Modern smartphones allow you to instantly capture the contents of the display, but often there is a need to save not the entire image, but only a specific segment of it. For example, you need to send a friend only correspondence, a piece of a map, or details of an order in an online store, without cluttering the frame with unnecessary interface elements. The standard full-screen snapshot function is not always convenient here, as it requires subsequent editing.
Fortunately, the ecosystem Android offers many solutions for this task. Depending on your device manufacturer and operating system version, you can use built-in instant cropping tools or install specialized software. In this article, we will examine in detail how to take a screenshot of part of the screen different methods so that you can choose the one most suitable for your situation.
We will consider both the native capabilities of shells from Samsung, Xiaomi and Google, and universal applications from the Play Store. You will learn to save time on image processing and get perfectly cropped files immediately at the time of creation.
Using the built-in editor after taking a picture
The most common and universal method, which works on the vast majority of devices running Android 9 and higher, is to use the standard gallery editor. Immediately after you've taken a full screenshot, a thumbnail with action buttons appears at the bottom of the display.
Clicking on the pencil icon or the "Edit" button takes you to the basic image processing interface. Here you need to select a tool "Cutting" or Crop. By moving the frames, you can select the desired fragment and save the result as a new file, leaving the original untouched.
This method is good for its reliability, but has one significant drawback: it requires two actions instead of one. First you take a photo, then you open it and frame it. For one-time operations this is acceptable, but if you frequently need to select fragments, the process becomes tedious.
In addition, the quality of the final image may decrease slightly when saving again if the compression algorithms in your firmware are set aggressively. However, this is basic skillwhich every user should know.
⚠️ Attention: On some older models of budget segment smartphones, the built-in editor may be missing or severely reduced. In this case, the system will offer to open the image in a third-party application installed by default.
If you often use this method, configure the “Share” button in the screenshot thumbnail menu to launch your favorite graphic editor - this will speed up the processing process.
The function of instantly selecting an area on Samsung and Xiaomi
Owners of flagship and mid-budget devices from leading brands often have access to advanced photography features. Manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi have introduced the ability to select a screen area even before saving the file.
On Samsung devices with the One UI shell, this function is called "Snapshot area". To activate it, you need to go to settings and turn on the corresponding switch. After that, when you press the combination of the power and volume down buttons, instead of taking a snapshot, the screen will darken and a selection frame will appear.
The user can freely move this frame, changing its size and position. As soon as the desired section is selected, just click the “Done” button, and this particular fragment will be saved in the gallery. This eliminates the need for subsequent trimming.
Similar logic is implemented in smartphones Xiaomi i Redmi. After taking a regular screenshot, a floating menu appears in the corner. If you select the dotted square icon, the system will prompt you to select an area. Moreover, in new versions MIUI i HyperOS automatic object recognition is available for quick selection.
☑️ Checking the availability of the function
It is important to understand that the set of functions depends on the specific model and firmware version. Interfaces are updated regularly, and the layout of menu items may change. Always check the current settings in the official user manual for your model, as manufacturers often transfer options to different sections.
Advanced gestures and toolbars Google Pixel
Smartphones of the line Google Pixel, running on “pure” Android, offer their own unique approach to working with screenshots. Here the emphasis is on gestures and intelligent image processing right at the moment of creation.
In addition to the standard button combination, on Pixel devices you can use the “Swipe from the corner” gesture. If this function is activated in the section System → Gestures, then swiping from the bottom corner of the screen immediately initiates the creation of a photo.
Immediately after this, a toolbar with a button appears "Crop". Clicking on it allows you to instantly go to cropping. A feature of stock Android is the ability to quickly access markup tools: you can immediately circle an important area with a marker before saving.
For those who prefer voice control, Google Assistant can also take screenshots on command. However, for highlighting a specific area, voice commands are still less accurate than manual selection with a finger.
Third-party applications for professional screenshots
If the built-in capabilities of your smartphone do not suit you, the Google Play Market offers a wide range of specialized utilities. These apps often offer features not available in the stock system, such as scrolling long pages with automatic stitching or highlighting complex geometric shapes.
One of the leaders in this category is the app Screen Master. It allows you to not only take pictures of the selected area, but also immediately add annotations, stickers and text. The application interface is intuitive: after launching, you simply draw a frame around the desired object.
Another popular option is LongShot. Although its main specialty is creating long screenshots, the manual selection function is implemented here at a high level. You can choose the “Manual” mode, where the area is selected by the user, or “Auto”, where the application itself tries to determine the boundaries of the content.
Using third-party software provides another advantage - flexible settings for the saving format and compression quality. You can configure the application so that the pictures are saved immediately in a format PNG lossless, which is critical for working with text and graphics.
| Application | Main feature | Presence of advertising | Difficulty development |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen Master | Powerful editor and collages | Yes (in the free version) | Low |
| LongShot | Automatic scrolling | Yes | Medium |
| Tailor | Auto-stitching of screenshots | No | Low |
| Stitch It! | Manual stitching control | Minimum | High |
⚠️ Attention: When you install third-party applications for screenshots, you give them permission to access the contents of the screen. Use only proven apps with a high rating and a large number of downloads to avoid leaking confidential data.
Developer mode and advanced features
For advanced users who are not afraid to experiment with system settings, there is a way through “Developer Menu". This hidden section provides access to debugging functions that can be useful for specific snapshot tasks.
To activate this mode, you need to go to Settings → About phone and quickly click on the build number seven times. After the message “You have become a developer” appears, a new item will appear in the main settings menu.
In the section for developers you can find options that affect the behavior of the system when capturing images. For example, some settings allow you to disable animations, which makes the process of creating a screenshot instant and eliminates blurring of transition frames.
However, be careful: changing the settings in this section may affect the stability of other applications. It is not recommended to change values whose purpose you do not understand without first studying the documentation.
How to reset developer settings?
If you changed something unnecessary and the system began to become unstable, simply turn off the “For Developers” switch in the upper corner of the menu. This will return all system settings to factory defaults without affecting your personal data.
Automating the creation of cropped screenshots
The highest level of control over the process is provided by automation applications such as Tasker or MacroDroid. With their help, you can create a script that will take a screenshot of a certain area of the screen when you click a widget or voice command.
Setting up such a script takes time and understanding the logic of how triggers work. You need to create a task that initiates a screen capture and then passes the image to the plugin for processing, where the crop coordinates are set.
The advantage of this method is complete customization. You can configure your smartphone so that with one touch you save, for example, the upper left corner of the screen with weather widgets, ignoring the rest of the space.
This solution is ideal for those who need to regularly capture the same data from the screen, for example, sensor readings or order status. Once the configured script works for years without user intervention.
Automation through Tasker takes time to set up, but provides maximum flexibility, allowing you to link the creation of a screenshot of any area to any event in the system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to take a screenshot of part of the screen on any Android smartphone?
The basic option is available on all devices through subsequent cropping in gallery. However, the function of instantly selecting an area before saving is available only on modern models of Samsung, Xiaomi, Google Pixel and other flagships with updated shells.
Why does the screenshot turn out black or blank?
This often happens when trying to take a photo in protected applications, such as banking clients or streaming services (Netflix, Kinopoisk). Android security blocks image capture to protect sensitive data and copyrights.
How to take a long scrolling screenshot?
After taking a regular photo, look for the down arrow button or "Scroll" in the preview panel. Hold it down until the screen scrolls to the desired location. This function is available on most modern smartphones.
Where are cropped screenshots saved?
By default, all images, including cropped versions, are saved in a folder Pictures/Screenshots in the internal memory of the device. In the gallery, they are usually displayed in a separate “Screenshots” album.
Does frequent taking screenshots affect the wear of the screen?
No, software-based screenshot creation does not have any physical impact on the display matrix. Screen wear depends only on the time it glows and brightness, and not on the number of pictures taken.