How to take screenshots with android (2024)

Update 7/2/18:Added the HTC U12+, LG G7, and OnePlus 6.
Every Android phone is different, and so is taking screenshots with them. Even though Android 4 introduced simple screenshots for all with the handy power-and-volume-down-key combo, nailing it can still be tricky. That's why some phone makers have introduced new methods. We're here to help: Just find your Android phone on the list below to learn the various ways to snap, share, and save a screenshot.
[Further reading: The best Android phones of 2018]

Acer phones

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Pull down the notification panel to reach quick settings and tap the Screenshot icon.

Asus phones

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Pull down the notification panel to reach quick settings and tap the Screenshot icon.

Google phones

• Nexus:Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Pixels:Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.

HTC phones

• HTC U12+:Press and hold thepowerbutton until your phone vibrates, and then tap the virtual home buttonon thenavigation barwhile still pressing thepowerbutton
• HTC U series (up to U12+):Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• HTC 10:Hold down the home and power buttons OR hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• All other HTC phones:Hold down power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.

Huawei and Honor phones

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Pull down the notification panel, switch toShortcuts, and tap the Screenshot icon.

Lenovo

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Pull down the notification panel and tap the Screen Shot icon.

LG phones

• LG G7:Press and hold the power and volume-down buttons for a coupleof seconds.
• All other LG phones:Hold down the power (located on the back of the phone) and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Pull down the notification panel and tap the Capture+ icon.

Motorola phones

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.

OnePlus phones

• All OnePlus phones: Press and hold the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• OnePlus 5, 5T, and 6:Swipe down with three fingers on the home screen.

Samsung phones

• Galaxy S8 and later:Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Galaxy S7 and earlier:Hold down the home and power buttons for a couple of seconds.

Sony phones

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.
• Hold down the power key until a screen appears and tapTake screenshot.

ZTE phones

• Hold down the power and volume-down buttons for a couple of seconds.

Google Assistant

On supported phones, you can also ask Google Assistant to take a screenshot for you. When you're on the screen you want to snap, just say, "OK Google, take a screenshot," and it will oblige, saving a picture of the screenbelowthe Assistant interface. So if you want to capture the Google Assistant screen itself, you'll have to use the hardware buttons.

IDG

Save and share

Once you've snapped your screenshot you can create a shortcut to it in the notification panel. Tap it and you'll be able to edit or share it.
If you want to back up your screenshots to Google Photos, you might need to tell your phone to do so. Open the sidebar in Google Photos, thenDevice Folder. TapScreenshots, and flip theBack up & synctoggle. From there on out, all of your screenshots will be backed up to your camera roll in Google Photos.

Android Froyo phones and older

If you happen to have a pre-Gingerbread Android 2.3 phone lying around, taking a screenshot is quite an arduous task. Froyo users will need a PC, a USB cable, some Android knowhow and third-party software.

Install the Software

Back in those days, Google thought only developers would be interested in capturing Android screenshots, so you'll have to act like one. Download and install the freeAndroid SDK(software development kit). Visit the site, and be sure to get the correct version for your OS.
The software also requires Java. Mac OS X has the right tools already built in. Windows users should download theJava Development Kit. Install the Android SDK and Java downloads.

Launch the SDK Manager from the Android SDK download. (In Windows, if prompted, chooseExtract All.) Accept the terms, and clickInstall. The SDK will download more packages and then update itself with the latest files. This process can take about 30 minutes.
Launch DDMS (Dalvik Debug Monitor) within the Android SDKToolsfolder. The software will open a console for a moment and then launch a graphical interface in another window. Give it a moment, but if it quits and there seems to be an error initially--as happened to me on my test systems--try running DDMS again.
On the Android device, openSetting, Application settings, Development, and selectUSB debugging. Connect the Android device to your computer.

In Windows, if the Android doesn't appear as a listing in the Dalvik Debug Monitor application, go to the Device Manager. Right-click the Android device, and selectUpdate Driver Software. ChooseBrowse my computer for driver software, clickBrowse, and navigate to the USB driver folder within the Android SDK folder. ClickNext. Approve the following prompt to install the driver. Return to the Dalvik Debug Monitor; your Droid should now be listed.
With either OS, if your Android device still failed to show up in the Dalvik Debug Monitor, verify that you set it for USB debugging mode. In addition, drag the menu down from the top of the Android screen, and pickUSB connection. In most instances, you'll wantUSB Mass Storageto be selected. (I had to perform this step on a Droid X because it set itself up in PC Mode first.) But tryPC Modeif the software isn't finding your Android; that might solve the problem.
On your computer, click the phone icon in the upper-left section to select your Android. On the Android, prepare the moment you want to capture. On the computer, chooseDevice, Screen capture. ClickSave. Repeat the process for additional screenshots as needed.

Get to the Root

If you're a savvy Android enthusiast, you can shoot screenshots without hooking up to a computer at all. First, however, you'll have toroot your phone.

Normally, the Android OS prevents screenshot apps from working, because they muck around with deeper permissions. The rooting process confers superuser abilities, however, granting you permission to do anything you want.
After rooting, search the Android Marketplace forscreenshotto find various apps such asScreenshot, andScreenshot It. You'll activate screenshots with a timer, by shaking the phone, or via another command, and the app will then capture your device.
Easy, right?