Have you taken a screenshot on your phone, but can’t find it? Or accidentally deleted an important screenshot and want to get it back? On Android, the path to screenshots depends on the system version, device manufacturer, and even installed applications. In this article, we will analyze all possible storage locations, including hidden folders and cloud services, and also learn how to search for screenshots through system tools and third-party utilities.

The peculiarity of Android is that each brand (Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) can change the standard saving paths. For example, on pure Android (Pixel, Motorola) screenshots are in one folder, and on MIUI or One UI - in another. Additionally, if you use screenshot apps (like Screenshot Touch or Super Screenshot), they may save the files in their own directories. We have covered all options - from basic to exotic.

Important: if you do not find screenshots in standard folders, check Settings → Storage → Files or use the device search. And if the pictures are lost after updating the system, read the section about data recovery.

1. Standard folders for screenshots on pure Android

On devices with pure Android (for example, Google Pixel, Nokia, Motorola), screenshots are saved by default to the folder Pictures/Screenshots. This path is relevant for Android versions from 5.0 Lollipop to 14. To find it:

  • 📁 Open the application Files (or Google Files)
  • 🔍 In the search bar, enter Screenshots
  • 📂 Follow the path Internal memory → Pictures → Screenshots
  • 🖼️ Check sorting by date - new screenshots will be at the top

If the folder is empty, check DCIM/Screenshots —some firmware (for example, on Sony Xperia) use this path. Also, screenshots can be automatically uploaded to Google Photosif synchronization is enabled.

💡

Tap and hold the folder Screenshots in the file manager, then select “Add to Favorites” - this will give you quick access to screenshots from the main screen.

⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, ASUS ZenFone) screenshots are saved in the root folder Internal Storage without subdirectories. Use the search for files with the extension .png or .jpg.

2. Where they look for screenshots on Samsung smartphones (One UI)

Device Samsung on the shell One UI screenshots in a separate folder, which is often hidden from quick access. Main storage locations:

  • 📁 Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots (main folder)
  • 📁 Internal Storage → DCIM → Screenshots (alternate path)
  • 🌐 Samsung Cloud or Google Photo (if auto-sync is enabled)
  • 🔄 Folder Recent in the gallery Samsung Gallery (shows the latest pictures)

To quickly find screenshots on Samsung:

  1. Open the application Gallery.
  2. Click on the three dots (⋮) in the upper right corner.
  3. Select Categories → Screenshots.

If screenshots are not displayed, check the gallery settings: sometimes the system hides files with a lower resolution 100×100 pixels (for example, thumbnails). To show all files, go to Gallery settings → Show hidden files.

Why on Samsung screenshots are saved in two folders?

On some models (for example, Galaxy S22 or Galaxy Z Fold), the system duplicates screenshots in Pictures and DCIM for compatibility with older versions of applications. This is not a bug - just a feature. One UI. By deleting a screenshot from one folder, you delete it everywhere (the files are linked by a symbolic link).

Samsung model Main folder for screenshots Alternate path
Galaxy S23/S22/S21 Pictures/Screenshots DCIM/Screenshots
Galaxy A54/A53/A34 Pictures/Screenshots DCIM/Camera/Screenshots
Galaxy Z Flip/Fold Pictures/Screenshots DCIM/ScreenCapture
Galaxy Tab S8/S9 Pictures/Screenshots Downloads/Screenshots

3. Features of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (MIUI)

On devices Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO with a shell MIUI screenshots are saved in a non-obvious folder DCIM/Screenshots. creates thumbnails in the folder .thumbnailswhich can take up to 500 MB of space (they can be safely deleted).

How to find screenshots on MIUI:

  1. Open application Files (folder icon).
  2. Go to the section Images.
  3. Select album Screenshots (if it is not there - check DCIM manually).

If screenshots are not displayed, try:

  • 🔄 Refresh gallery: swipe down in the application Photo.
  • 🔍 Enter the query date:today in the search for a file manager (will show files for today).
  • 📱 Reboot the device - sometimes MIUI does not update the media database immediately.
⚠️ Attention: On Xiaomi screenshots taken via Power button + Volume downare saved in DCIM/Screenshots, and screenshots via a three-finger swipe are saved in Pictures/Screenshots. search.
📊 How do you usually take screenshots on Android?
Volume and power buttons
Swipe with three fingers
Through the notification panel
Voice assistant
Another way

4. Searching for screenshots through system tools

If you don’t remember where the screenshots are saved, or suspect that they have been moved, use the built-in Android tools:

Method 1: Search in the file manager

Any file manager (including the standard one Files by Google) supports searching by file type. Enter in the search bar:

  • *.png - for. screenshots in PNG format (most devices).
  • .jpg or .jpeg - if the screenshots are saved in JPG (rare, but found on some Huawei).
  • screenshot - by the file name (many systems add this word to the name).

Method 2: Viewing through “Recent files”

Android keeps a log of recently opened files. To open it:

  1. Go to Settings → Storage.
  2. Click Files or View files.
  3. Select tab Recent.
  4. Sort by date (newest on top).

Method 3: ADB commands (for advanced)

If you connected your phone to the PC and turned it on USB debugging, you can find screenshots through the command:

adb shell ls /sdcard/Pictures/Screenshots/ /sdcard/DCIM/Screenshots/ 2>/dev/null

This command will display a list of screenshots in two main folders. If there are no files, check other directories:

adb shell find /sdcard/ -name"screenshot" -type f

Open file manager|Check the Pictures and DCIM folders|Use search by *.png|Look in “Recent files”|Check cloud services-->

5. screenshots

If you accidentally deleted a screenshot, you can try to restore it. Success depends on how much time has passed since the deletion and whether apps were used to clear the memory (like CCleaner).

Method 1: Recovering through the recycle bin

Many file managers (for example, Google Files or Mi File Manager) have a recycle bin where the files are stored 30 days before final deletion. To restore:

  1. Open the file manager.
  2. Go to section Trash or Recently deleted.
  3. Find the screenshot and click Recover.

Method 2: Recovery apps

If the recycle bin is empty, use specialized utilities:

  • 📱 DiskDigger (does not require root access, but restores only thumbnails).
  • 💻 Recuva or EaseUS MobiSaver (for recovery from a PC via USB).
  • 🔧 Dr.Fone (paid solution with a high percentage recovery).

Important: do not save new files on the device after deleting the screenshot - this reduces the chances of recovery. It is better to immediately remove the memory card (if you have one) and connect it to the PC.

⚠️ Attention: Recovery via PC requires USB debugging and may not work on devices with encryption (for example, Pixel s File-Based Encryption). In this case, only a backup copy will help.

6. Cloud services and synchronization

If synchronization with the cloud is enabled on your device, screenshots could be automatically uploaded to:

  • 🌥️ Google Photos (folder Screenshots in the section Photos on the device).
  • ☁️ Samsung Cloud (for devices Galaxy).
  • 📁 Mi Cloud (for Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO).
  • 💾 Yandex Drive or Dropbox (if autoload is configured).

To check Google Photos:

  1. Open the application Google Photos.
  2. Click on your avatar → Photos on the device.
  3. Scroll down to the section Screenshots.

If screenshots are not displayed, check:

  • 🔄 Is synchronization enabled in your account settings Google.
  • 📶 Is the Internet accessible (uploading occurs only when connected to Wi-Fi or a mobile network).
  • 🗃️ Is the storage limit exceeded (15 GB is free for all Google services).
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Cloud copies of screenshots may take up space in storage. Regularly empty the folder Screenshots in Google Photos if you do not plan to save them.

7. How to change the folder for saving screenshots

If you are not satisfied with the standard storage location, you can change it using third-party applications or system settings (on some firmware).

Method 1: Applications for screenshots

Utilities like Screenshot Easy or Super Screenshot allow you to select the save folder After installation:

  1. Open. application.
  2. Go to settings.
  3. Select Save folder and specify a new path (for example, /sdcard/Download/MyScreenshots/).

Method 2: MIUI Settings (Xiaomi)

On some versions MIUI you can change the save path through the system settings:

  1. Go to Settings → Advanced → Screenshots.
  2. Select Save folder.
  3. Specify a new directory (for example, Internal Storage/Downloads).

Method 3: Automation with Tasker

Advanced users can use Tasker to move screenshots after they are taken. Example tasks:

Profile: New file in /Pictures/Screenshots/

Task:


1. Move the file to /Download/Screenshots/


2. data-i="248">⚠️ Attention: Changing the standard saving folder may lead to problems with displaying screenshots in the gallery. Some applications (for example,

⚠️ Warning: Changing the default save folder may cause problems with displaying screenshots in the gallery. Some applications (for example, Google Photos) scan only standard directories (Pictures, DCIM).

8. Problems with saving screenshots and their solutions

Sometimes screenshots are not saved or disappear. Considered problems and ways to solve them:

Problem Possible cause Solution
Screenshots are not saved Not enough space on the device Clear the cache or transfer files to a memory card
Black screen on the screenshot DRM protection (in applications like Netflix) Use alternative methods (for example, shooting with another device)
Screenshots are saved in low quality System or application settings Check your camera/screen settings or use third-party ones utilities
Folder Screenshots empty Files are hidden or moved Enable the display of hidden files in the file manager
Screenshots are saved c Downloads Failure in the media scanner Reboot the device or use the command adb shell media scan

If screenshots are no longer saved after updating the system, try:

  • 🔄 Reset application settings Gallery (Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage → Clear data).
  • 📱 Reinstall the update via Settings → System → Update Software.
  • 🛠️ Use an alternative file manager (for example, Solid Explorer).

On devices with Android 13+ you may need to provide permissions to access media files. To do this:

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy → File manager permissions.
  2. Enable access for your file manager.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about screenshots on Android

Is it possible to take a screenshot on a locked device? screen?

No, for security reasons Android blocks taking screenshots on the lock screen. However, on some devices (for example, Samsung s One UI 5+s), you can take a photo via Bixby Voice voice command "Take a screenshot"if enabled. voice unlock.

Why are screenshots saved in .png format and not .jpg?

Android uses PNG for screenshots by default, since this format supports transparency and preserves the quality of text/graphics better. However, PNG takes up more space than JPG. To change the format, use third-party applications like Screenshot Type.

How to take a screenshot of a long page (scrolling screenshot)?

On most devices with Android 12+ just take a regular screenshot and then click on the thumbnail in the notification panel. and select Scrolling or Long screenshot. On Samsung this function is called Capture Moreon Xiaomi — Scrolling the screen.

Is it possible to turn off the shutter sound when taking a screenshot?

Yes, but the method depends on the firmware:

  • On pure Android: go to Settings → Sounds → System sounds and disable Screenshot sound.
  • On Samsung: in Settings → Sounds and vibration → System sounds.
  • On Xiaomi: the screenshot sound is disabled only in Settings → Sounds → Other sounds.

If there is no option, install the application Screenshot Sound Disabler (requires root access).

Where are screenshots stored in Android multi-user mode?

In multi-user mode (for example, on tablets) screenshots of each user are saved in his personal folder:

  • For main user: /sdcard/Pictures/Screenshots/
  • For secondary user: /sdcard/Android/data/com.android.providers.media/user_X/Screenshots/, where X — user ID.

To see these folders, you need root access or a file manager with support for multi-user mode (for example, FX File Explorer).