The fastest way to take a screenshot on an original ASUS ROG Ally or ROG Ally X is to hold M1 or M2 and press A. You can also use the Command Center, Windows Snipping Tool, Xbox Game Bar, or Windows + Print Screen with a keyboard. The save location depends on the method: Game Bar captures normally go to Videos > Captures, while Windows + Print Screen saves to Pictures > Screenshots.
These instructions apply to the original Windows 11-based ROG Ally family, including the RC71 series, and the ROG Ally X, commonly associated with the RC72 series, using Armoury Crate SE. They do not automatically apply to the newer ROG Xbox Ally models, whose controls and software interface can differ. ASUS documents the separate product families in its Armoury Crate SE documentation.
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How to Take a Screenshot on the ASUS ROG Ally: 5 Ways
Quick answer
For the fastest controller-only screenshot: hold M1 or M2, then press A.
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ASUS says this invokes the ROG Ally’s built-in screenshot function through Xbox Game Bar. The resulting image normally appears in:
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C:Users<your-username>VideosCaptures
If you use Windows + Print Screen with a keyboard, look instead in:
C:Users<your-username>PicturesScreenshots
ASUS identifies the M1/M2 shortcut and Command Center control as the two ROG Ally-specific capture methods. The other options below are Windows features that are useful when you need a selected area, a different workflow, or a fallback.
Which screenshot method should you use?
| Method | Controller-only? | Capture type | Normal location | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M1/M2 + A | Yes | Game or app capture | Videos > Captures | Fast gameplay screenshots |
| Command Center tile | Yes | Game or app capture | Videos > Captures | A visible control |
| Windows + Shift + S | Touchscreen plus virtual keyboard | Region, window, or full screen | Save from Snipping Tool | Desktop and partial captures |
| Xbox Game Bar | Usually needs a virtual or physical keyboard | Active game or app | Videos > Captures | Microsoft’s gaming overlay |
| Windows + Print Screen | Usually needs a physical or virtual keyboard | Full screen | Pictures > Screenshots | Automatic full-screen saves |
1. Hold M1 or M2 and press A
Best for: capturing a gameplay moment without touching the screen.
- Open the game or content you want to capture.
- Hold either rear button, M1 or M2.
- While holding it, press A.
- Release the buttons and wait for the capture notification.
- Open File Explorer > Home Folder > Videos > Captures to find the PNG file.
This is the default ROG Ally screenshot shortcut documented by ASUS, but it is not completely independent of software configuration. A remapped rear button, a game-specific profile, disabled secondary functions, a malfunctioning Armoury Crate SE installation, or disabled Xbox Game Bar can prevent it from working.
2. Use the Command Center’s Take Screenshot tile
Best for: taking a screenshot when you prefer a visible touchscreen control.
Rank #2
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
- Press the ROG Ally’s Command Center button.
- Find Take Screenshot.
- Tap the tile on the touchscreen.
- Wait for the capture notification.
- Open Videos > Captures in File Explorer.
If Take Screenshot is missing
- Open Armoury Crate SE.
- Go to Settings.
- Select Edit Command Center.
- Add Take Screenshot to the layout.
- Reopen Command Center and tap the new tile.
Menu names and media-gallery screens can vary with Armoury Crate SE versions. Use the folder location as the reliable way to retrieve the file rather than assuming every Ally displays an identical gallery.
3. Use Windows Snipping Tool with Windows + Shift + S
Best for: capturing part of the desktop, a particular window, a settings screen, or a menu.
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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →On a touchscreen-only Ally, open the Windows on-screen keyboard first. Tap the taskbar keyboard icon if it is visible, or open the on-screen keyboard through Windows. Then:
- Press and hold Windows on the virtual keyboard.
- Press Shift, then S.
- Choose rectangular, window, full-screen, or freeform capture.
- Drag over the area you want, select a window, or choose the full screen.
- Tap the Snipping Tool notification or open Snipping Tool.
- Edit or annotate the image, then save it manually.
Microsoft documents Windows + Shift + S as the shortcut for opening the Snipping Tool capture overlay. The screen may dim while you select an area. Unlike Game Bar captures, a snip is initially copied into Snipping Tool and is not necessarily saved automatically to Videos > Captures.
This method is more flexible than the ASUS shortcut but slower during fast gameplay and awkward to operate with only touchscreen controls.
Rank #3
- [Xbox experience brought to life by ROG] : The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- [Xbox Game Bar integration] : Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- [All your games, all your progress]: Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- [Never stop gaming]: Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- [Game-ready storage and fast memory]: Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 1TB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
4. Use Xbox Game Bar
Best for: capturing the active game or application through Microsoft’s gaming overlay.
Keyboard shortcut
With an external keyboard connected, open the game or app and press:
Windows + Alt + Print Screen
Microsoft says this captures the active game or app and saves a PNG in Videos > Captures.
Game Bar interface
- Press Windows + G using a physical or on-screen keyboard.
- Open the Capture widget.
- Select the camera or screenshot control.
- Close Game Bar and open Videos > Captures.
Xbox Game Bar must be enabled for this method and for the Ally’s ASUS screenshot function. In Windows Settings, search for Xbox Game Bar and enable it. The exact Settings path can vary between Windows builds.
Although Game Bar can be opened with the virtual keyboard, the shortcut is not a controller-only solution. For controller-only use, the M1/M2 shortcut or Command Center tile is more practical.
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Best for: Ally owners using a Bluetooth, USB, or dock-connected keyboard who want an automatically saved full-screen image.
- Connect a physical keyboard.
- Display the content you want to capture.
- Press Windows + Print Screen.
- Open Pictures > Screenshots.
Microsoft identifies this shortcut and its normal destination in its Print Screen support documentation. It captures the entire display, not a selected region.
The on-screen keyboard may or may not expose a convenient PrtScn key depending on the Windows keyboard layout and interface. Do not rely on finding one. If it is unavailable, use the ASUS methods, Snipping Tool, or an external keyboard.
Where ROG Ally screenshots are saved
| Capture method | Where to look | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| M1/M2 + A | Videos > Captures | Normally a PNG created through Xbox Game Bar |
| Command Center | Videos > Captures | Normally a PNG created through the ASUS/Game Bar capture function |
| Xbox Game Bar | Videos > Captures | PNG files for game or app captures |
| Windows + Print Screen | Pictures > Screenshots | Full-screen image saved automatically |
| Snipping Tool | Wherever you save it | Initially copied into Snipping Tool; save manually |
If you cannot find a capture, check both:
C:Users<your-username>VideosCaptures C:Users<your-username>PicturesScreenshotsIndependent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.
Troubleshooting
M1/M2 + A does nothing
- Try the Take Screenshot tile in Command Center.
- Open Armoury Crate SE and inspect the active game profile.
- Verify that M1 or M2 still has its secondary function enabled and has not been remapped.
- Add the screenshot tile through Settings > Edit Command Center.
- Search Windows Settings for Xbox Game Bar and enable it.
- Use Snipping Tool as a Windows fallback.
Reinstalling Armoury Crate SE should be a later step, not the first response. ASUS discusses reinstalling it as a way to restore certain missing desktop-mode functions in its support guidance.
The screenshot notification appears, but the file is missing
Check the method’s expected folder. Game Bar and ASUS captures normally use Videos > Captures; Windows + Print Screen uses Pictures > Screenshots; Snipping Tool captures must be saved from the app.
Best Value
- XBOX EXPERIENCE BROUGHT TO LIFE BY ROG The Xbox gaming legacy meets ROG's decades of premium hardware design in the ROG Xbox Ally. Boot straight into the Xbox experience just like a console.
- XBOX GAME BAR INTEGRATION Launch Game Bar with a tap of the Xbox button or play your favorite titles natively from platforms like Xbox Game Pass, Steam, Epic Games, or Windows games on the go.
- ALL YOUR GAMES, ALL YOUR PROGRESS Powered by Windows 11, the ROG Xbox Ally gives you access to your full library of PC games from Xbox and other game stores. With Xbox Play Anywhere, you can pick up right where you left off on your PC or Xbox and jump back into the game anytime.
- NEVER STOP GAMING Powered by ultra-efficient AMD Ryzen Z2 A processor, the ROG Xbox Ally offers console-caliber performance and can game for hours, even away from a wall outlet.
- GAME-READY STORAGE AND FAST MEMORY Store your full library and multitask seamlessly with 512GB SSD and 16GB of LPDDR5 6400MHz RAM. The ROG Xbox Ally makes playing any game in the palm of your hand possible.
The capture shows the desktop instead of the game
Snipping Tool can capture the entire desktop or a selected region, while Game Bar is intended for the active game or app. Full-screen modes, overlays, protected content, and unusual rendering modes can affect the result. Try the other capture method, or use Snipping Tool to capture the visible game window.
The screenshot is black or incomplete
Some games use protected or unusual rendering paths, and third-party overlays can conflict with Xbox Game Bar. Try switching between the ASUS/Game Bar method and Snipping Tool, changing the game’s fullscreen mode, or capturing the game window instead of the entire screen.
The interface does not match these instructions
Confirm that the device is an original ROG Ally or ROG Ally X. The newer ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X use an Xbox-oriented interface and different button arrangements, so their controls should not be assumed to match these instructions. Windows 11’s Xbox full-screen mode is also a separate supported feature; Microsoft says it applies to Windows 11 version 24H2 or later in supported markets, but it is not required for the original Armoury Crate workflow.
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Bonus: Steam screenshots
Steam games can use Steam’s own screenshot workflow and screenshot library. This is useful when you want the image associated with Steam rather than stored only as a Windows capture. Its behavior depends on the Steam overlay and the game’s input profile, so the exact shortcut may differ or be remapped. See Steam’s screenshot support page for the current client-specific help.
Steam screenshots are separate from Windows’ Videos > Captures and Pictures > Screenshots folders, so use Steam’s own library or support instructions when locating them.
Quick Recap
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