Modern smartphones have turned into powerful multimedia centers, and there is often a need to capture what is happening on the display. Whether it's completing a difficult level in a game, creating a tutorial video, or fixing an error in an application, Android's built-in tools allow you to do this without third-party software. However, if the video sequence is easy to record, then capturing an audio stream it often causes difficulties for users.
In this article we will look at all the nuances of setting up the audio track when screencasting. You'll learn how to switch between recording system sounds and voice through the microphone, and why in some cases there may be no sound at all. Understanding these mechanisms will help you create high-quality content for YouTube or TikTok directly from your phone.
It is worth noting that the interfaces of manufacturers' shells may differ. What works on pure Android may be hidden in the menu Samsung One UI or Xiaomi MIUI. We will look at universal methods and specific settings for popular brands so that you can adapt the instructions to your device.
Built-in Screen Recorder function in Android 11 and later
Starting with the eleventh version of the operating system, Google has implemented a native screen recorder directly into the quick settings panel. This is the most stable method and does not require the installation of additional apps. To activate it, swipe down twice to reveal the full list of tiles and find the Screen Recording icon.
When you first launch, the system will ask for permission to capture image and sound. This is when choosing the right audio source is critical. If you select "Mute", the video will be silent. To record gameplay or system notifications, you need to select the option "Device Sounds". If your voice comment is required, the "Microphone".
⚠️ Attention: Some manufacturers (for example, Huawei or older Xiaomi models) may programmatically block the recording of internal sound in certain applications due to DRM restrictions or security policies. In such cases, the built-in recorder will record only the image.
The quality of the final file directly depends on the selected resolution and bitrate parameters. In the function settings (usually accessible through a long press on the icon or through the gear), you can set the resolution 1080p and frame rate 60 FPS for maximum smoothness. Don't forget that high frame rates significantly increase file size.
Setting the audio source: System or Microphone
The main confusion among users arises when choosing between internal audio and microphone input. System sound (Internal Audio) captures what you hear in headphones or speakers: music, sounds of gunfire in games, messenger notifications. This is an ideal option for creating tutorials or let's plays.
In contrast, microphone records external sounds: your voice, a dog barking in the background or the noise of the keyboard. In Android 10 and newer, it became possible to record only system sound without extraneous noise, which was a revolution for mobilography. However, if you are streaming or commentary, you will need a microphone.
It is important to understand the technical limitation: simultaneous recording of clear system audio and voice through a microphone using native means is often impossible on many shells. Usually the system offers to choose one thing. To combine tracks, you have to resort to tricks using external microphones or post-processing.
- 🎧 Internal Audio: Records the digital stream directly, without loss of quality and noise.
- 🎙️ Microphone: Records an analog signal, susceptible to echo and environmental noise.
- 🔇 Mute: Disables the audio track completely, useful for confidential data.
If you are recording gameplay, be sure to turn on Do Not Disturb mode so that an incoming call does not interrupt the recording and is recorded in the video.
Features of recording on Samsung, Xiaomi and other brands
Smartphone manufacturers often modify standard Android, adding their own functions or, conversely, removing them. For example, owners Samsung Galaxy have access to an extended recording menu, where you can separately adjust the volume of system sounds and microphone, as well as add a selfie camera on top of the video.
Devices from Xiaomi (Redmi, POCO) in the MIUI and HyperOS shell offer a built-in editor immediately after stopping recording. There you can trim the video, add music or change the format. However, in some regions (such as the European version of MIUI), the internal audio recording feature may be hidden or replaced by microphone-only recording due to legal restrictions.
Smartphones Google Pixel and devices running stock Android follow Google's strict policy: if an app disables recording (like Netflix or banking apps), the screen will turn black and the sound will disappear. This is protection against content piracy.
| Brand / Shell | System sound recording | Video editor | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung (One UI) | Yes | Basic | You can change the bitrate and add a front camera |
| Xiaomi (MIUI/HyperOS) | Yes (depending on the region) | Advanced | There are tools for drawing on the screen |
| Google Pixel (Stock) | Yes | Absent | Strict DRM restrictions |
| Huawei (EMUI) | Partially | Basic | Often only a microphone in some versions |
Why is there no screen recording on some phones?
The lack of a function may be due to an outdated version of Android (below 10) or strong customization of the shell by the manufacturer, who decided not to license this module to Google.
Third-party applications for advanced recording
If the built-in capabilities do not suit you, the store Google Play offers many alternatives. Applications like XRecorder, AZ Screen Recorder or DU Recorder provide more flexible settings. They allow you to change the orientation of the video on the fly, draw on the screen while recording, and even broadcast live.
The main advantage of third-party software is the ability to bypass some restrictions and the presence of built-in video editors. You can immediately after recording add subtitles, music, or cut out unsuccessful takes. In addition, many of them support recording in resolution 2K and higher, if the phone screen allows it.
However, you should be careful with resolutions. Third-party apps often require broad access to data, microphone, and storage. It is recommended to carefully read the privacy policy and choose trusted developers with high ratings to avoid leaking personal information.
⚠️ Warning: Third-party recorders may drain the battery more and heat up the device, as they are less optimized than system services. Monitor the processor temperature during long-term recording in 4K.
- 🚀 XRecorder: Minimum advertising, webcam support and drawing.
- 📹 AZ Screen Recorder: Classics of the genre, stable operation, conversion to GIF.
- 🎮 Glip (formerly DU Recorder): Targeted at gamers, there is cloud storage.
☑️ Check before recording
Why there is no sound when recording a screen: Solving problems
The most common problem is that the video is recorded, but there is no (sound track). First of all, check if the phone is in silent mode or if the media volume is turned down to zero. The recording often copies what the user hears, and if there is no sound in the output, it may not be in the file.
The second reason may be limitations of a particular application. Encrypted messengers (for example, Telegram in secret chat mode or WhatsApp calls) and streaming services (Netflix, Spotify) block audio and video capture at the Android security level. In this case, you will get a black screen or silence, and there is no way to get around this using standard methods.
It is also worth checking your permission settings. Go to Settings → Applications → Screen Recording → Permissions and make sure microphone access is allowed if you plan to speak. Sometimes after a system update, these permissions are reset to default.
No sound is most often caused by either choosing the wrong source (microphone instead of the system one) or DRM protection in the recorded application.
Optimizing quality and performance
Screen recording is a resource-intensive process. To avoid freezes (slowdowns) and desynchronization of sound with video, it is recommended to close background applications. This is especially true for heavy games, where every frame counts.
Choosing the correct bitrate is also important. To record dynamic shooters, a high bitrate is necessary to avoid a mess of pixels during fast movement. To record a static interface or read books, you can lower the settings, saving storage space. The optimal balance is 12-16 Mbps for FullHD.
Don't forget about free space. A minute of 4K video can take up to 500 MB of disk space. Clear the gallery regularly or set up automatic video upload to the cloud so that the recording process is not interrupted due to memory full.
Is it possible to record a phone conversation?
Native screen recording cannot capture the audio stream of a telephone conversation for security and legal reasons. This requires special voice recorders or call recording functions built into the phone book of a particular manufacturer.
Why does the video turn out jerky?
Jerky video (low FPS) usually means that the processor cannot cope with encoding. Try lowering the recording resolution from 4K to 1080p or reducing the frame rate to 30 FPS in the recorder settings.
Where are the recording files saved?
By default, files are saved to the folder DCIM/ScreenRecords or Pictures/ScreenRecords in the internal memory. You can find them through any file manager or in the gallery in a separate album.
Is notification sound recorded?
Yes, if the “System sounds” source is selected and the notification volume is not turned off. The sound of the keyboard typing will also be recorded if it is enabled in the system settings.