How to take a screenshot on WhatsApp on Android: all methods with pictures and nuances

Everyone needs screenshots of correspondence in WhatsApp on Android to save important information, proof of a conversation, or just a funny meme. But this doesn’t always work out the first time - the messenger can block the creation of screenshots in some chats, and standard button combinations do not work on all smartphones. In this article we will analyze 5 proven methodsincluding bypassing restrictions for hidden dialogues, and also tell you how to correctly save and edit the received screenshots.

We will pay special attention to the nuances of popular brands - Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi Redmi/POCO, Google Pixel and others. You will learn why sometimes the screenshot turns out black, how to take a photo of a long chat in its entirety, and what to do if WhatsApp does not allow you to save the screen. All instructions are relevant for the latest versions of the application (2026) and work on Android 12-15.

1. Standard method: combination of buttons on the phone

The most universal method is to use hardware buttons. It works on 99% of Android smartphones, but combinations may vary depending on the model:

• 📱 Most phones (Samsung, Google, Motorola, Nokia): press simultaneously Power + Volume down for 1-2 seconds.
• 🔄 Smartphones with a physical "Home" button (old Samsung, LG models): hold Power + Home.
• 🎯 Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO: works by default Power + Volume down, but you can configure the "triple tap" gesture in the settings.
• 🤖 Android with navigation gestures (without buttons): Swipe down the screen with three fingers (must be enabled in Settings → Accessibility → Gestures).

After After a successful screenshot, you will see:

• 🔍 Flashing animation along the edges of the screen.
• 📁 Notification "Screenshot saved" with a button Share or Delete.
• 🖼️ Preview at the bottom of the screen (on some firmware, for example, MIUI or One UI).

Where to look for a ready-made screenshot? All pictures are automatically saved in the folder Pictures → Screenshots (or DCIM → Screenshots on some devices). They can also be accessed through the gallery or file manager.

⚠️ Attention: On some phones (for example, Huawei or Honor) screenshots from WhatsApp may be saved without a preview in the gallery due to the privacy policy. To see them, open the file manager and go to Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots.

2. Screenshot with a gesture (without buttons) - for single-processor smartphones

If the hardware buttons on your phone are broken or you just prefer gesture control, you can set it up to take screenshots without physically pressing. This method is especially convenient for devices with cutouts for the camera (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra or Xiaomi 14), where accidentally pressing buttons can interrupt the process.

Instructions for setting up a gesture for screenshot:

1. Open Settings → Gesture control (on Xiaomi this may be called Advanced settings → Gestures).
2. Find the option Gesture screenshot or Three-finger swipe.
3. Turn on the function and select the swipe direction (usually down the screen).
4. For the test swipe three fingers across the screen WhatsApp —a snapshot should appear.

On phones Samsung with a shell One UI the path is different:

1. Go to Settings → Advanced functions → Movements and gestures.
2. Activate Palm screenshot.
3. Swipe the edge of your palm from right to left (or vice versa, depending on the setting).

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Faster than pressing buttons (especially if your hands are full).
• 🛠️ Works even with faulty physical buttons.
• 🎯 You can take a screenshot with one hand (on small screens).

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, ColorOS on Oppo/Realme), the screenshot gesture may conflict with other functions, such as Split screen. If the snapshot is not created, check the priority of gestures in the settings.

Activate the function in the phone settings

Check if the gesture does not conflict with other options

Practice on a blank screen (for example, in notes)

Make sure that WhatsApp has no restrictions on screenshots (see section 4)

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3. How to take a screenshot of a long chat on WhatsApp (scroll screen)

If you need to save the entire dialogue (for example, the history of conversations with support or a long correspondence), a standard screenshot will not work - it will only capture the visible part of the screen. To do this, you will need the function scrolling screenshot (scrolling screenshot), which is available on most modern smartphones.

Step by step instructions:

1. Take a regular screenshot using any of the methods described above.
2. Immediately after the screenshot preview appears (at the bottom of the screen), click on it.
3. In the editor that opens, find the button Scrolling (on Samsung this Capture scrolling, on Xiaomi — Long screenshot).
4. Wait for the phone to automatically scroll down the chat and combine the frames into one long snapshot.
5. Save the result with the button Done or Save.

Limitations and nuances:

• 📏 The maximum length of a screenshot depends on the model phone (usually up to 5-10 screens).
• ⚠️ In WhatsApp the function may not work if the chat contains protected messages (with a self-destruct timer) or media files.
• 🔄 On some phones (for example, Google Pixel) scrolling screen must be enabled manually in the developer settings.

If your phone does not support long screenshots, use third-party applications such as LongShot or Scroll Capture. They allow you to manually scroll the screen and connect frames, but require additional permissions.

How to enable scrolling screen on Google Pixel

1. Activate Developer mode (click on Build number 7 times in the phone settings).

2. Go to System → For Developers and find the option Allow scrolling screenshots.

3. Reboot your phone and try WhatsApp again.

4. Why WhatsApp blocks screenshots and how to bypass it

Sometimes when you try to take a screenshot in WhatsApp you see a black screen or a notification “You cannot take screenshots in this chat.” This is due to privacy protection function, which is automatically enabled in:

• 🔒 Hidden chats (with message self-destruct timer enabled).
• 👤 Dialogues with restricted access (for example, if the interlocutor has blocked saving media).
• 🛡️ Chats with two-factor authentication (corporate accounts or verified profiles).

How to bypass the restriction:

Method	How it works	Limitations
Second phone	Take a photo of the main phone screen with another device.	Low quality, glare on screen.
Google Assistant	Say “Okay Google, take a screenshot.”	Does not work in hidden chats.
Screen recording	Enable screen recording, then take a freeze frame.	Large file size, needs to be cropped.
Guest mode	Login to WhatsApp through a second account on your phone.	Not suitable for personal chats.

The most reliable way is to use screen recording and then create a screenshot from the video. To do this:

1. Enable screen recording (usually in the notification shade or in Settings → Display → Screen recording).
2. Open the desired chat in WhatsApp and scroll through it.
3. Stop recording and open the video in the gallery.
4. Find frames with the desired correspondence and take a screenshot of the video (press pause and use the standard button combination).

⚠️ Attention: Screenshots from chats with the "Disappearing messages" mode enabled can automatically notify the interlocutor about saving the screen (if he has screenshot notifications enabled). This rule has been in effect since 2023 and applies to all accounts WhatsApp.

5 Where are screenshots from. WhatsApp and how to edit them

By default, all screenshots are saved in the standard phone folder, but WhatsApp has its own nuances:

• 📂 Path to files: Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots (or DCIM → Screenshots on some devices).
• 🔍 Search by date: Files are sorted by creation time (name format: Screenshot_YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.png).
• 📱 Access from the gallery: Open the application Gallery or Google Photos and find the album "Screenshots".

To edit the screenshot:

1. Open it in the gallery and click Edit (pencil icon).
2. Cut off unnecessary parts, add text or highlight important points with a marker.
3. Save changes (it is better to select option Save as a copyso as not to lose the original).

Useful applications for editing:

• 🎨 Snapseed (from Google) - for professional processing.
• ✏️ Photo Editor - a simple tool with a set of stickers and filters.
• 📝 Markup (built into Google Photos) - for quickly adding text and arrows.

If the screenshot is needed for official purposes (for example, as evidence in court or for work), save it in the format PDF:

1. Select a screenshot in the gallery and click Share.
2. Select Print (printer) → Save as PDF.
3. Specify the folder to save (for example, Documents).

6. Alternative methods: screenshot via PC or other device

If you can’t take a screenshot on your phone (for example, due to a broken screen or software limitations), you can use computer or second deviceHere are 3 working methods:

Method 1: Connect to PC via ADB (for advanced users)

1. Install Android SDK Platform-Tools on computer.
2. Connect your phone via USB and turn it on USB debugging in the developer settings.
3. In the command line, enter:

   adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

4. Copy the file to PC:

   adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

Method 2: Remote control via TeamViewer or AnyDesk

• Install TeamViewer QuickSupport on your phone.
• Connect to it from a PC via the device ID.
• Take a screenshot of the phone screen using standard Windows tools (PrtScn) or macOS (Cmd + Shift + 4).

Method 3: Taking a picture of the screen with another phone

• Take a second smartphone and take a photo of the screen of the first.
• Use the mode Document in the camera for better quality.
• Cut off excess edges in any graphic editor.

Advantages of these methods:

• 🖥️ They work even if the phone screen is broken.
• 🔒 Bypass restrictions WhatsApp on screenshots.
• 📤 Allows you to immediately save the picture on your PC.

⚠️ Attention: When using ADB or remote access, make sure that the connection is via secure network. open Wi-Fi can lead to leakage of personal information from WhatsApp.

7. Frequent errors and how to fix them

Even if you follow the instructions correctly, you may not be able to take a screenshot. top 5 problems and their solutions:

Problem	Cause	Solution
The screenshot turns out black	WhatsApp blocks snapshot in hidden chat	Use screen recording or a second phone
No save notification	Sounds/notifications disabled or folder Screenshots deleted	Check notification settings and create a folder manually
Button combination does not work	Buttons are stuck or conflict with case	Try a gesture or connect a keyboard via Bluetooth
The screenshot is not saved in the gallery	Firmware restrictions (for example, on Huawei)	Use a file manager to search folders
It is impossible to make a scroll screen	The function is disabled in the settings or is not supported by the phone	Install a third-party application (for example, LongShot)

If none of the methods helped, check:

• 🔧 WhatsApp settings: go in Settings → Chat → Backup and make sure there are no restrictions on saving media.
• 📱 System updates: Old version of Android may not support new features screenshots.
• 🛡️ Antivirus: some apps (for example, Avast or Kaspersky) block the creation of screenshots in messengers.

💡

If the screenshot is needed for legal proceedings or an official request, make a notarized copy. A regular screenshot may not be considered evidence without additional confirmation.

FAQ: Answers to frequently asked questions

Is it possible to take a screenshot on WhatsApp without the other person knowing?

In most cases, yes. WhatsApp notifies about the screenshot only in chats with disappearing messages (if the interlocutor has enabled this function). In regular dialogs, however, remember that the interlocutor can see the screenshot if you share or publish it.

Where can I find screenshots if they are not displayed in the gallery?

Open any file manager (for example, Files by Google or Mi File Manager) and follow the path Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots. If there is no folder, check DCIM → Screenshots or use a search for files with the extension .png or .jpg.

How to take a screenshot on an Android tablet?

On tablets (for example, Samsung Galaxy Tab or Lenovo Tab) the button combinations are the same, but due to the large screen it may be inconvenient to press them at the same time. Alternatives:

• Use Three finger gesture (swipe down on the screen).
• Connect a Bluetooth keyboard and press PrtScn.
• Turn on Google Assistant and say with your voice: “Take a screenshot.”

Is it possible to recover an accidentally deleted screenshot from WhatsApp?

Yes, if you act quickly:

1. Check the folder Trash in the gallery (on some phones, files are stored there for 30 days).
2. Use data recovery applications such as DiskDigger or Recuva (root access is required).
3. If the screenshot was synchronized with Google Photos, check the "Deleted" album in the web version of the service.

Important: do not save new files to your phone after deletion, so as not to overwrite the data.

Why do screenshots from WhatsApp take up so much space?

Screenshots are saved in high resolution (corresponding to the phone screen). To reduce their size:

• Use compression applications (for example, Photo & Picture Resizer).
• Change the format from PNG to JPEG (in the editor or via Save as).
• Disable saving to the cloud (if you use Google Photos in original quality).

Medium size screenshot from Full HD-screen - 1-3 MB. On 4K-displays (for example, Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra) can reach 5-8 MB.