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How to record the screen on your Android phone or tablet

How to record an Android screen.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Taking screenshots is simple, but what if you need to record a longer, more complex video of what's happening on your phone? Whether you want to share something entertaining with friends or create a video for professional reasons, there are several methods available to record your screen on an Android-based device. With the introduction of Android 15, you can even record a specific portion of your screen, making it easier to focus on what matters most.

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

5 minutes

What You Need

  • Android device with Android 12 or later

Here are easy ways to record the screen on an Android device, such as a Google Pixel 9 Pro, whether it’s by downloading an app, using the built-in screen recorder on Android, or using in-built tools available on some older Android versions.

Recording your screen on an Android device

It's fairly easy to record your screen on an Android device, although it takes a few steps. Here's how to use the feature.

Step 1: Open Quick Settings: Navigate down from the top of the screen twice to fully expand the Quick Settings panel.

Step 2: Next, find the Screen record tile. If you don't see it immediately, you might need to navigate left or right to find it.

If you still can't find it, choose the pencil icon to edit your Quick Settings tiles. Find Screen record in the list and add it to your active Quick Settings.

Step 3: Select the Screen record tile to open the screen recording options. Navigate to the pull-down menu that says Record one app and choose Record entire screen.

*Sound:** For sound, you can keep the Record audio toggle off if you want no sound on your recording. Otherwise, toggle it on and select from the pull-down menu: Device audio, Microphone, or Device audio and microphone.

Show touches on screen: Toggle on if you'd like to use this.

Screenshot showing how to set up screen recording on Android.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Step 4: Select Record screen.

Step 5: To finish recording, tap the Recording note by navigating to the top of the screen. Select Stop recording.

Screenshots showing how to stop recording on Android.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Step 6: Screen recordings are saved under Files > Videos. You can share these as you can any file on Android.

How to use partial screen recording on Android 15

Beginning with Android 15, you can record a frozen frame of an app and record it even if you exit it. This adds an additional layer of customization to your Android screen records.

Step 1: Open Quick Settings: Navigate down from the top of the screen twice to fully expand the Quick Settings panel. Next, find the Screen record tile. If you don't see it immediately, you might need to navigate left or right to find it. If you still can't find it, choose the pencil icon to edit your Quick Settings tiles. Find "Screen record" in the list and add it to your active Quick Settings.

Step 2: Select the Screen record tile to open the screen recording options.

Screenshots showing how to screenshot an Android screen.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Step 3: Choose the pull-down menu and select Record one app.

Sound: For sound, you can keep the Record audio toggle off if you want no sound on your recording. Otherwise, toggle it on and select from the pull-down menu: Device audio, microphone, or device audio and microphone.

Screenshots showing how to record an Android screen.
Bryan M. Wolfe / Digital Trends

Step 4: Select Next.

Step 5: Choose an App to record (if applicable), which initiates the recording.

Step 6: To finish recording, tap the Recording note by navigating to the top of the screen. Select Stop recording.

Step 7: Screen recordings are saved under Files > Videos. You can share these as you can any file on Android.

Mark Jansen
Former Mobile Evergreen Editor
Mark Jansen is an avid follower of everything that beeps, bloops, or makes pretty lights. He has a degree in Ancient &…
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