Samsung Capture is a built-in screen recording and screenshot tool on Samsung phones and tablets

Samsung Capture is the screen recording and screenshot app that comes pre-installed on most Samsung Galaxy devices. It lets you record video of your screen, take still screenshots, and capture scrolling screenshots that show more content than fits on one screen. The app sits in your quick settings menu — the panel you pull down from the top of your phone — so you can start recording or capturing without opening a separate process.

Samsung Capture works on Galaxy phones running Android 10 and newer, and on most Samsung tablets. The exact name and location vary slightly depending on your device model and Android version, but the core features remain the same. Some Samsung devices call it "Screen Recorder" instead of "Samsung Capture," though the function is identical.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung Capture records your screen as video, captures single screenshots, and can stitch together scrolling screenshots that show content beyond what fits on one screen.
  • You access Samsung Capture through your quick settings panel at the top of your phone, not through the app drawer.
  • Screen recordings save as video files to your Gallery app and can be shared directly to messaging apps, email, or cloud storage.
  • Samsung Capture includes options to show or hide your finger taps, record audio from your microphone or system sound, and set a time limit before recording stops automatically.

How to start a screen recording with Samsung Capture

Pull down your quick settings panel from the top of your screen twice — once to see the first row of shortcuts, and again to expand the full panel. Look for an icon labeled "Screen Recorder" or "Capture" (the icon usually looks like a rectangle with a circle inside it). Tap it to open the recording options menu.

Before you hit record, you can adjust three settings. First, toggle whether you want to record audio from your microphone, system sound (the audio playing on your phone), or both. Second, choose whether to show your finger taps on the recording — useful if you are demonstrating how to do something. Third, set a time limit if you want the recording to stop automatically after a certain number of minutes. Once your settings are correct, tap the red "Start" or "Record" button to begin.

While recording, a floating control bar appears on your screen showing the elapsed time and a stop button. You can move this bar out of the way by dragging it, but it will appear in your final video. When you are done, tap the stop button. Your recording saves automatically to your Gallery app as an MP4 video file.

Taking screenshots and scrolling captures

Samsung Capture also handles still screenshots. Press the Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time to take a single screenshot of what is currently on your screen. The image saves to your Gallery and a small preview appears at the bottom left of your screen — tap it to edit, share, or delete the screenshot when ready.

For content that extends beyond what fits on one screen, use the scrolling screenshot feature. Take a regular screenshot, then tap the preview that appears. Look for an option labeled "Scroll Capture" or "Capture More" — it usually appears as a button at the bottom of the preview. Tap it, and your phone will automatically scroll down and stitch together multiple screenshots into one long image. You can stop the scrolling at any point by tapping the screen.

Where your recordings and screenshots go

All screen recordings, screenshots, and scrolling captures save to your Gallery app in a folder called "Screenshots" or "Capture." You can find them by opening Gallery, tapping the folder icon or menu, and selecting the Screenshots folder. From there, you can open any file, edit it, delete it, or share it directly to another app.

Screen recordings are video files (usually MP4 format), so they take up more storage space than screenshots. A one-minute recording typically uses 10 to 30 megabytes depending on your screen resolution and whether you recorded audio. If you need to free up space, delete old recordings from the Gallery app — they do not automatically disappear.

Adjusting audio and display settings for recordings

Before you record, the settings menu lets you choose what audio to capture. Select "Microphone" to record only your voice, "System Audio" to record only the sounds coming from your phone (music, notifications, app sounds), or "Microphone and System Audio" to record both. If you are recording a tutorial or demonstration, microphone audio is usually what you want. If you are capturing gameplay or a video playing on your phone, system audio is the right choice.

The "Show Taps" option displays a small circle or dot wherever you touch the screen during recording. This is helpful if you are showing someone how to navigate an app or website, because they can see exactly which buttons you pressed. Turn it off if you want a clean recording without visual tap indicators.

Sharing and editing your recordings

Once a recording or screenshot is saved to your Gallery, you can share it when ready. Open the file, tap the share icon (usually three dots or an arrow), and choose where to send it — Messages, Email, WhatsApp, Google Drive, or any other app installed on your phone. You can also edit screenshots before sharing by tapping the preview that appears right after you capture.

For more advanced editing of screen recordings, you will need a separate video editor app — Samsung Capture itself does not include trimming, adding text, or other edits. However, you can trim a video using the Gallery app's built-in editor on some Samsung devices. Open the video in Gallery, tap "Edit," and use the timeline at the bottom to cut out the beginning or end.

Troubleshooting common Samsung Capture problems

If Samsung Capture does not appear in your quick settings, it may not be enabled. Open Settings, go to Advanced Features or Apps, search for "Screen Recorder," and make sure it is turned on. On some older Samsung devices, the feature may be called "Screen Capture" instead.

If your recording has no audio, check the audio setting before you hit record — make sure you selected "Microphone," "System Audio," or both, not "None." If you selected the right option but still hear nothing, restart your phone and try again. Some apps block system audio recording for copyright reasons, so you may not be able to record audio from certain streaming services or games.

If your recordings are choppy or lag, close other apps before recording to free up memory. Screen recording uses significant processing power, especially at higher resolutions. Closing background apps, lowering your screen brightness, and disabling live wallpapers can improve recording quality.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just part of my screen instead of the whole thing?

Samsung Capture records your entire screen, not a selected region. If you need to record only a portion of your display, you will need a third-party screen recording app from the Google Play Store that offers partial-screen recording.

Does Samsung Capture work with all apps?

Most apps allow screen recording, but some do not. Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services block screen recording for copyright protection. Banking apps and apps handling sensitive data may also prevent recording. If you try to record and nothing happens, the app you are using likely has recording disabled.

How much storage do screen recordings use?

A one-minute screen recording typically uses 10 to 30 megabytes, depending on your phone's resolution and whether you recorded audio. A five-minute recording might use 50 to 150 megabytes. If storage is tight, record in shorter segments or delete old recordings from your Gallery.

Can I record my screen while using another app?

Yes. Once you start recording, you can open any app and use it normally. The recording continues in the background. You will see a small indicator at the top of your screen showing that recording is active. Tap it to stop recording at any time.

What format do Samsung Capture recordings save in?

Screen recordings save as MP4 video files, which play on most devices and can be edited with common video software. Screenshots save as JPEG or PNG image files depending on your device. Both formats are compatible with email, messaging apps, and cloud storage services.