Screen recording on Samsung Galaxy is a useful function for creating guides, streaming games, saving video calls or demonstrating errors in applications. However, not all users know that modern smartphones Samsung (starting with Android 10 shell One UI 2.0+) have built-in tools for screencasting - without the need to install third-party apps. At the same time, recording capabilities strongly depend on the device model and firmware version.

In this article we will examine all available methods: from the standard tool Screen recording in the notification curtain to hidden functions for models with S Pen (for example, Galaxy Note 20 or S23 Ultra). You'll also learn how to bypass system limitations, such as recording audio from speakers or enabling touch mapping. For owners of old devices (up to Android 9), we will provide alternative solutions using ADB and specialized applications.

We will pay special attention a unique Samsung feature - screen recording in high resolution (up to 4K) on the flagships of the S and Note series, which most competitors lack. And at the end of the article you will find a comparative table of methods based on the criteria of quality, convenience and compatibility.

1. Built-in screen recording: where to find and how to set up

The easiest way to start recording is to use the built-in tool Samsungwhich is available on all devices with One UI 2.1 and newer (released after 2020). The feature is hidden in the quick settings panel and must first be added to the visible area.

To activate the recording:

  1. Swipe down the screen twice to open the full notification panel.
  2. Tap the "+" (or "Edit") in the upper right corner.
  3. Find the button Screen recording (icon with a dot in a circle) in the list and drag it to the active area.
  4. Go back to the main screen and tap on the added button.

Before you start recording, a menu with settings will open:

  • 🔊 Microphone sound - will enable voice recording through a microphone (useful for comments).
  • 📱 Device sound - will capture system data sounds (does not work on all models due to limitations Android).
  • ✏️ Drawing — will allow you to use S Pen or your finger to mark during recording (available on Note/Tab S).
  • ⚙️ Quality — resolution selection (from 720p to 4K on flagships).

Close confidential applications (banks, instant messengers)

Check free space (1 minute 1080p = ~120 MB)

Disable notifications (so as not to be included in the video)

Connect charging (recording greatly drains the battery)-->

After pressing “Start" a countdown will begin (3 seconds), and a control panel with a timer and buttons will appear at the top of the screen pauses/stop. The finished video is saved in the gallery in the folder Screen recordings.

⚠️ Attention: On some models (for example, Galaxy A13 or A23), recording of system audio may be blocked due to performance limitations. In this case, the sound from games or videos will not be included in the final one. file.

2. Screen recording on older Samsung models (Android 9 and below)

If your smartphone is running on Android 9 Pie or an earlier version (for example Galaxy S8, Note 9), there may not be a built-in screen recording function. In this case, there are two reliable options:

Method 1: Using ADB (without ROOT)

To activate the hidden recording function via Android Debug Bridge:

  1. Enable Developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → Software information and tap 7 times by Build number.
  2. Return to Settings → Developer options and activate USB debugging.
  3. Connect your phone to the PC, install ADB Tools and run the command: 
    adb shell settings put global settings_screenrecord_long_press true
  4. Now hold the combination Volume up + Power within 2 seconds - recording will begin.

The video will be saved in the folder Movies/Screenrecord. The disadvantage of the method is the lack of sound and fixed resolution 720p.

Method 2: Third-party applications

For Android 9 and below, apps from Google Play:

  • 🎥 AZ Screen Recorder are suitable - supports audio recording from a microphone, camera overlay and editing.
  • 📱 Mobizen - allows you to broadcast the screen to a PC in real time.
  • 🔧 DU Recorder - has a built-in video editor and support 1080p.
⚠️ Attention: Screen recording applications on older versions of Android may conflict with the shell Samsung ExperienceIf the app crashes after installation, try disabling battery optimization for it in the settings.

Galaxy S23/S22/S21

Galaxy A54/A53/A34

Galaxy Note 20/Note 10

Galaxy S10/S9 or older

Other model-->

3. How to record sound from speakers (bypassing restrictions)

By default Samsung blocks recording of system sound in most regions due to licensing restrictions: However, there are legal ways to get around this:

Method 1: Enable internal audio through developer options

On some firmware (for example, on Galaxy S22 s One UI 5.1) you can activate device sound recording:

  1. Activate Developer mode (as in the previous section).
  2. Go to Developer options → Record screen with internal audio and enable the option.
  3. Now, when recording, the switch “Device Sound».

Method 2: Using an external microphone will appear in the toolbar in the toolbar

If the internal sound is blocked, connect external microphone via USB-C or Bluetooth and point it at the phone speaker. For best quality:

  • 🎙️ Use a microphone with a directional pattern (for example Boya BY-M1).
  • 🔇 Reduce the phone volume to 70% to avoid distortion.
  • 📏 Place the microphone at a distance of 10-15 cm from the speaker.

Method 3: Apps that bypass restrictions (requires ROOT)

For advanced users with superuser rights is suitable ScreenCam or Internal Audio Recorder. These apps intercept the audio stream at the system level, but their installation requires:

  • 🔓 Unlocked bootloader.
  • 📱 Installed Magisk or SuperSU.
  • 🛠️ Module Audio Mod for Magisk.
Risks of using ROOT to record sound

Installation Magisk may cause Knox to reset (loss of warranty for some functions, for example, Samsung Pay).

Some banking applications will stop working due to the detection of root access.

Software updates will have to be installed manually.

4. Screen recording with touch display (for tutorials)

If you are creating a training video, it is useful to show gestures and taps on the screen. In One UI this function is called “Show touches" and is enabled separately:

  1. Open Settings → Additional functions.
  2. Select Motions and gestures laboratory → Show touches.
  3. Activate the slider and adjust the color/size of the circle (gray by default).

Now, when recording a screen, all taps and swipes will be displayed as animated circles. For professional videos, we recommend:

  • 🎨 Set a contrasting color (for example, red) for better visibility.
  • 📏 Increase circle size to 80–100%.
  • ⏱️ Enable touch time display (in some firmware).

On Galaxy Tab S i Note s S Pen Additionally available is the “Show pen movementsfunction, which displays the trajectory of the stylus - ideal for drawing or annotations.

💡

To record gameplay, disable “Show touches” — in dynamic games, the animation of the circles will distract the audience.

5. Recording in high resolution (4K) on Samsung flagships

Flagship models (Galaxy S23 Ultra, S22+, Note 20 Ultra) support screen recording in resolution 4K (3840×2160) at frequency 60 FPS. However, this option may be hidden by default. To activate it:

  1. Open the quick settings panel and hold the icon Screen recording.
  2. In the menu that opens, select Video quality → 4K UHD.
  3. Set frequency frames: 60 FPS for smoothness or 30 FPS to save space.

Pay attention to the limitations:

Model Max. resolution Max. FPS HDR support
Galaxy S23 Ultra 4K 60 Yes
Galaxy S22+/S22 4K 60 No
Galaxy Note 20 Ultra 4K 30 Yes
Galaxy A54/A53 1080p 30 No

For recording in 4K make sure that:

  • 🔋 The phone is charged more than 50% (recording in high resolution puts a lot of stress on the processor).
  • 📁 There is enough space on the device (1 minute 4K/60FPS = ~400 MB).
  • 🔄 Power saving mode is disabled in the camera settings.
⚠️ Attention: On some firmware for Galaxy S21 and older, recording in 4K can automatically lower the resolution to 1440pif the processor temperature exceeds 45°C. To avoid this, use a cooling pad or record short periods (up to 5 minutes).

6. Alternative methods: Recording from a PC or via DeX

If the built-in tools are not suitable, you can record the screen Samsung using a computer. This is relevant for streamers or those who need long video without time limits.

Method 1: Through Samsung DeX

Samsung DeX allows you to connect the phone to the PC in desktop mode and record the screen through apps like OBS Studio:

  1. Connect the phone to the PC via USB-C (you need the original cable).
  2. Run Samsung DeX (automatically or through the notification panel).
  3. On the PC, open OBS Studio, add the source "Capture windows" and select the window DeX.
  4. Adjust the bitrate (we recommend 20–30 Mbps for 1080p).

Method 2: Wirelessly (Miracast)

For wireless recording:

  • 📡 Turn on Smart View in the notification panel Samsung.
  • 💻 On a PC, use the app Mirroring360 or ApowerMirror to receive a signal.
  • 🎥 Record the screen via OBS or built-in app tools.

The advantage of these methods is the absence of recording time restrictions and the ability to overlay a webcam. The disadvantage is the image delay (~1-2 seconds).

7. Solving problems: recording is interrupted, there is no sound, lags

When recording the screen on Samsung typical errors may occur. Here's how to fix them:

Problem Cause Solution
Recording stops after 3-5 minutes Overheating processor or background limitation Disable background optimization for the recording application in the battery settings
No sound from microphone Audio port busy or access disabled Check microphone permissions in Settings → Applications
Video lags when viewed Low bitrate or codec H.265 not supported by the player Use VLC Player or convert to H.264 via HandBrake
Recording does not work on Android 12+ Privacy policy restrictions Update the software or use ADB-command: adb shell cmd media_projection allow

If the problem persists, try:

  • 🔄 Reboot the phone before recording.
  • 🧹 Clear the application cache Screen Recorder in the settings.
  • 📱 Roll back updates via Settings → Software update (if the error appeared after the update).
💡

On devices with Android 13+ i One UI 5.1+ built-in screen recording may be blocked in banking applications and instant messengers (for example, WhatsApp) due to security policies. In this case, use an external camera or specialized apps like ApowerMirror.

Comparative table of screen recording methods

To choose the best method, compare the capabilities of each. method:

Method Resolution Sound Touch Difficulty Suitable for
Built-in recording (One UI) Before 4K Microphone/system* Yes ⭐ Quick recording, tutorials
ADB (Android 9) 720p No No ⭐⭐ Old models without ROOT
AZ Screen Recorder 1080p Microphone Yes (plugin) ⭐⭐ Games, long-term recordings
Samsung DeX + OBS 4K Microphone/system Yes ⭐⭐⭐ Streams, professional editing
ROOT + ScreenCam 4K System Yes ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Recording protected content

* - system sound is not available on all models and firmware.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about screen recording on Samsung

Is it possible to record the screen on Galaxy J6 or J4 (Android 8/9)?

These models do not have a built-in recording function. Use AZ Screen Recorder or DU Recorder from Google Play. To Android 8.0 you may need to roll back to an earlier version of the application (for example, AZ Screen Recorder 3.1.5).

Why is the video jerky when recording in games?

This is due to the FPS limitation in recording mode. Try:

  • Reduce the resolution to 720p.
  • Disable vertical sync in the game settings.
  • Use Game Launcher from Samsung i activate the “Maximum performance mode».
How to record video with audio from YouTube or Netflix?

Due to protection DRM the built-in screen recording will not capture audio in these applications. Alternatives:

  • Use an external microphone (see section 3).
  • Connect the phone to the PC via HDMI adapter and record the screen using OBS.
  • For personal use, download the video via Snaptube (at your own peril and risk).
⚠️ Recording and distribution of protected content may violate the terms of use of services.
Where are recorded videos stored and how to transfer them to a PC?

Videos are saved in folder DCIM → Screen recordings or Movies → Screenrecord. To transfer them to your computer:

  1. Connect your phone via USB (select mode File transfer).
  2. Copy files manually or use Samsung Smart Switch.
  3. For wireless transmission, use Google Photos or Send Anywhere.
Is it possible to record the screen on Galaxy Watch?

No Galaxy Watch (including models on Wear OS) do not support screen recording. An alternative is to shoot video with an external camera or use an emulator Watch Face Studio on a PC to create screencasts of the interface.