How to Take Screenshots on an Android

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: June 3, 2021 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to take a snapshot of your Android's on-screen content. There are several really easy ways to take a screenshot on your Android phone, though the method may vary a little on different phone and tablet models.

Steps

It can be anything on your screen you want to take a picture of. It can be an image, a message, a social media post, an app, a website, etc.
2
Press and hold the Power+Volume Down buttons. The screen will either flash or make a brief animation to indicate a screenshot has been taken. If you have the volume up, you will also hear a camera shutter sound. You will then see the screenshot notification at the bottom or top of your phone, depending on your phone model.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- On older Android models that have a physical "Home" button below the screen, you will need to press and hold the Power button and the Home button below the screen instead.
- On certain LG, Motorola and HTC phones, you will need to press and hold the Power button and Volume Up button, instead of the Volume Down button.^{[2]
  X
  Research source}
- Alternatively, you can use gestures to take a screenshot. The gesture to take a screenshot is to place the edge of your hand vertically on the right side of the screen and swipe from right to left across the screen.
- You can also use Google Assistant to take a screenshot, simply say "Hey Google, take a screenshot."
- Some phones have a shortcut that allows you to take a screenshot. To view your shortcuts, swipe down from the top of the screen to view the shortcuts. Tap the screenshot icon.
To open the screenshot, tap the screenshot thumbnail in the notification that appears after you take a screenshot. If it asks you to select an app to open the screenshot with, tap Gallery and tap Always or Just Once.
Tap
to share the screenshot. It's the icon with three dots connected by lines in the screenshot notification that appears after you take a screenshot. This displays apps you can share the screenshot over (i.e. social media, email, photo editing app). Tap an app to automatically attach the screenshot to a social media post, direct message, email, or open it in a photo editing app. To send the app over social media or an email, select a recipient, compose a message, and tap the Post/Send icon.
5
Mark up a screenshot. This is useful to highlight sections of a screenshot, or blackout parts of a screenshot you don't want other people to see (i.e. someone's username on social media.) Use the following steps to markup a screenshot:
- Tap the icon that resembles a pencil or marker tip in the screenshot notification.
- Tap the icon that resembles a marker, pen, or pencil.
- Tap a marker or pencil type.
- Tap the "X" icon to go to the previous menu.
- Tap the colored circle.
- Tap a color to select a color.
- Tap the "X" icon to go to the previous menu.
- Use your finger or a stylus to draw on the screenshot image.
- Tap Save.
6
Crop a screenshot. Cropping allows you to remove parts of an image you don't need and only capture the parts you do need. Use the following steps to crop a screenshot:
- Tap the icon that resembles two right angles forming a square in the screenshot notification.
  - On some devices, the markup, and crop icon may be the same icon.
- Drag the edges of the screen inward so that the area you want to keep is highlighted.
- Tap Save.
7
Access your screenshots in the Gallery. Use the following steps to access all the screenshots you have taken in the Gallery:
- Tap icon that resembles a photograph to open the Gallery.
- Tap the Screenshots folder or album.
- Tap the screenshot you want to open.
Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do you take a screenshot on a Galaxy s6?

Community Answer

Smultaneously press the Home key and the Power/Lock key for one to two seconds.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 17 Helpful 52
Question

How do I send a screenshot?

Community Answer

Screenshots save in your gallery so you can send one the same way you would send any other picture.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 21 Helpful 35
Question

How do I take screenshots on my Kindle?

Community Answer

You need to press and hold the “power” and “volume down” buttons at the same time, until you see your snapshot has been taken.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 14 Helpful 18