In short
Make sure nothing is selected, press Alt+1 and drag a box around the part of the screen you mean. Zack KI opens with that area attached as an image, and you ask your question. Use it for error messages, charts, forms and apps whose text you cannot select.
- Shortcut
- Alt+1 with nothing selected (can be changed)
- What you capture
- A screen area you drag out with the Windows snipping tool
- Cancel
- Esc in the snipping tool; Zack KI does not open
Step by step
- Click an empty spot so that no text and no file is selected.
- Press Alt+1. Because nothing is selected, the Windows snipping tool opens.
- Drag a box around the area you want to ask about, for example the error dialog.
- Zack KI opens with the area attached as an image. Type your question, for example “What does this error mean and what should I try first?”, and press Enter.
- To cancel instead, press Esc in the snipping tool. Zack KI stays closed and you are back in your app.
What can I ask about a screenshot?
Anything you can see but cannot copy as text. For example:
- An error dialog: “What does this error mean, and how do I fix it?”
- A chart in a report: “Which month had the lowest value, and how big was the drop?”
- A form or settings page: “Which of these fields do I need for a private customer?”
- A program whose text Zack KI cannot read. Zack KI then shows “This app can't be read. Use a screenshot or paste the content here.” A snip of the window works instead.
Keep the box tight. A crop around the dialog or table leaves the AI less to guess than a whole screen, and large images are scaled down before they are sent, so small print in a full-screen capture can become hard to read.
How do I add a screenshot to a chat that is already open?
Alt+1 always starts a new chat. To add an image to the conversation you are in, press Win+Shift+S, drag the area, click into the Zack KI input field and press Ctrl+V. You can also drag image files into the window.
Which settings change the screen capture?
Open “Settings” (the gear icon) in the Zack KI title bar:
- “General” → “Context capture” → “Capture screen if nothing is selected”: turn it off if Alt+1 should open an empty chat instead of the snipping tool.
- “Advanced” → “System and startup” → “Screenshot method”: “System” uses the Windows snipping tool, “Overlay” uses Zack KI’s own area selection. If the Windows tool cannot be started, Zack KI uses its overlay automatically.
- Alt+2 always opens a new chat without reading a selection or taking a screenshot.
What happens to the screenshot?
Before you send, the image sits in the input area as an attachment. If you caught the wrong area, remove it with “Remove context”.
When you send, the image goes with your question to the model provider, like any other attachment. It is saved with the chat on your PC; the Zack servers do not store it. More in what happens to your data.
AI can misread small print and chart values. Check numbers against the original before you rely on them.
Related questions
Why does Alt+1 take my text instead of the screen?
Alt+1 takes selected text or files first and opens the snipping tool only when nothing is selected. Clear the selection, or press Win+Shift+S and paste the snip into the chat with Ctrl+V.
Does it work with my own API key?
Yes, if the model you chose accepts images. Otherwise Zack KI says that the model does not accept image context and asks you to choose a model with vision support.