Android has progressed significantly since its early days when you needed third-party software in order to snap a screenshot. This functionality is now a standard part of most operating systems, and it even includes the option to snap a scrolling or extended screenshot, making it possible to quickly and efficiently record lengthy lists and web pages.
Simple movements make screenshotting even easier than it already was. Check out the steps for taking a screenshot on your Android cellphone if you’re new to the ecosystem after making the switch from an iPhone. Taking screenshots on an Android device may be done in numerous ways.
Others are OS-agnostic or require specialized apps from the Google Play Store, while still others are manufacturer-specific. Trying to make sense of all the possibilities and pick the one that’s ideal for your device, in particular, can be a daunting task. Here we’ll go over how to take screenshots on Android and show you two of the best third-party apps available.
1. How to Take a Screenshot on Most Android Devices
Taking a screenshot on the top Android phones is as easy as hitting the volume down and power buttons at the same time for a couple of seconds. The moment you release the buttons, a screenshot will be taken. When you snap a screenshot, you’ll hear a shutter sound. Most Android smartphones have a floating toolbar at the bottom that allows you to make changes to the screenshot, share it, or erase it.
When trying to capture a lengthy list or website on a modern Samsung, OnePlus, Pixel, or another Android phone, you also have the option of taking a long or scrolling screenshot. With a long/scrolling screenshot, you can record an extensive list in a single image, eliminating the need to take multiple images.
You must first take a standard screenshot in order to capture a scrolling one. Then, on the floating toolbar that appears at the bottom, select the Scrolling Screenshot button. Your device’s screenshot-taking functionality may also allow you to set the screenshot’s initial position.
In addition to the hardware button, nearly all Android devices also support a gesture that captures a screenshot instantly. Since Google has not implemented a standardized gesture for Android, this action varies from device to device.
Take a screenshot
- Open the screen that you want to capture.
- Depending on your phone:
- Press the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time.
- If that doesn’t work, press and hold the Power button for a few seconds. Then tap Screenshot.
- If neither of these work, go to your phone manufacturer’s support site for help.
- At the bottom left, you’ll find a preview of your screenshot. On some phones, at the top of the screen, you’ll find Screenshot capture.
Take a scrolling screenshot
- Open the screen that you want to capture.
- Press the Power and Volume down buttons at the same time.
- At the bottom, tap Capture more.
- To select the content you want to capture, use the crop guidelines.
2. Use Manufacturer Shortcuts
It’s important to remember that not all phones adhere to the Android standard implementation. To take a screenshot on an older Samsung handset, for instance, you have to press the Power and Home keys together; later models use the Power and Volume Down combination instead.
After that point, everything proceeds normally. If successful, you’ll see a confirmation message and the photo will be available in your gallery. Some phones adhere to common practice, while others offer various customizations.
The Power button on some Sony devices, for instance, doubles as a shortcut to the settings screen. This is where you’ll find the options to record the screen of your Android device or snap screenshots. Standardization has been implemented in phones from Motorola, LG, and HTC.
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3. Use Gestures
You can now take screenshots on many Android devices without ever touching the screen. To take a screenshot with Motorola’s equivalent, you need only tap the screen three times. See if there is a similar feature available for your model by consulting the manual.
For Example, Samsung supports “Palm Swipe”. When enabled via Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture, you just need to swipe your hand over the screen at a 90-degree angle to activate a screen grab.
4. Use Quick Settings
The Android quick settings menu may have a screenshot button, as implemented by some device manufacturers. Sliding down from the screen’s top will reveal the menu. You could find a function named “Screen Capture,” “Screenshot,” or anything similar.
If you can’t find a particular menu item, it may be buried. To modify which quick-access buttons are visible, tap the pencil icon located in the Quick Settings menu’s bottom-left corner.
5. Root Your Android Phone
Before rooting, Android did not support snapshots from applications. It was a safeguard meant to stop spyware from being downloaded and used to spy on you or steal your personal data.
If you root your Android, though, you’ll gain access to previously unavailable features. Many of the apps in the Google Play Store cater to older, rooted versions of Android by providing a simple “Take Screenshot” button.
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6. Use Third-Party Apps
Let’s check out a few of the top third-party screenshot programs out there. They perform similarly to the built-in approach, but with some neat extras that aren’t standard. Screenshot Easy is the first program to try if you need to take a screenshot. In terms of practicality, this app scores high marks.
It allows you to snap photos in a variety of ways, such as tapping an overlay button, tapping a notification bar button, shaking the device, or employing a widget. Fantastic choices for what to do after a shot have also been included.
Your screenshots can be edited in terms of cropping, color, and date/time stamping. PNG and JPG are both supported for image storage. Last but not least, Screenshot Easy allows you to record your screen and take screenshots while scrolling.
7. Download: Super Screenshot
Users looking for a simple and ad-free screenshot app would appreciate Super Screenshot’s availability. Your screenshots can be cropped before being stored in memory, which is probably its best feature. It also allows you to change the size of your photos, draw on them, annotate them with text, and apply different filters.
You’d have to install a photo editing app on your Android device if you wanted to get the same effects. When it makes sense to do so, you can store images directly to the external storage card in your phone. Apps that allow you to take screenshots while scrolling and OCR-based screenshot apps that allow you to quickly locate your screenshots may also be of interest to you. You can take screenshots on your Windows PC by connecting to your Android device.
8. On Pre-Android 4.0 Devices
There was no option to capture a screenshot on Android prior to the release of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich in October 2011. To our relief, not many individuals are still using very old versions of Android on their mobile devices. But you also need to know how to take screenshots in Gingerbread and Honeycomb, just in case you’re stuck on one of these older versions of Android (maybe because your primary device is broken and you’re using an old spare).
The Android Software Development Kit is the most effective technique for unrooted smartphones. It takes some time to set up, but it’s the most reliable method. The Android software development kit is available for download from the main Android website. The steps required to install and configure the SDK app are beyond the scope of this post; for a more straightforward experience, try the No Root Screenshot It app.
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9. Ways to Screenshot on Android
To sum up, if you’re running Android 4.0 or later (which you presumably are), your phone has built-in screenshot functionality. Look to a third-party software if you want more customization choices, root your device, or use a desktop program if you’re using an older version of Android.
However, using the flashy features that your Android device’s manufacturer installed is often the quickest and most efficient way to snap a screenshot.