How to Screenshot on an Android

How to Screenshot on an Android

If you want to save something on your Android phone screen, you need to know how you take a screenshot on an Android phone. Whether it's a recipe idea for your next cookout or a high score from your favorite game, taking a screenshot is a great way to save those moments for later. Yet taking a screenshot on Android phones can be tricky. Every phone running on the Android operating system (OS) is a little different, and each Android has its own quirks for taking screenshots.

Knowing the different Android screenshot methods can help you take your next screenshot. Find out how to screenshot on Android phones and learn each phone manufacturer's shortcuts in this complete guide.

Why You Would Want to Take a Screenshot

Taking an Android screenshot on your phone lets you record nearly any important on-screen moment. You might want to know how to take a screenshot on Android in the following situations:

1. Saving an Idea for Later

If you're in a rush and come across a fantastic idea, taking a screenshot might be the fastest way to save it. Instead of tracking down a link online or sending yourself a webpage, simply take a screenshot to keep the idea in your Android phone's photos. A screenshot helps you remember ideas for:

  • Gifts
  • Crafts
  • Recipes
  • Products
  • Landscaping
  • Home decorations

2. Sharing a Post With Someone

If you have a friend who doesn't have an account on a particular social media platform, you can still share posts with them. Take a screenshot of a hilarious, outrageous or important post you see on your feed. Then share it with your friend through text message or email so they can appreciate it with you.

3. Displaying Your New High Score in a Game

Nothing makes victory sweeter than sharing it with your friends. Once you finally reach a new level or high score in your favorite phone game, you'll want to share it with others. Taking a screenshot lets you easily capture the moment and send it to friends so you can celebrate — or brag.

4. Remembering a Date or Event

Worried about remembering when or where that party or event is? Take a screenshot of the email, post or text with all the details. Then you can find it later without searching through your inbox or feed. Simply save the screenshot to your photos and open it when you need a reminder.

5. Saving Coupon or Ticket Bar Codes

If you find coupons or buy a ticket online, you can often take a screenshot of the bar code and use it later. Whether you're going to a live event or just taking a trip to the grocery store, a screenshot of a bar code can help you save time and money.

6. Demonstrating a Process

Maybe your friend is trying to log into an account. Perhaps a family member is trying to figure out another feature or app on their Android. Taking a screenshot of the process can be a significant help.

7. Explaining a System Issue

Sometimes issues come up with your phone, from trouble signing in to an account to glitches in the system. When these situations occur, it's handy to show the problem to someone who can help you troubleshoot. Instead of describing what's happening, take screenshots at every step. Then send them to whoever is helping you solve the issue, giving them a helpful visual of the problem. Taking screenshots might help you solve the problem faster than you usually would.

Why You Would Want
to Take a Screenshot

You might want to know how to take a screenshot on Android in the following situations:

1. Saving an Idea for Later
2. Sharing a Post With Someone
3. Displaying Your New High Score in a Game
4. Remembering a Date or Event
5. Saving Coupon or Ticket Bar Codes
6. Demonstrating a Process
7. Explaining a System Issue

How to Take a Screenshot on an Android

Many phone manufacturers use the Android OS, including Google, Samsung and LG. You can use a standard method to screenshot Android screens, whatever your phone's model. This standard screenshot method involves pressing a combination of phone buttons simultaneously. Here are the steps for how to screenshot an Android:

1. Check Your Android Version

Before you use your Android to take a screenshot, you need to know what version of Android you're using. Your phone's OS version determines the methods you can use to screenshot. To find your Android OS version, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to your phone's Settings app.
  • Tap About Phone.
  • Click Android Version.
  • Locate the Android version and security update.

2. Take a Screenshot

Now that you know which Android version your phone uses, you can find the screenshot method that works for your device.

Here are the steps for how to do a screenshot on Android 11 and 12:

  • Open the screen you want to save with a screenshot.
  • Quickly hold the Power button and press the Volume Down button.
  • Keep holding the buttons for a second or two until the screen flashes.

Follow these steps to take a screenshot on Android 10:

  • Open the screen you want to capture.
  • Press and hold the Power button.
  • Tap on Screenshot or Take Screenshot in the pop-up window.

Now you know how to take a screenshot!

3. Edit and Share Your Screenshot

Once you have a screenshot of that moment or idea for later, you can save, edit or share it however you'd like. After you take a screenshot, a preview of your picture with a floating toolbar will appear in the lower left of your screen. Tap on the preview right away to edit or share it. You can also find your screenshot by:

  • Navigating to your phone's Photos app.
  • Choose Library.
  • Select Screenshots.
  • Locate your screenshot.

If you have an older Android version, your screenshot might be in Gallery rather than Photos. Find it by taking these steps:

  • Open your phone's Gallery.
  • Select Album View.
  • Tap on Screenshots Folder.
  • Find your screenshot in the folder.

After you locate your screenshot, click on it to edit and share it with others:

  • Tap on the screenshot you want to edit and share.
  • Select Edit to crop your screenshot or draw on it.
  • Save your screenshot to Photos or your Screenshots Folder.
  • Click on your screenshot again to share it.
  • Choose the Share button.
  • Select a contact to share your screenshot with.

Taking a screenshot this way can be complicated. If you aren't careful with the buttons, you might accidentally shut off or restart your phone.

How to Take a Screenshot Using Manufacturer Shortcuts

While you can use the standard method with most Android phones, taking a screenshot this way can be complicated. If you aren't careful with the buttons, you might accidentally shut off or restart your phone. The standard method for taking screenshots can also be challenging to time correctly. If you're trying to take a screenshot of a moving scene like in a video or game, you might find yourself pressing the buttons and watching as the perfect screenshot passes by.

Pressing multiple buttons to take a screenshot can be frustrating. Fortunately, many Android phone manufacturers have recognized this issue and developed different methods for taking screenshots. Depending on your phone model, you can use a different approach to bypass the standard process.

Here is an overview of alternative screenshot methods using Android phone manufacturer shortcuts. All the phones listed will also take screenshots using the standard way. Here's how you take a screenshot on your Android phone without using the buttons.

1. Samsung Phones

The standard method works a bit differently on Samsung phones. On Galaxy S8 phones and later, hold the Power and Volume Down buttons for a couple of seconds. For Galaxy S7 and earlier, you'll hold the Power and Home buttons instead.

You also have additional options for capturing a screenshot on your Samsung phone. Here are a few tips for how to take a screenshot on an Android phone made by Samsung:

  • Swipe to capture: Swiping is an excellent solution for those who struggle with the standard method's timing. To use this process, you have to enable the feature in your phone's settings. Navigate to Settings, Advanced Features and Motions and Gestures. Then slide the toggle next to Palm Swipe to Capture into the on position. Now you can take a screenshot on your Samsung phone by sliding your palm from left to right across your device's screen.
  • Use your voice: If you enable Google Assistant or Bixby Voice, you can take a screenshot using your voice. Simply use a voice command like, "Take a screenshot," and save your screen without using your hands at all.
  • Use the S Pen: If your Samsung phone has an S Pen stylus, you can use it to take a screenshot. Open the screen you want to save and click the Air Command icon. Then select Screen Write, and your phone will take a screenshot. Use the S Pen to write or draw on the screenshot before saving it.

2. Google Phones

Whether your Google phone is a Pixel or a Nexus, the standard method will work for taking a screenshot. You also have two other options for taking a screenshot on your Android. Follow these steps for how to screenshot on Android cell phones made by Google:

  • Use a swiping gesture: You can use a swiping gesture with a Google phone, just like with Samsung. Your Google phone must be running Android 12 for this method to work. To capture a screenshot, open the screen you want to save. Use one finger to swipe up from the bottom of the screen and hold it for a moment. This action opens the app drawer. Locate the Screenshot button and tap it.
  • Use Google Assistant: Google Assistant will also take screenshots on Google phones. Use a voice command like, "Take a screenshot," to complete the action. You can also use Google Assistant to send your screenshot to a friend. Say something like, "Take a screenshot and send it to Dad," to perform several actions with one voice command.

3. Motorola Phones

Motorola phones have lots of unique gestures for performing regular functions. Use three fingers to take a screenshot without using buttons or a swiping motion. To take a screenshot on a Motorola phone, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to your app drawer.
  • Open the Moto App.
  • Tap on Moto Actions.
  • Select Three-Finger Screenshot.
  • Place and hold three fingers on the screen you want to capture.

4. OnePlus Phones

The OnePlus phone is another model that allows you to take screenshots using gestures. Here's how to take screenshots on Android phones made by OnePlus:

  • Enable screenshot gestures by navigating to your phone's Settings.
  • Tap on Buttons and Gestures.
  • Select Quick Gestures.
  • Swipe to turn the toggle for Three-Finger Screenshot to the on position.
  • Return to the screen you want to save.
  • Swipe down from the top of your display using three fingers.

5. HTC Phones

HTC has largely stepped out of the phone market, and new releases are generally available only in select markets. Different models of HTC phones offer a few different ways to take screenshots. On older HTC phones, press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. To take a screenshot on your HTC U12+ phone, try one of these methods:

  • The Power button and Navigation bar: Hold the Power button. Tap the circle icon in the Navigation bar as you hold the Power button.
  • Edge Sense: Edge Sense is an HTC phone feature that allows users to squeeze or tap their phone's sides to perform specific actions. You can set different Edge Sense gestures to take screenshots, like the double-tap or squeeze gestures. In your HTC phone's settings, tap Edge Sense and navigate to Set Short Squeeze or Set Double Tap Action. Then choose Screenshot and save your settings.
  • The Screenshot button: HTC phones also have a Screenshot icon on Navigation Bar's second panel. The button looks like a phone with a small rectangle to the side.

6. ASUS and Acer Phones

If you have an ASUS or Acer phone, take a screenshot by:

  • Pulling down the notification panel.
  • Tapping the Screenshot icon.

Scrolling screenshots allow you to save a longer screenshot with more content.

How to Take a Scrolling Screenshot on Android

A screenshot only allows you to capture whatever fits on your phone's screen. As you might imagine, it's sometimes helpful to be able to save more content in one screenshot. Whether you want to capture an entire recipe in one shot or keep a longer list, a scrolling or long screenshot is the best solution. Scrolling screenshots allow you to save a longer screenshot with more content.

This nifty trick is only available on Android 12 or later and may not work in all apps. You can take a scrolling screenshot on your Google, OnePlus and Samsung phones, plus several others. Here are the steps for capturing a scrolling screenshot on different Android phones:

1. Google Phones

If your Google phone can take scrolling screenshots, follow these steps:

  • Navigate to the screen you want to save.
  • Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons.
  • Click Capture More to start your scrolling screenshot.
  • Use the outlines to crop your screenshot to your preferred size.
  • Save your screenshot.

2. OnePlus Phones

Take a scrolling screenshot on your OnePlus phone with these actions:

  • Opening the screen you want to save.
  • Pressing the Power and Volume Down buttons together.
  • Tapping the button with two arrows once you see your screenshot preview.
  • Clicking on the Scroll Capture button until you reach your preferred screenshot length.
  • Saving your screenshot.

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