How to screenshot on Android

A quick step-by-step guide on how to take screenshots on your Android phone.
 By 
Kimberly Gedeon
 on 
Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra screen
Allow us to show you how to take a screenshot on Android. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon

It's not easy to figure out how to screenshot on Android. Which buttons do you press? Plus, there are many phones across the Android landscape, so there are various ways to screenshot, depending on your device.

Still, whether you have a Samsung Galaxy S series phone or a Google Pixel device, we've got easy step-by-step instructions on how to screenshot on Android.

How to screenshot on Android

For most Android devices, all you need to do to take a screenshot is the following:


You May Also Like

  1. Long press the "Volume down" button.

  2. While holding the "Volume down" button, tap on the "Power" button.

  3. You must be holding "Volume down" and the "Power" button simultaneously.

  4. An animation will likely confirm that the screenshot was taken.

Two blue arrows pointing to power and volume down buttons on Galaxy S24 phone
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

After the screenshot, be sure to check out your pre-installed Gallery or Photos app for the screenshots.

How to screenshot on Android: Alternative ways

Aside from using the physical buttons, there are other ways you can take screenshots on Android, depending on your device.

Use Google Assistant

You can ask Google Assistant to take a screenshot. Google Assistant should be pre-installed on Google Pixel phones, allowing you to simply say, "OK Google, take a screenshot" or "Hey Google, take a screenshot." (If it's not pre-installed on your device, you can download Google Assistant from the Google Play Store for a hands-free screenshot experience).

Swipe up

If you have a Pixel phone, you can swipe up on your device and tap on "Screenshot."

Use the S Pen

If you have a Samsung Galaxy Series phone with an S Pen, you can use it to take screenshots, too.

1.Tap on the gray "S Pen" icon with your stylus.

Blue arrow pointing to gray S Pen icon on Android phone
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable
Blue arrow pointing to Smart Select icon on Android
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

2. Hit "Smart Select" (orange icon with dotted square).

3. Next, use the S Pen to draw a rectangle around the field you'd like to screenshot.

4. Hit the "Download" button to save.

Blue arrow pointing to download button via Smart Select UI
Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

If you need help with taking screenshots on other devices, check out How to screenshot on an iPad and how to screenshot on a Chromebook.

Mashable Image
Kimberly Gedeon
East Coast Tech Editor

Kimberly Gedeon, at Mashable since 2023, is a tech explorer who enjoys doing deep dives into the most popular gadgets, from the latest iPhones to the most immersive VR headsets. She's drawn to strange, avant-garde, bizarre tech, whether it's a 3D laptop, a gaming rig that can transform into a briefcase, or smart glasses that can capture video. Her journalism career kicked off about a decade ago at MadameNoire where she covered tech and business before landing as a tech editor at Laptop Mag in 2020.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
Just got a new Android tablet? Here's how to set it up.
A Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra tablet on top of its box

Apple releases iOS 26.3: New wallpapers, Transfer to Android
iOS update on iPhone

Android 17 Beta 1 arrives for Pixel: How to download it
Four Google Pixel 10 Pro phones lined up in a row

Android adds custom caller ID cards, new location sharing features
Four illustration showing Android's new Calling Card feature.


Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.

You can track Artemis II in real time as Orion flies to the moon
Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman piloting the Orion spacecraft

NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 2, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!