Retaining Alt-Print Screen for Active Window Snapshotting in Evernote/Skitch

As a frequent user of the Evernote and Skitch combination, I have grown accustomed to using the Alt-Print Screen key combination to capture a snapshot of the current window. However, with the latest version of Evernote for Windows, this key combination now opens up Skitch instead of copying a snapshot of the current window to the Clipboard. While I appreciate the convenience of having Skitch integrated into Evernote, I would like to retain the Alt-Print Screen combo for active window snapshotting.

Fortunately, there is a solution to this issue. Although Evernote does not provide an option to disable this feature in its settings, you can edit your registry to restore the Alt-Print Screen combo’s original function. Before proceeding, please note that editing your registry can be risky and may cause unintended consequences. Therefore, I recommend making a backup of your registry before attempting these steps.

To disable the HotkeyCreateNewSkitchNote feature and retain the Alt-Print Screen combo for active window snapshotting, follow these steps:

1. Close Evernote entirely before proceeding.

2. Open your Registry Editor by searching for it in the Start menu.

3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Evernote\Skitch

4. Look for a value named HotkeyCreateNewSkitchNote. You should find it under the right-hand side of the window.

5. Double-click on the HotkeyCreateNewSkitchNote value to edit its properties.

6. Change the value data from 12c to 0 (zero). This will disable the hot-key combo and restore the Alt-Print Screen function for active window snapshotting.

7. Close the Registry Editor and restart Evernote.

After completing these steps, you should be able to use the Alt-Print Screen combination again to capture a snapshot of the current window in Evernote. Note that this method only disables the HotkeyCreateNewSkitchNote feature for the current user; if you want to apply this change to all users on your system, you will need to modify the registry accordingly.

In conclusion, while the integration of Skitch into Evernote is a useful feature, it should not come at the expense of the Alt-Print Screen combo’s original function. By following these steps, you can restore the Alt-Print Screen combo’s original purpose and continue to use Evernote and Skitch together seamlessly. As always, please exercise caution when editing your registry and make sure to back up your registry before attempting any changes.