All the Ways to Take Screenshots on Android
Screenshots are an important aspect of using your smartphone. If you see something interesting while playing, the quickest way to share it with a friend is usually to take a screenshot. But if you recently bought a new Android phone, and especially if you use an iPhone, you may not know how to take screenshots.
Unlike iPhones, which are made by Apple, Android phones are made by different manufacturers. You may be trying to figure out how to take a screenshot on your Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, OnePlus, Nokia, or Motorola: they all run Android, but each works with Android differently. Luckily, screenshot shortcuts are largely standardized, and the tips below should work on most modern Android devices.
If these general tips don’t help or you want to go deeper, find the manual for your specific phone to see all the ways you can take screenshots on it.
How to take a shared screenshot on Android
First try this: Press and release the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. If it works, you’ll see a flash on the screen and your screenshot will be minimized into a thumbnail. This gesture should work on most modern Android devices, including those from Google, Samsung, and OnePlus. It’s an evolution of the traditional shortcut, where you hold down the Home button (remember that?) and the Volume Down button.
The exact timing of pressing these buttons may vary from phone to phone, so experiment with your device. For example, the Pixel I have takes a screenshot when you quickly press and release these buttons together, but you may have to hold the buttons together for a second or more for it to work.
Another shortcut that works on some versions of Android is to hold down the power button until advanced options appear. If your phone and Android version support this, you should see a Screenshot option here.
How to take a screenshot using voice control
If you use voice control, your phone’s digital assistant will likely take a screenshot if you ask it to. For example, say “Hey Google, take a screenshot,” and the assistant will follow your lead. You can also summon your assistant by pressing a key—for example, long pressing the power button—and ask a question that way.
How to take a screenshot with a gesture on Android
Depending on your phone, you may be able to take a screenshot using a gesture. On the Pixel, for example, this option appears when you lift the bottom of the display, as if you were switching apps. When you do this, you should see a Screenshot option at the bottom of the screen for the app you’re hovering over. You can also do this with three-button controllers by pressing the Overview (square) button.
You can also use the Quick Tap feature to take screenshots. Quick Tap assigns a function on your phone that is activated by double-tapping the back of the device. To set this up, go to Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Touch , then turn on the switch next to Use Quick Touch . Take a screenshot should be the default option, but if not, select it. You can then quickly double-tap the back of the device with the index finger of the hand holding the phone. If everything is done correctly, a screenshot will appear.
On Galaxy phones, you can go to Settings > More features > Motions & Gestures , and then turn on Palm Swipe to Capture . Moving forward, you can swipe your palm across the display to take a screenshot.
How to take a screenshot using your Galaxy’s S Pen
If you have a Galaxy phone with an S Pen, you can take a screenshot using the stylus. To do this, take out the S Pen, tap the Air commands menu icon, and then tap Screen Recording to take a screenshot.
How to take a scrolling screenshot on Android
A scrolling screenshot (or full-page screenshot) shows the entire page you’re visiting, not just the portion of it that’s visible on screen. They are great for saving long pages, such as news articles.
If you know how to take a screenshot, you almost know how to take a scrolling screenshot. Start with a regular screenshot, then click the capture scroll button that appears next to the screenshot thumbnail. On Pixel it’s Capture more ; on Galaxy it’s Scroll Capture , and on OnePlus it’s Scroll .
Here’s how things work, at least on the Pixel: Android will open a new window, showing the entire page in one long image. The original screenshot appears in the cropping window: you can resize it to take a snapshot of any section of the page, or, most usefully, drag the bottom of the cropping window all the way down to take a snapshot of the entire page. Other smartphones may handle the details slightly differently, but the overall function should be the same.
How to view a recording on Android
If you want to record your phone’s screen, none of the above will help. You’ll want to use Quick Settings instead. To get started, swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap Screen Recording . Choose whether you want to record one app or the entire screen , then choose whether to record audio (and its source). If you selected Full Screen , choose whether to show touches on the screen or not (useful if you’re using screen recording to show someone how to do something). Then click Start Recording .
Your phone will count down from three and then begin recording. To stop recording, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap Stop .
If you don’t have this option, swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the pencil icon. Here, find Screen Recording , then tap and drag it to the desired location.
Where do screenshots go on Android?
When you take a screenshot on your Android phone, it will go to your Photos app. For example, I use Google Photos on my Pixel, so to get screenshots, I open Photos, select Collections , then select Screenshots .
If you need to take screenshots on other devices, check out our guides below: