How to take screenshots on all Android devices
Taking screenshots is essential: whether you want to share your new high score or just need to make a memo of something for yourself or share it with friends.
We’ll first look at how to do this on several Galaxy devices such as S6, S7, S8, Note, etc. but we’ll also teach you how to operate this function on any other Android device using Android 7.0 Nougat, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, Android 5.0 Lollipop, KitKat (4.4), Jelly Bean (4.1, 4.2, 4.3) and Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich.
There are different ways to get this done.
SWIPING THE SCREEN (Galaxy devices)
You can take a screenshot on a Galaxy device with a simple swipe.
First, you’ll have to make sure this function is enabled. If your device came out after 2013, go to Settings > Motion / Motions and Gestures and tick “Palm swipe to capture box”.
If it’s prior to the S4 (2013) go to Settings > Motion > Hand Motion and tick “swipe to capture”.
- Place your hand in a Karate Chop position at the side of your phone.
- Swipe horizontally (kind of like a scanner).
That’s it! You might need a few try to get the position and motion right, but when you do, you’ll hear a camera shutter, see the screenshot and get a notification.
USING A BUTTON SHORTCUT
- Hold the Home and Power buttons for a few seconds until the screenshot is captured. You need to press the power button slightly before the Home
It works on most Samsung phones with a home button. If your device doesn’t have one (i.e. S8 or S8 Plus) use the Volume down one instead. The process is the same.
USING THE S PEN ON A GALAXY NOTE
This will work on Samsung devices with an S Pen.
Open the Air Command menu by pulling out the S Pen stylus or hovering it over the screen and clicking the button on it.
- Hold the button and tap: just hold down the button on the S Pen and touch the screen while holding it until the screenshot is taken.
- Screen Write: Select it from the screenshot options. You can then write notes on the image.
- Scrapbooker: Select it from the Air Command radial menu. You can circle the area of the screen you want to take a screenshot of. You can then add tags, notes and categories. You’ll find all of the pictures on a scrapbook app on the device.
SCREENSHOTS ON ANY OTHER ANDROID DEVICE
This should work on all non-Samsung Android phones using Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwish or later:
- Press the Power button and Volume down key at the same time.
- Hold them until you hear a click or a camera shutter.
- You should get a notification and see a small capture animation. Your screenshots will be saved in a dedicated folder in your Photos or Gallery
If you’re operating an Android running on 2.3 Gingerbread, you can find apps such as Screenshot Easy or Screenshot ER (requiring you to root your phone) or No Root Screenshot It on Google Play Store.