Microsoft says wide color gamut and HDR color formats are not currently supported by PowerToys Color Picker.
How many colors does the PowerToys editor keep in its history?
Microsoft Learn says the editor history holds up to 20 picked colors. [Microsoft Learn]
For a general Windows 11 screen pixel, enable PowerToys Color Picker, press Win+Shift+C, and select the pixel; HEX is copied by default. Use the editor for configured RGB or HSL-related values, and use Snipping Tool’s Color picker only if it is available on your Copilot+ PC.
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