The fastest way to capture your screen

On most Samsung tablets, press and hold the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time for about one second. You will see a flash and hear a camera sound, then a thumbnail appears in the bottom corner. That thumbnail disappears after a few seconds, but your screenshot is already saved to your Photos app.

If you have a Samsung tablet with a home button (older models), you can also press Home and Power together instead. Both methods work — use whichever buttons are easier to reach on your device.

The screenshot saves automatically to a folder called "Screenshots" inside your Photos app. You do not have to do anything else to keep it.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to take a screenshot on any Samsung tablet.
  • Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app in a folder named "Screenshots".
  • You can record your entire screen and audio using the built-in Screen Recorder, found in Quick Settings.
  • Screen recordings save as video files and take up more storage than screenshots.
  • Both screenshots and recordings can be edited, shared, or deleted from your Photos app when ready after capture.

Where your screenshots go and how to find them

After you take a screenshot, open your Photos app and look for a folder called Screenshots. All your captured images go there automatically, organized by date. You do not have to move them or name them yourself.

If you want to use a screenshot right away, tap the thumbnail that appears in the bottom corner after you capture it. This opens the image so you can edit it, share it, or delete it without leaving the camera app.

Screenshots take up very little storage — usually less than 1 MB each — so you can keep hundreds without running out of space on your tablet.

Recording your entire screen with audio

To record video of everything happening on your screen, swipe down from the top of your tablet twice to open Quick Settings. Look for a button labeled Screen Recorder and tap it. A countdown appears, then recording starts.

While recording, a red dot and timer appear at the top of your screen so you know the recorder is running. Tap the red dot or swipe down to Quick Settings again and tap Stop when you are finished. The video saves to your Photos app as a file you can play, edit, or share.

Screen recordings include audio from your tablet — anything you say, any app sounds, any video playing. If you do not want audio recorded, go into Settings > Advanced Features > Screen Recorder and turn off the microphone before you start recording.

What to do if the Power and Volume buttons do not work

If pressing the buttons does not take a screenshot, your tablet may have a different button combination. Check Settings > Advanced Features > Screenshots to see what method your specific model uses.

Some older Samsung tablets use Home and Power instead. A few models let you swipe the edge of your hand across the screen to capture it — if that option is available, you will see it in the Screenshots settings.

If nothing works, restart your tablet and try again. Sometimes a software glitch prevents the buttons from responding until you power cycle the device.

Editing and sharing your captures

After you take a screenshot or finish a recording, tap the thumbnail in the corner to open it. You will see buttons at the bottom for Edit, Share, and Delete. Tap Edit to crop, draw on, or add text to a screenshot before you save it.

To share a screenshot or video, tap Share and choose where it goes — email, messaging apps, cloud storage, or social media. The file stays in your Photos app even after you share it, so you can send it to multiple people without taking another capture.

If you want to delete a screenshot or recording, tap Delete from the same menu. Deleted items go to your Trash folder for 30 days before they are permanently removed, so you can recover them if you change your mind.

Screen recording storage and battery use

Screen recordings are video files and use much more storage than screenshots. A one-minute recording typically takes 10 to 20 MB of space, depending on your screen resolution and whether audio is included. If your tablet is running low on storage, delete old recordings you no longer need.

Recording your screen also drains your battery faster than normal use. If you plan to record for more than a few minutes, plug your tablet in first. The recording will continue even if your tablet goes to sleep, but the screen stays on while recording, so battery drain is unavoidable.

You can check how much storage space you have left by going to Settings > About Tablet > Storage. If you are running low, delete recordings or move them to cloud storage like Google Drive or OneDrive to free up space.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?

Yes. After you take a full screenshot using Power and Volume Down, tap the thumbnail and select Edit. Use the crop tool to select only the area you want to keep, then save. You can also use the Markup tool to draw a box around the part you want to highlight.

Does my screen recording include sound from apps and videos?

Yes, by default. Your microphone and all app audio are recorded together. If you want to record only app sounds without your voice, turn off the microphone in Settings > Advanced Features > Screen Recorder before you start recording.

What happens if I take a screenshot while an app is open?

The screenshot captures exactly what is on your screen at that moment, including the app, any text, buttons, and notifications. Some apps block screenshots for security reasons — if that happens, you will see a message saying the screenshot could not be taken.

Can I undo a screenshot after I take it?

You cannot undo the capture itself, but you can delete the screenshot from your Photos app. Go to the Screenshots folder, tap and hold the image, and select Delete. It moves to Trash and stays there for 30 days before permanent removal.

How long can I record my screen?

You can record until your tablet runs out of storage space. There is no built-in time limit. However, very long recordings (over an hour) create huge files that are slow to play and share, so it is usually better to record in shorter segments.