Last Updated on September 15, 2026
With everyone having smartphones on them 24×7, we tend to take more pictures than we need to and for the most part, many of these photos stay on our phones and nobody ever sees them. But if you are the type who likes to share, print or edit your photos then you may find that you want to add a border to a certain picture to add some style to it.
There are many photo editing programs that you can use to enhance and edit your pictures. Some of them are free and some of them can be quite expensive. If you just want to add a simple border to a picture in Windows, you can easily do so without using any additional software.
The app we will be using to add a border to a picture is called the Snipping Tool and it comes built into Windows. The Snipping Tool is used to take screenshots on your computer and can also be used to record videos of your screen. It even has an OCR function which you may find useful. You can find it under your apps on the Start menu or by searching for Snipping Tool in the Windows taskbar search box.
1. Open the Snipping Tool Settings
Once you have the Snipping Tool open, simply go to the ellipsis at the upper right corner of the app. Click those three dots to open the drop-down menu. Select Settings from that menu to access the configuration options for your screenshots. This area controls exactly how the tool handles your new images.
2. Enable the Border Feature
Scroll down through the available options until you find the specific toggle for image borders. Next, you will need to enable the setting that says Add border to each screenshot. Flip the switch to the On position to activate this visual effect. The tool will immediately reveal additional customization choices right below the toggle.
3. Customize Your Border Style
You can then choose the border thickness and color from these settings. Click on the color block to open a spectrum picker and select the exact shade you want for your image frame. Drag the thickness slider left or right to make the outline as thin or thick as you prefer.
4. Open and Save Your Picture
Once you have these settings configured, you can go back to the ellipsis and choose Open file and browse for the photo you want to add a border to. When you open the photo, the border will automatically be added to the image. Then you can click the Save as button and save the picture with a new name or overwrite the current file.
5. View Your Final Results
Now when you open your photo in your default photo viewer app, it will have the new border around the picture. The image is permanently modified and ready for you to print or share online. This quick process saves you from needing to buy heavy graphic design software just for a simple frame.
6. Disable the Setting for Future Screenshots
One thing to keep in mind when using the Snipping Tool to add a border to a picture in Windows is how it affects future captures. If you use the app to take screenshots, they will automatically have the border added to them. You must go back in the settings and disable the Add border to each screenshot setting if you want clean screenshots again.
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