How to take a screenshot on Android: all methods for any smartphone

A screenshot on Android is one of the most popular functions that comes in handy every day: from saving important correspondence to fixing errors in applications. Despite its apparent simplicity, methods for taking screenshots vary greatly depending on phone manufacturer, version Android and even the installed shell. For example, on Samsung Galaxy s One UI gestures are available that are not available on “pure” Android, and owners of Xiaomi s MIUI have to understand the additional settings of the notification panel.

In this article we will examine all current methods for creating screenshotsincluding little-known tricks for old and new devices. You'll learn how to take screenshots without buttons, save long pages (scrolling screenshots), and what applications can help if standard tools don't work. We will pay special attention to common problems - for example, why screenshots are not saved in the gallery or how to bypass restrictions in banking applications.

1. Standard method: combination of buttons

The most universal method that works on 99% of Android devices is simultaneous pressing of physical buttons. Suitable for all versions Android (from 4.0 and newer) and does not require additional settings. However, the key combination may differ depending on the model:

• 📱 Most smartphones: press Power + Volume down for 1-2 seconds. If the photo is taken successfully, a shutter sound will be heard (if not disabled) and a miniature will appear in the corner of the screen.
• 🔄 Old models (before 2016): sometimes used Food + Home (for example, on Samsung Galaxy S5 or HTC One M8).
• 🎮 Gaming smartphones (ASUS ROG, Black Shark): may be required Power + Volume up due to overridden buttons.

If the combination does not work, check:

• 🔋 Is the battery low? (on some phones, when the charge level is below 5%, screenshots are blocked).
• 🔇 Is the system sound muted (the visual cue - the screen flashing - will remain).
• 🛠️ Are third-party launchers installed (for example, Nova Launcher), which may conflict with the system ones gestures.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with Android 12+ and dynamic animation (for example, Pixel 6 or Samsung Galaxy S22), the delay between pressing the buttons should be minimal. If you hold the keys for more than 2 seconds, the screen will turn off or turn off. reboot.

2. Screenshot with a gesture (for phones without buttons or with touch controls)

Manufacturers are actively implementing buttonless solutions for taking screenshots. These methods are especially useful if the physical keys are broken or you are using the phone in a case:

Manufacturer	Gesture	Required settings
Samsung (One UI 4.0+)	Swipe the edge of your palm across the screen from right to left (or vice versa)	Enable in Settings → Advanced → Movements and gestures → Screenshot with your palm
Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco (MIUI 12+)	Three-finger swipe down screen	Activate in Settings → System applications → Screenshot → Three-finger gesture
Huawei/Honor (EMUI/Magic UI)	Double tap on the screen with a knuckle	Enable in Settings → Controls → Gestures → Screenshot
Google Pixel (Android 12+)	There is no built-in gesture, but can be assigned via Settings → System → Gestures → Quick presses	Requires installation of a third-party application (for example, Edge Gestures)

Gestures may conflict with other functions. For example, on Xiaomi a three-finger swipe is responsible for partial screenshot (selecting an area). To avoid confusion:

1. Check the priority of gestures in the settings.
2. Disable unnecessary combinations (for example, swipe to capture the screen in games).
3. Practice on a blank screen - some gestures require precise execution.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with AMOLED screens (for example Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) the palm gesture may not work due to the high sensitivity of the proximity sensor. In this case, try moving closer to the bottom of the display.

Make sure the function is enabled in the settings|Check if it conflicts. gesture with other actions|Clear the screen from unnecessary elements (widgets, pop-ups)|Try to perform the gesture several times for calibration-->

3. Screenshot through the notification panel (for the lazy)

If you don’t want to remember button combinations or gestures, the easiest way is to use quick settings panel. This method works on all devices with Android 9.0 and newer, but may be hidden by default. Here's how to activate it:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification panel.
2. Find the icon "Screenshot" (usually looks like scissors or a rectangle with a lightning bolt). If it is not there, click on the pencil icon ("Edit") and add the element to the active ones.
3. Click on the icon - a screenshot will be taken instantly.

On some firmware (for example, MIUI or ColorOS), the panel offers additional options:

• 📜 Long screenshot (page scrolling).
• ✂️ Cutting immediately after creation.
• 📤 Fast sending to messengers.

If the screenshot icon disappeared after a system update, reset the panel settings:

Settings → Applications → Three dots (menu) → Reset application settings

4. Scrolling screenshots: how to save a long page as a whole

A standard screenshot captures only the visible part of the screen, but what to do if you need to save an entire web pagea correspondence in WhatsApp or a list of products in an online store? (or “scrolling pictures”) are designed for this. The function is built into the firmware of most brands, but it works. in different ways: scrolling screenshots (or "rolling snapshots"). The function is built into the firmware of most brands, but it works differently:

• 🌐 Samsung: After creating a regular screenshot, a toolbar with a button will appear Scrolling (two down arrows). Click it and wait for the page to automatically scroll.
• 📱 Xiaomi/Redmi: An option will appear in the notification panel after the screenshot Long snapshot. You will have to manually scroll the page to the end.
• 🍎 Huawei/Honor: The function is called Scroll screenshot and is activated by swiping down the photo thumbnail.

If there is no built-in function, use third-party applications:

• 📄 LongShot — supports automatic scrolling and saving to PDF.
• 🖼️ Stitch & Share — merges several screenshots into one long one.
• 🌍 Firefox (browser) - has a built-in function of saving a page to PDF with all elements saved.

⚠️ Attention: Scrolling screenshots do not work in banking applications (for example, SberBank. Online or Tinkoff) and some instant messengers (for example, Telegram secret chats) due to security restrictions. In such cases, you will have to take pictures in parts.

Why is the scrolling screenshot not completely cut off?

If a long screenshot breaks off halfway through the page, the problem may be:

1) RAM limitations - close background applications and try again.

2) Firmware versions - on Android 10 and below the function works worse.

3) Content type - some sites block scrolling (for example, Instagram or VK).

Solution: use the application LongShot with manual scrolling or save the page in PDF via a browser.

5. Screenshots in games and protected applications

Many games and applications with confidential data (banks, payment systems) block taking screenshots for security reasons. For example, in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact standard methods will not work, and in SberBank Online a black rectangle will appear instead of a screenshot. You can bypass these restrictions in several ways:

• 🎮 For games:
  • Use the built-in screen recording function (for example, Game Tools on Xiaomi or Game Launcher on Samsung).
  • Connect your phone to the PC and take a screenshot via ADB or a app like Scrcpy.
• 🏦 For banking applications:
  • Take a photo of the screen with another device (inconvenient, but reliable).
  • Enable Developer mode and disable the option Disable screenshots (does not work on all phones).

For advanced users there is a radical method - disabling protection via ADB. This method requires an unlocked bootloader and may violate security:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

After executing the command, reboot the phone. Please note: this method may cause instability in some applications and is not recommended for everyday use.

6. Applications for screenshots: when standard tools are not enough

If the built-in functions are not satisfactory (for example, you need to edit pictures immediately after creation or automate the process), third-party applications will come to the rescue. We tested dozens of apps and selected the best:

Application	Peculiarities	Cons
Screen Master	Scrolling screenshots, editor with meme genies, screen recording	Advertising in the free version, requires access to notifications
Screenshot Easy	Snapshots by timer, cropping before saving, gesture support	Does not work on Android 13+ without root access
Super Screenshot	Multiple snapshot stitching, text recognition (OCR), cloud saving	Paid subscription for advanced functions
AZ Screen Recorder	Screen recording with the ability to extract frames as screenshots	Watermark in the free version

Before installation, check the application permissions. These apps for screenshots only request:

• 📱 Access to storage (to save pictures).
• 🔔 Reading notifications (to intercept the screenshot command).

If an application requires access to SMS, Contacts or Geolocations - this is a reason to be wary.

⚠️ Attention: Google has tightened its security policy for some applications (for example, Android 12+ Google has tightened its security policy. Some applications (for example, Screenshot Touch). may stop working after updating the OS. Before installing, check the date of the last update of the app in Google Play.

7. Where are the screenshots stored and how to find them? However, some manufacturers change the saving path:

By default, screenshots are saved in the folder Pictures/Screenshots or DCIM/Screenshots (depending on the firmware). However, some manufacturers change the preservation path:

• 📁 Samsung: /Storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots or /DCIM/Screenshots.
• 📁 Xiaomi: /Storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots (in MIUI 14 a folder has been added Screenshot_Editor for processed images).
• 📁 Huawei: /Storage/emulated/0/Huawei/Screenshots.

If screenshots are not displayed in the gallery:

1. Check the folder through the file manager (for example, Files by Google).
2. Update the media database: go to Settings → Storage → Three dots → Update.
3. Make sure the folder is not hidden. To do this, in the file manager, turn on the display of hidden files (Settings → Show hidden files).

To change the location where screenshots are saved:

1. Use applications like Screenshot Folder.
2. On some firmware (for example, One UI) the path can be changed in the camera settings (yes, it's strange, but it works).

8. Common problems and their solutions

Even with such a simple function as a screenshot, users encounter difficulties. TOP-5 most common problems and ways to eliminate them:

Problem	Possible cause	Solution
No screenshots are saved	There is not enough space on the device or the folder permissions are lost	Clear the cache or assign another folder to save through the file manager
Black screen instead of a screenshot	DRM protection in the application (banks, streaming)	Use a second phone to photograph the screen
The button combination does not work	The button is damaged Power or Volume	Try the gesture or notification panel. If that doesn’t help, check the buttons in the service menu (#0#)
Screenshots are blurry	Energy saving mode is activated or screen scaling is enabled	Disable energy saving and check the display settings (Settings → Display → Font and display size)
No sound when taking a screenshot	System sound is disabled or Do Not Disturb mode is enabled	Check your sound settings in Settings → Sound → System sounds

If none of the methods helped, try resetting the system:

Settings → System → Reset settings → Reset all settings (does not delete files!)

⚠️ Attention: On some phones (for example, OnePlus or Oppoafter resetting the settings, the gesture screenshot function may disappear. It will have to be re-enabled manually.

FAQ: Answers to popular ones. questions

Is it possible to take a screenshot with the phone turned off?

No, this is not possible. A screenshot is a software function of the operating system, and for it to work the phone must be turned on. The only workaround is to connect the device to the PC via ADB and try to take a picture remotely, but this requires preliminary configuration and is not possible. will work if the phone is completely discharged.

How to take a screenshot on Android with a broken screen?

If the sensor does not respond, but the phone turns on, connect it to the PC and use apps like Vysor or Scrcpy to control it from the computer. black, but the phone is working (for example, ringing), try connecting an external monitor via USB-C/HDMI (if supported) and take a screenshot on the second screen.

Why are screenshots saved in low quality?

This may be due to the screen settings or the energy saving mode. Check:

1. Screen resolution in Settings → Screen → Screen resolution (should be FHD+ or WQHD+).
2. Disable adaptive brightness and energy saving mode.
3. If you are using a third-party application for screenshots, check its settings (sometimes the quality is reduced to save space).

Is it possible to take a screenshot using your voice (Google Assistant)?

Yes, but only on devices with Google Assistant and the voice function enabled controls. Say: "Okay, Google, take a screenshot". If the command does not work:

• Check the language of the Assistant (must be Russian or English).
• Activate permission for Assistant in Settings → Applications → Google → Permissions → Special access → Gesture control.

On Samsung s Bixby similar command: "Hey, Bixby, take a screenshot".

How to get back deleted screenshots?

If the screenshots were recently deleted (within 30 days), check Trash in the application Gallery. For deeper recovery:

1. Use apps like DiskDigger or Recuva (root access is required for a full scan).
2. Check your backups in Google Photos (if synchronization was enabled).
3. Connect your phone to your PC and scan the memory using EaseUS MobiSaver.

The chances of recovery depend on whether the data was overwritten with new ones files.