How to screen record on an android

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If you want to record a presentation on Zoom, document weird pop-ups on your screen, or make a how-to video, it is easy to capture what you’re doing or viewing on your Android phone. Starting with Android 11, you’ll find a basic screen-recording tool in your Quick Settings menu that can capture your phone’s video and audio, as well as sound from your phone’s mic. And some manufacturers offer more advanced features, including the abilities to narrate your video using the front camera and draw on your screen as you record.

You’ll find the built-in screen recorder in your Android phone’s Quick Settings.

1. Swipe down the notification panel to access the Quick Settings panel.
2. Tap the “screen record” icon (may also be called “screen recording” or “screen recorder”). For some phones, pressing the screen recording icon will automatically start the recording with a three-second count down. Otherwise, you’ll need to press “Start” or “Start recording.” If the Screen record icon is missing from the Quick Settings panel, you can add it by scrolling to the last page, tapping the plus sign or pencil icon, and selecting the screen recorder tile.

You’ll find settings for the screen recorder by pressing and holding the screen record button in Quick Settings. Here you may find the options to change the video quality, the front camera video size, the ability to show taps and touches, and more. You can tweak these settings to get the desired output.

Once you start recording, you’ll see icons that enable you to toggle on/off the microphone so you can add a voiceover and, in some cases, your front camera. Some screen recorders also have a pencil icon so you can draw on the screen while recording.

When you’re finished recording, swipe down to view notifications and select the option to stop recording. Some phones may also have a menu overlaying your screen with a stop button (a circle with a square).

You can’t record everything using the screen recorder

Due to legal and copyright considerations, you can’t use the screen recorder in all applications, and there will be times when you can’t record audio. For example, in the U.S., some state and local laws prohibit you from secretly recording phone conversations, and the built-in screen recorder won’t record calls. However, there are ways to record a call on your Android phone. Just make sure you check your local laws regarding wiretapping – personal phone calls are protected by wiretapping laws. Usually, having the other person agree to the recording is enough.

The other time you may run into issues using the screen recording feature is when the app developer won’t allow recording to prevent you from creating unauthorized versions of their copyrighted material. Often, it’s only the app's audio that is protected.

[Image credit: Screenshots via Techlicious, Smartmockups]

Sagar Naresh Bhavsar has been writing about technology for more than two years. Previously, he was a staff writer at Guiding Tech and TechWiser. He loves working out, having a cup of coffee, and playing guitar.

Taking screenshots is easy, but what about a longer, more complicated video recording of what’s happening on your phone? Whether you’re taking a recording to show something fun to your friends or creating a video for professional purposes, there are a number of ways to record the screen on an Android device.

Contents

• Recording your screen on an Android 12 device
• Recording your screen on Android 10 devices
• How to record your screen using apps

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

• Android device with Android 11 or later

Here are easy ways to record the screen on an Android device, whether it’s by downloading an app, using the built-in screen recorder on Android 12, or using in-built tools available on some older Android versions.

Recording your screen on an Android 12 device

It's fairly easy to record your screen on an Android 12 device. After teasing the option before Android 11's launch, Google's developers have designed a built-in screen recorder for Android versions 11 and higher. Here's how to use the feature.

Step 1: Pull down your phone's Quick settings panel by swiping down the Notification panel twice.

Step 2: Select the Screen recorder option.

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Step 3: If you don't see the Screen Recorder option, click on the Plus symbol that appears at the end of all the icons.

Step 4: Now select the Screen recorder option, drag it down, and place it among the other icons in the Quick Settings menu.

Step 5: Once you click on the Screen Recorder option, you will be asked whether you also want to record audio and show touches on the screen.

Step 6: Make your desired choices, and then select Start recording to begin recording your screen.

Step 7: A red recording icon or notification will appear at the top of your screen while your phone is recording. You can click on the Tap here to stop recording option whenever you're done capturing your screen.

Recording your screen on Android 10 devices

While the process to record your screen on Android 12 and 11 is the same, Android 10 has a similar method you can try. For instance, Samsung and LG phones on Android 10 have a similar Screen Record tool in the Quick Settings panel. Here's how to use it.

Step 1: Open your Quick settings panel by swiping down on your screen.

Step 2: Scroll down to find the Screen record option. If you don't see it, follow the same steps as the section above. Find the Edit or Plus icon, find the Screen record option, and drag it into the Quick Settings panel.

Step 3: Press Start, wait for the countdown, and your phone will begin recording the screen.

Step 4: Samsung also lets you add your own video to your footage. Just select the Front camera icon (it looks like a person’s silhouette).

Step 5: If you’re recording on a Galaxy Note phone, you’ll also be able to use the S Pen to draw on the recording. Just select the Pencil icon at the top.

Step 6: You can try this technique with most phones supporting the screen-recording function.

How to record your screen using apps

Don’t have an Android device that supports built-in screen recording? Don't worry, you can still use the function with external apps. Here are the best ones we recommend.

AZ Screen Recorder

AZ Screen Recorder is a simple recording app with no time limits or watermarks. The app also includes the option to cut and edit the video, crop the screen as necessary, replace the audio with whatever you want, and convert sections to GIFs as needed.

XRecorder

Developed by InShot, XRecorder is hugely popular with more than 100 million downloads. You can use the app to share your recordings and take screenshots, and it also provides a range of settings for you to tweak according to your own preferences. These include quality options, the ability to deactivate audio, and also the option to change the orientation of your recordings.

Google Play Games

Did you know the native Google Play Games app lets you record your screen? Along with screen recording, the app also lets you upload your video to YouTube. The best part? It's completely free to use.

Can you screen record on a Samsung?

Can you screen record on Android without app?

How do I record my screen and audio on Android?