No sound in video captured through the standard screen recorder on Android is most often caused by privacy settings blocking system audio capture or an incorrectly selected recording source in the options menu.
Android is a complex ecosystem with many manufacturers, each of which modifies the interface in their own way. Therefore, solutions may differ depending on the brand of your device, be it Samsung, Xiaomi or Google Pixel. In some cases, the lack of an audio track is a deliberate limitation to protect copyright, in others it is simply a forgotten switch in the settings menu. Let's take a detailed look at all possible scenarios and ways to eliminate them.
System limitations and versions of Android
Starting with version Android 10, Google has introduced native support for recording the internal sound of the system. Until this point, standard means could only capture image and sound from a microphone. However, even on modern versions of the OS there are strict rules regarding what kind of sound can be recorded. This is done to prevent piracy and protect the user's confidential data.
If you are trying to record content from streaming services such as Netflix, Spotify or YouTube Music, you are almost guaranteed to get a video with no sound or a black screen. This is the protection mechanism DRM (Digital Rights Management)working. High security applications block the audio stream from being sent to the screen recording buffer. In such cases, the lack of sound is not an error, but the correct operation of the security system.
⚠️ Attention: Recording protected content (movies, paid music) through the built-in recorder is often blocked at the system kernel level. Bypassing these restrictions requires root access and may violate the terms of use of the services.
It is also worth considering that in Do Not Disturb mode, some devices automatically turn off the recording of system sounds so as not to disturb the silence or not to record notifications that the user has decided to hide. Check the status of this mode in the notification shade before you start capturing.
Why don't older versions of Android record audio?
On versions below Android 10, the system API did not provide access to the internal audio stream for third-party applications and system utilities. The only option was to use a microphone, which led to low quality and recording of all surrounding noise.
Settings of the built-in screen recorder
The most common, but most common reason is the incorrect selection of the sound source in the recording start menu. When you swipe down to open the Quick Settings panel and tap the Screen Recording icon, a pop-up window with options will often appear before you start. This is where you need to be extremely careful.
In this menu there is usually an item “Sound Source” or “Audio”. By default, it can be set to "Mute" or "Mic Only". To capture what is happening inside the smartphone (game sounds, system clicks, the speech of the interlocutor in the messenger), you need to select the option "Device sounds" or “Internal sound”. If you select a microphone, then viewers will hear only what is happening around your phone.
- 🔊 Device sounds: records only internal audio (music, game, video), external noise is ignored.
- 🎤 Microphone: records the user's voice and surrounding sounds, system audio is not recorded.
- 🔇 No sound: video is recorded completely without an audio track.
- 🎛️ Mix (available on some models): records both system sounds and voice from the microphone simultaneously.
On devices Xiaomi and Redmi with the MIUI shell, the settings may be hidden a little deeper. Sometimes you need to go to the “Screen Recording” application itself through the all apps menu, click on the settings gear and there change the sound source to “Internal sound”. On Samsung settings often appear immediately when you click on the icon in the curtain.
Problems with application permissions
Even if everything is set correctly in the recorder settings, the operating system can block access to the microphone or audio stream at the level of global permissions. This often happens after updating the firmware or resetting the phone to factory settings. Android 12 and later has become stricter about which apps have access to sensitive data.
You need to make sure that the system Screen Recorder app or third-party recorder has all the necessary rights. Go to Settings → Applications → Show all applications. Find the required utility in the list (for example Screen Recorder or system service). Go to the “Permissions” section.
It is critical to check the item here "Microphone". If you plan to comment on videos using voice, access must be enabled. Recording internal audio on some custom ROMs also requires "Record Audio" permission or media access. If the slider is turned off, turn it on and restart the recording process.
| Resolution type | What is it for | Default status |
|---|---|---|
| Microphone | Recording voice and external noise | Prompted upon first launch |
| Storage | Saving a video file to memory | Allowed |
| On top of other windows | Displaying the recording control panel | Manual confirmation required |
| Special. capabilities | Additional. functions in third-party recorders | Disabled |
⚠️ Attention: On Android 13 and higher, permission settings may be hidden in the “Permissions Manager” submenu. If you don't see the app you want in the general list, check the Recently Deleted or All Apps category.
Conflicts with other audio apps
The Android audio system is designed in such a way that it can be difficult to simultaneously play or capture audio from multiple high-priority sources. If you have music playing in the background, a video call in progress, or a navigator with voice prompts running, this may cause a conflict when trying to record the screen. Spotify, there is a video call in WhatsApp or the navigator is running with voice prompts, this may cause a conflict when trying to record the screen.
In such cases, the system can automatically mute or turn off the audio track for the recorder, giving priority to the active call or media player. Try closing any background applications that are playing audio before you start recording. Pay special attention to instant messengers and browsers with open video tabs.
Before recording an important video, restart your smartphone. This will clear the audio buffer and close background processes that may be intercepting the audio stream.
Also check if you have a Bluetooth device connected to your phone, such as headphones or a speaker. Sometimes when recording a screen, the sound is routed to the Bluetooth headset, and if it is turned off or is far away, there will be silence in the recording, although there may be something playing on the phone at that moment. Try turning off Bluetooth and using the phone speaker.
Using third-party applications
If the built-in functionality of your smartphone does not allow you to record sound or does not work correctly, you should pay attention to third-party solutions from the Google Play Market. There are many specialized recorders that have more flexible settings for codecs and audio sources.
Popular applications, such as XRecorder, AZ Screen Recorder or Screen Recorder - X, often bypass some software restrictions of manufacturers. However, they too are subject to Android rules. For them to work fully, you may need to provide special permissions through the “Special” menu. capabilities."
- 📱 XRecorder: Allows you to select the bitrate and frame rate, has a built-in editor.
- 🎬 AZ Screen Recorder: One of the oldest recorders, supports internal audio recording on Android 10+.
- 🛠️ Screen Master: Offers the function of drawing on the screen while recording and recording from the front camera.
When installing such an application, carefully read the access permission requests. If an app asks for access to contacts or location for the screen recording feature, this is a suspicious sign. A quality recorder only needs rights to storage, microphone and display on top of other windows.
☑️ Checking a third-party recorder
Hardware faults and operating modes
In rare cases, the problem may be hardware in nature or related to specific operating modes of the phone. For example, if the smartphone speaker is faulty, you may not hear audio during playback, but this should not affect the recording of the internal digital stream. However, if the audio codec is faulty, recording may occur without sound.
It is also worth checking the “Silent” or “Vibration” mode. On some models, for example, old Huawei or Honor, turning on silent mode with the hardware volume button could block the recording of system sounds. Try increasing the media volume to maximum before you start capturing.
Another nuance is developer mode. If you accidentally enable USB debugging or change the audio format settings in the developer menu, this may interfere with audio performance. Go to Settings → For Developers and find the section related to audio. Reset the settings to default if there are changes there.
⚠️ Attention: Do not change the “Disable Absolute Volume Level” or “USB Configuration” settings unless necessary. This may cause the phone to stop processing audio signals correctly until a complete reboot.
In 90% of cases, the problem is solved by switching the audio source from “Microphone” to “Device Sounds” in the menu before starting recording.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why There is no sound when recording a game, although the settings are set to “Internal sound”?
Some games use their own audio engines, which may conflict with the system recorder. Try lowering the game's graphics quality or closing background applications. Also make sure that the game itself is not muted in the settings.
Is it possible to record the sound of a call when recording a screen?
Recording telephone conversations through the screen recording function on most modern smartphones is blocked at the legislative and system level for privacy reasons. You will only hear your voice through the microphone, but not the interlocutor.
Why does the recording stop or the sound disappears after a minute?
Most likely, the energy saving system is triggered, which “kills” the recording process to save battery. Go to the battery settings, find the recorder application and select the “Unlimited” or “Do not save battery” mode.
How to record sound on Android 9 and below?
This is not possible natively. You will need to use third-party applications that record sound exclusively through a microphone, or get root access and install a module that redirects the internal audio stream.
Does the quality of audio recording affect the file size?
Yes. Selecting a higher bitrate (for example, 320 kbps instead of 128 kbps) will significantly increase the size of the final video file, but will provide better playback quality.