Recording video from a smartphone screen is an indispensable tool for creating guides, streams, saving game moments or demonstrating errors in applications. On Android this function is implemented differently depending on the OS version, manufacturer and even device model. Somewhere it is hidden in the developer, somewhere it is available in the notification shade, and on some phones it is not there at all without third-party applications.

In this article we will analyze all the current methods of screen recording - from standard tools Google to specialized apps with advanced settings. You'll learn how to unmute your microphone, save videos in high quality, and bypass restrictions on some devices. We’ll also tell you why the recording algorithms are different between Xiaomi and Samsung and what to do if your phone stubbornly refuses to save videos.

1. Built-in screen recording in Android 11 and later

Starting with Android 11, Googlefinally added a native tool for screencasting, but with important caveats. The function is integrated into the quick settings panel, but it may not be available on custom skins (for example MIUI or One UI). Even if the icon is there, the options are limited: there is no internal audio recording, and the video resolution is fixed.

To activate recording:

  1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification panel.
  2. Find the "Screen recording" button** (if it is not there, tap on the pencil → add to active elements).
  3. Click on the icon and confirm the start of recording (delay 3 seconds).
  4. To stop, pull the curtain down and tap on the recording notification.

Where to look for the recorded video? By default, files are saved in the folder Movies/Screenshots or DCIM/ScreenRecordings (depending on the firmware). Format - .mp4 with a bitrate of ~8 Mbit/s.

📊 What version of Android does your phone have?
10 or older
11-12
13-14
I don’t know
⚠️ Attention: On Samsung Galaxy s One UI 5.0+, built-in recording blocks audio capture from applications (for example, music in games). This is a limitation at the firmware level - you can only bypass it through ADB or root.

2. Hidden recording function on Android 10 and below

If you have Android 10 or an older version, there is no standard tool for screencasting. But there is a workaround through developer mode. This method works on most devices, including Xiaomi Redmi, Huawei Pseries and Google Pixel first generation.

Activation algorithm:

  1. Open Settings → About phone and tap on the item 7 times "Build number"** (a notification "You have become a developer" will appear).
  2. Go back to the main settings menu and find the new section "For developers"** (sometimes hidden in System → Additionally).
  3. Scroll down to the item "Screen recording"** (or Feature flags → enable settings_screenrecord_long_press).
  4. Hold the combination Volume up + Power for 2-3 seconds - it will start recording.

Method limitations:

  • 🔇 No sound from microphone (system sounds only).
  • 📱 Does not work on all devices (for example, Realme may missing).
  • ⏱ The maximum duration is 3 minutes (on some firmware).
What to do if there is no "Screen recording" item in the developer settings?

On some devices (for example, Sony Xperia or Nokia on pure Android) this item is missing even after activating the developer mode. In this case, there are two options: use ADB commands or third-party applications. Read more about ADB in the next section.

3. Recording the screen via ADB (for experienced users)

If the built-in methods do not work and you don’t want to install third-party apps, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB). This method requires connecting your phone to a PC, but gives full control over the recording parameters: resolution, bitrate and even the sound source.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Download ADB Tools to your PC and unzip to the root of the disk C:\.
  2. On your phone, activate USB debugging (Settings → For developers → USB debugging).
  3. Connect your phone to the PC, open the command line and run: 
    adb devices

    (the name of your device).

  4. Start recording with the command: 
    adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/record.mp4 --bit-rate 10000000 --size 1920x1080

    Where 10000000 is the bitrate in bps, and 1920x1080 is the resolution.

  5. Stop recording with the combination Ctrl+C in the command line.

Advantages of ADB:

  • 🎛 Full control over video parameters (up to 4K on supported devices).
  • 🔊 Ability to capture internal audio through additional commands.
  • ⚡ There are no restrictions on recording time (except for free space on the phone).
⚠️ Attention: On devices with MediaTek-processors (many Redmi, Tecno, Infinix), recording via ADB may be interrupted due to hardware limitations of chipset B. In this case, only root or specialized applications will help.

Install drivers for your phone on your PC|

Activate USB debugging in the settings|

Connect the phone with the original cable (not all USB cables support data transfer)|

Check free space on the phone (1 minute Full HD video = ~100 MB)-->

4. The best applications for screen recording

If standard methods do not suit you, third-party apps come to the rescue. We tested 15 applications from Google Play and selected the top 3 with unique features: from recording from a webcam. before live streaming sound, drawing on the screen, GIF converter YouTube in real time.

Application Peculiarities Cons Rating
AZ Screen Recorder Record from microphone and internal sound, draw on screen, GIF converter Watermark in the free version, 10 minute limit 4.5 ⭐
DU Recorder Streaming to YouTube/Twitch, recording from the front camera, video editor Aggressive advertising, high battery consumption 4.3 ⭐
Mobizen Capture sound from games, record to 4K@60FPS, cloud storage Requires registration, plugins for some functions 4.4 ⭐

How to choose?

  • 🎮 For gamers: Mobizen (supports audio recording from PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty).
  • 📱 For social networks: DU Recorder (there are templates for TikTok and Instagram Reels).
  • 💻 For work: AZ Screen Recorder (you can add annotations in real time).
💡

If the application does not record sound from the game, try turning on the "Audio Source" → "Internal Audio" option in its settings. On some phones (for example, Samsung A52) this only works after a reboot.

5. Features of recording on different phones. brands

Manufacturers often modify standard functions Android, so screen recording algorithms can differ radically. Let's look at the nuances for popular brands.

Samsung (One UI)

On devices with One UI 4.0+ built-in recording is launched through the quick settings panel, but there are underwater ones. stones:

  • 🔕 Sound from applications is not recorded (only from the microphone).
  • 📹 Maximum resolution - 1080p (even if the screen 4K).
  • ⏸ Pause during recording is available only on flagships (Galaxy S22 Ultra, Z Fold).

Xiaomi (MIUI)

On Redmi i POCO the function is hidden in "Tools"** (Settings → Advanced). → Screen recordingFeatures:

  • 🎤 You can select the audio source: microphone, system sound or both.
  • 🖼 There is an option to show touches (useful for tutorials).
  • ⚠️ On MIUI 13 and newer recording is blocked in banking applications.

Google Pixel

On “clean” Android (Pixel 4a and newer) screen recording is available via Google Assistant:

  1. Say: “Okay, Google, record your screen.”
  2. Confirm the start of recording by voice or tap.
  3. To stop, say: “Stop recording.”
⚠️ Attention: On Huawei i Honor s EMUI 12+ built-in screen recording may not save files to the gallery due to file system limitations. Check the video through the file manager along the path /Internal Storage/Movies/Recordings.

6. How to record a screen with sound from a game or application

Capture internal audio is the most difficult task on Android. Even if the application promises to record system sound, on most phones this is blocked at the OS level. There are three working ways to bypass the limitation:

Method 1: Use an external mixer (for Samsung and Xiaomi)

Connect Bluetooth transmitter (for example, Creative BT-W5) and send sound from the phone to it, and then back to the microphone input. Diagram:

  1. Turn on the Bluetooth transmitter.
  2. In the phone's sound settings, select it as an output device.
  3. Connect to aux cable to the transmitter, insert the other end into the microphone connector (or use an adapter USB-C → 3.5 mm).
  4. Start screen recording with the microphone turned on.

Method 2: Root + application ScreenCam

If you have root accessinstall ScreenCam from XDA Developers. The application captures audio directly from audioflinger (system mixer), bypassing restrictions. Minus: it is unstable on Android 12+.

Method 3: Recording via PC (for NVIDIA Shield and emulators)

If you play via BlueStacks or connected to NVIDIA Shield TV, use OBS Studio on your computer:

  1. Connect your phone via USB in "File Transfer"** (MTP) mode.
  2. In OBS add source "Android Device Capture"** (required scrcpy).
  3. Set up audio capture via "Auxiliary Device Audio Input"** (WASAPI).
💡

On phones with a processor Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (for example Samsung Galaxy S23) internal sound can be recorded without root through the app Internal Audio Recorder from XDA, but only in the format .m4a, which then needs to be superimposed on the video in the editor.

7. Solving problems. with screen recording

If the video is not saved, is torn or recorded without sound, check these points:

Problem Cause Solution
Video is not saved Not enough disk space or blocked by antivirus Clear 1-2 GB of memory, disable antivirus while recording
Black screen in recording DRM limitation (in Netflix, banking applications) Use mirroring on PC via scrcpy
Torn video Low bitrate or CPU overload Reduce resolution to 720p or close background applications
No sound from the microphone The microphone is busy with another application or disabled in the settings Restart the phone, check the permissions for the recording application

On devices with Dynamic RAM Expansion (virtual RAM memory) screen recording to 4K may lead to lags. Disable the function in the developer settings before starting shooting.

8. Alternative methods: mirroring and streaming

If recording on your phone is not possible, try these methods:

  • 🖥 Mirroring on PC: Use scrcpy (free, without root) or ApowerMirror (paid, but with audio recording) Commands for scrcpy: 
    scrcpy --record=video.mp4 --bit-rate=20M
  • 📡 Cloud streaming:: Applications like Rainway or Parsec allow you to broadcast the screen to a PC and record it via OBS.
  • 🎮 Game launchers: IN NVIDIA GeForce NOW or Xbox Cloud Gaming has built-in recording gameplay.

The advantage of mirroring: you can record the screen with internal sound even on phones where this is blocked (for example, Samsung Galaxy A-series Disadvantage: a PC and a stable connection are required). data-i="251">or USB or Wi-Fi 5 GHz.

⚠️ Attention: When mirroring via Miracast (wireless connection to TV), video recording will have a delay of up to 200 ms, which is critical for dynamic games.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about screen recording

Is it possible to record the screen on Android without installing applications?

Yes, if you have Android 11+ or a phone with custom firmware (MIUI, One UI, ColorOS). data-i="259">) the recording is available through the voice assistant. Google Pixel 6) recording is available through the voice assistant.

Why is the screen recording cut off after 3 minutes?

This limitation is built into the firmware of some phones (more common on Sony Xperia i LG). you can:

  • Through ADB command screenrecord --time-limit 180 (indicates the limit in seconds).
  • Using applications like AZ Screen Recorder (there are no restrictions in the paid version).

On Samsung this restriction is removed after updating to One UI 5.1.

How to record a screen with sound from TikTok or Instagram?

Social networks block internal audio capture through standard means:

  1. Use an external microphone. (for example, Boya BY-M1) and speak the sound over.
  2. On Xiaomi turn on the option "Capture system sound"** in the recording settings** (does not work in all applications).
  3. For Samsung install SoundAssistant from Galaxy Store and activate Separate App Sound.
Where are recorded videos stored on the phone?

The path depends on the recording method:

  • Standard Android recording: /Storage/emulated/0/Movies/Screenshots/ or /DCIM/ScreenRecordings/.
  • AZ Screen Recorder: /Storage/emulated/0/AZRecorder/.
  • Mobizen: /Storage/emulated/0/Mobizen/.
  • ADB: the video is saved in the root folder (/sdcard/) under the name specified in the command.

If the video is not visible in the gallery, use a file manager (for example, Solid Explorer) and check the folder /Internal Storage/ manually.

Is it possible to record the screen on a phone with a broken display?

Yes, but you will need:

  1. Connect the phone to the PC via USB and use scrcpy for control and recording.
  2. If the sensor is working, start recording by voice (on Pixel) or via ADB:
    3. adb shell input tap 500 500 # tap on the coordinates of the record button

    adb shell input swipe 300 1000 300 200 # swipe to open the curtain

On phones with AMOLED-screens (for example, Samsung Galaxy S-series), if the display is broken, image capture may not work - in this case, only screen replacement.