How to Screenshot on Android Devices: Buttons and Gestures

To take a screenshot on most Android devices, press Power and Volume down at the same time, then release them. The image saves automatically. For a longer page, take a screenshot and look for Capture more or your manufacturer's scrolling capture button.

The same button combination works on many Android tablets. Button positions, gestures, and menus vary by model and software version; the illustrations below show example layouts.

Take a screenshot with the buttons

1. Open the app, page, or image you want to save.
2. Press Power + Volume down together briefly, then release. On Samsung devices, Power may be called the Side button.

A preview or capture notification confirms success. Tap the preview to review the image, or use the editing and sharing controls that appear. You do not need to open the preview to save a standard screenshot.

If the shortcut does not work, some phones offer Screenshot in the menu that appears when you hold Power. Availability varies; see Google's Android screenshot instructions.

Take a scrolling screenshot

Google's Capture more workflow requires Android 12 or later and a supported scrollable screen.

1. Open the long page and capture it with Power + Volume down.
2. Tap Capture more beside the screenshot preview.

Move the crop boundaries to include the content you need, then tap Save.

If the option is missing, that screen may not support scrolling capture. For webpages, try this system method rather than relying on a Chrome-specific Long Screenshot menu.

Screenshot on a Google Pixel without pressing buttons

Use the recent-apps screen

1. With gesture navigation, swipe up from the bottom and hold. With three-button navigation, tap Overview.
2. Find the app card you want and tap Screenshot.

This captures the selected app. Google documents both navigation options in its Pixel screenshot guide.

Set up Quick Tap

On supported Pixel 4a (5G) and later phones, open Settings > System > Gestures > Quick Tap. Enable Use Quick Tap, select Take screenshot, and double-tap the back of the phone. The regular Pixel 4a is not included in Google's stated compatibility range. See Google's Quick Tap instructions.

Screenshot on a Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet

Alongside the button shortcut, compatible Galaxy devices offer these methods in Samsung's screenshot guide.

Palm swipe

Search Settings for Palm swipe to capture and enable it if available. Swipe the edge of your hand across the display. The setting is under Advanced features on supported devices; some versions place it inside Motions and gestures.

Scroll capture

After taking a screenshot of a scrollable page, tap the toolbar's Scroll capture icon, shown as two downward arrows, to include more content.

S Pen Screen write

1. On a compatible device, open Air command with the S Pen and select Screen write.
2. The screen is captured automatically. Annotate it if needed, then tap Save.

S Pen button actions differ by model; holding the pen button for three seconds is not a universal screenshot shortcut.

Use Motorola's three-finger gesture

On supported Motorola phones, enable Three finger screenshot in the gesture settings. Depending on the model, look under Settings > System > Gestures or the Moto app's Gestures/Moto Actions section. Then touch and hold the screen with three fingers. Motorola's screenshot instructions describe the gesture; its gesture settings guide shows another supported menu layout.

Use an accessibility shortcut or voice command

Where Google's Accessibility Menu is available:

1. Open Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Menu and enable its shortcut. Review the permission prompt.
2. Open the shortcut and choose Screenshot; check the next menu page if necessary.

For voice capture, activate your configured assistant and say “Take a screenshot.” Google documents this for Gemini's Device assistance. To use that device action, set the Google app as your default digital assistant. Supported Galaxy devices can also use Bixby.

Find, edit, and share your screenshots

In Google Photos, open Collections > On this device > Screenshots. On Samsung, open Gallery > Albums > Screenshots. Open an image and choose Edit or Share. Crop out private information before sending it.

If screenshots are not working

• A volume slider or power menu appears: retry with both buttons pressed together and released promptly.
• A gesture is unavailable: use the button shortcut; manufacturer gestures are not standard across Android.
• An app blocks capture: some screens restrict screenshots for privacy or security. Use the app's supported sharing or export option instead.