How to screen record on Samsung (and other Android phones)

What the Samsung screen recorder does

The Screen recorder is part of One UI, so you do not need an app. It records the display and can add the phone's sound, your voice and a small selfie video of you. A toolbar floats on the screen while you record and lets you draw, pause or stop. The recording saves as an MP4 file that you can share anywhere. On Samsung phones that run recent versions of One UI, the tile sits in the Quick panel, and you can also add it to the Edge panel or a button in the toolbar for faster access.

Choose video quality and sound

Touch and hold the Screen recorder tile to open its settings. Under Sound you can pick No sound, Media sounds or Media sounds and mic. Under Video quality, choose a higher setting for sharp text and a lower one for smaller files. Common choices are 1080p, 720p and 480p. Under Selfie video size, drag to resize your camera preview, which appears in a corner of the recording. Turn on Show taps and touches if you make a guide, so viewers see where you press. Samsung also lets you draw on the screen from the toolbar while you record.

Record without sound or with your voice

• Media sounds: records what the phone plays, such as a game or video. Your voice is not recorded.
• Media sounds and mic: records both the phone sound and your voice. A quiet room matters, since the mic also picks up the speaker.
• No sound: good when you only need to show steps.

If your voice is missing, check that the microphone permission is on, and that no other app holds the mic, such as a call. See fixing a microphone that does not work if it fails in every app.

Screen record with a selfie video

When you start a recording, the toolbar shows a camera icon. Tap it to show your face in a small bubble that you can drag. It is handy for tutorials and for gaming. If the bubble does not appear, check the Camera permission for the Screen recorder in Settings › Apps. You can also resize the bubble from the Screen recorder settings.

Find and trim your recordings

Open the Gallery app, tap Albums and open Screen recordings. Tap a video, then the pencil icon, to trim it. Move the handles to set the start and end, tap Save and choose to save a copy. You can also share it from Gallery with Nearby Share or Quick Share, or send it by email or message. If it will not send, trim it or share a link. To save space, move older recordings to the cloud. Our guide to clearing out a full Android phone shows how.

Screen recorder is missing

• Swipe down twice, tap the pencil icon or the three dots, choose Edit buttons and drag Screen recorder into the active area.
• Update the software in Settings › Software update. Very old phones may lack the feature.
• Check whether Samsung's Game Launcher or Game Booster has its own recorder. It works in games.
• On other brands, look for Screen record in Quick Settings, or use Google's built-in recorder on Android 11 and later.

Common problems and fixes

• Black screen: protected apps such as Netflix block recording on purpose.
• Recording stops by itself: the phone may be low on storage or overheating. Free space and let it cool down.
• Lag or dropped frames: lower the video quality and close other apps.
• No sound in the video: the sound setting was No sound, or the volume was muted.
• Recording will not start: restart the phone and check for an update.

If you only need an image, use a screenshot. Samsung guides: taking a screenshot on Samsung. For iPhone, read screen recording on iPhone.

Why record your Samsung screen

• To show someone how to change a setting on a Galaxy phone.
• To save a bug or an error for a support request.
• To record a game or a short demo for friends.
• To keep proof of an online order, a text or a scam attempt.

Record the screen with a button or a gesture

You can add the Screen recorder to Quick Settings, and also to the Edge panel on phones that have it. Open Settings › Display › Edge panels and add Screen recorder as a tool. Some models let you start a recording by drawing a shortcut in Bixby Routines, or by using the Game Launcher in a game. If you use the Samsung Good Lock app, there are other options, but the built-in tile is the simplest.

Record on a Samsung tablet or foldable

The steps are the same on Galaxy Tab and Galaxy Z models. Swipe down from the top right to open the Quick panel on a tablet. On a foldable, the screen recorder works on both the cover screen and the main screen, though a recording stays on the screen where you started it. If you fold or unfold the phone in the middle of a recording, the video may stop or change size, so finish first.

Save space with smaller recordings

A 10 minute recording at the highest quality can use over a gigabyte. If you are short of storage, pick a lower quality, record in shorter clips and delete the originals after you share them. Our guide to freeing space on an Android phone has more ideas. Also empty the Gallery trash, where deleted videos stay for 30 days.

Record the screen with other apps (when the built-in tool is not enough)

Most people never need another app, because the Samsung recorder handles sound, selfie video and drawing. If you want advanced editing, a free app such as AZ Screen Recorder or a Google Play screen recorder adds options such as a countdown timer, brush colors and cropping. Choose apps with many reviews, avoid ones that ask for more permissions than they need and read the privacy policy. You can also record on a computer by casting the phone with Smart View or a USB cable and using a desktop recorder. That produces larger, cleaner files for long tutorials.

Tips to record a clear tutorial

• Turn off notifications with Do Not Disturb so private messages do not appear in the video.
• Turn on Show taps and touches, so viewers see every press.
• Plan your steps before you start, and pause between them. You can trim mistakes later in Gallery.
• Record in portrait for social media and in landscape for games and longer videos.
• Speak slowly if you use the microphone, and keep the phone close to your mouth.

Share your recording

From Gallery, tap the video, then the share icon. Quick Share sends it to nearby Galaxy phones, and you can also pick Messages, email or a cloud service. If the file is too large for a message, trim it or send a link instead of the file.