How to take screenshots on any Android phone or tablet in two different ways

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We covered two simple ways you can take screenshots on any Android phone or tablet. This article will show you how to do a screenshot on Android using the power and volume button combo. We’ll also show you how to screenshot on Android using Google Assistant, which is easily the quickest option.

There are plenty of reasons you might want to take screenshots on your Android phone or tablet. You can use them to capture gaming achievements, tweets, texts, or messages, and it’s incredibly easy to snap and save these moments irrespective of the Android device you are using.

Even though Android introduced a simple screenshots process for all its devices with the power and volume down combination, correctly nailing it at first can be tricky – you can accidentally shot up your volume or switch off your phone. That’s why some phone makers have come up with new screenshot methods for more recent Android phones.

In this article, we’ll show you two methods that are incredibly simple to take screenshots on any Android device. Though some Android phones and tablets might have different key combos for taking screenshots, the methods in this post will apply to most devices using Android 4.0 and higher — including Google Pixel, Xiaomi, Huawei, Motorola, HTC, OnePlus, LG, Asus, Honor, Sony, ZTE, and even Samsung devices (you might want to check out our well-detailed guide on how to take screenshots on Samsung phones).

How to take a screenshot on Android using the power and volume down buttons

The standard way of capturing a screenshot on an Android device is to press down the Power and volume button at the same time. It was introduced with the launch of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. So if your phone or tablet is using Android 4.0 or higher, this method will work perfectly fine.

1. Go to the the screen page you want to screenshot.

2. Press the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. It might take some practice to get it right in the beginning.

3. Hold both buttons until you see a visual signal confirming the screenshot was taken.

Alternatively, for recent Android phones and tablets – press and hold the power button for a few seconds, and tap Screenshot from the options that appear.

Look for the screenshot in the notification panel. From there, you can easily share, delete, or save. It will be automatically saved in your Photo Gallery or Library > Screenshots folder.

How to take a screenshot on Android using Google Assistant

The second method for taking screenshots on Android is with Google Assistant, which is available on recent versions of Android devices. It’s a hands-free way to screen capture on Android. It’s also the simplest and quickest method as it requires minimal effort. Here’s how:

1. Go to the the screen page you want to screenshot.

2. Activate Google Assistant by using voice command (default is OK, Google).

3. Say to Google Assistant, Take a screenshot. Google Assistant will oblige and take a screenshot of your screen underneath its overlay.

4. Google Assistant will not automatically save the screenshot. You’ll either need to upload to Photos, save to Drive, or choose another option to share it.

For more help getting the most out of your tech, check out our how-to guides as well as more helpful articles below.