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We covered two simple ways to take screenshots on any Android phone or tablet, including using the power and volume button combo. You’ll also learn how to screenshot on an Android device 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 Samsung devices.
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 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.
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 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 it to Drive or choose another option to share it.
Screenshot on Android FAQs
Answer to related questions people also ask:
Why can I not take a screenshot?
Check to see if you are using Chrome Incognito Mode — Android prevents screenshots from being taken in Incognito Mode. Another reason you may not be able to take a screenshot is if your work or school issued your phone with specific restrictions, such as not permitting screenshots. Even if you only use some school or work accounts, those accounts may also prohibit screenshots.
How do I stop my phone from Screenshotting?
To disable screenshotting on your Android phone: Go to settings > click the Native tab > click the Android sub-tab > check the “Disable Application Screenshot” checkbox > click “Finish.”
What is the difference between a screenshot and a photo?
Both a photograph and a screenshot are images – both are visible impressions captured with a device or displayed on a video screen or computer. But a screenshot is an image of the data displayed on a mobile device or computer screen. A photograph is a picture created using a camera.
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