How to Screen Record on Android: Pixel, Samsung, Xiaomi and OnePlus Steps

Quick answer: On Android 11 or later, swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings, tap Screen record (called Screen recorder on Samsung), choose your sound option, and tap Start. To stop, pull down the notification shade and tap the recording notification. Videos save to Photos or Gallery. If the tile is missing, tap the pencil or Edit icon in Quick Settings and drag it in.

Video: "How to Record Screen on Android - 2026" by Gauging Gadgets on YouTube.

How to screen record on any Android phone (the general method)

1. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the full Quick Settings panel.
2. Find Screen record. You may need to swipe left or right through the tiles.
3. Not there? Tap the pencil or Edit icon, find Screen record, and drag it into your active tiles.
4. Tap the tile. A setup screen appears.
5. Pick audio (device audio, mic or both) and whether to show touches.
6. Tap Start. A short countdown runs.
7. Stop from the notification shade or the floating recorder control.

Google Pixel (and phones with stock Android)

According to Google's Pixel help:

1. Swipe down twice and tap Screen record.
2. Choose whether to record audio, and pick Device audio, Microphone, or Device audio and microphone.
3. Turn on Show touches on screen for tutorials so viewers can see your taps.
4. Choose A single app or Entire screen when prompted (on newer Android versions).
5. Tap Start. If you chose a single app, pick it from the list.
6. To stop, swipe down and tap the Screen recorder notification, or tap Stop.
7. Find it in Photos > Collections > On this device > Movies.

Single-app recording is great for privacy. Notifications and other apps stay out of the video.

Samsung Galaxy

1. Swipe down twice to open the Quick panel.
2. Tap Screen recorder. If it is missing, tap the pencil icon and drag it in.
3. Choose sound: None, Media sounds, or Media sounds and mic.
4. Tap Start recording.
5. Use the floating toolbar to draw on screen or add a selfie video from the front camera.
6. Tap the stop button on the toolbar.
7. Find it in Gallery > Albums > Screen recordings.

Change defaults in Settings > Advanced features > Screenshots and screen recorder, including video quality and selfie size. Our full Samsung screen recording guide covers each option.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (HyperOS and MIUI)

1. Swipe down from the top-right to open Control center.
2. Tap Screen recorder. If it is missing, use the edit icon to add it. Some versions also have a Screen Recorder app in the Tools folder.
3. Before recording, open the recorder's settings (gear icon) and set Sound source: Mute, Microphone or System sounds.
4. Tap the record button and the floating red button starts recording.
5. Tap the floating button to stop.
6. Find the file in Gallery.

OnePlus, Oppo and Realme

1. Pull down Quick Settings and tap Screen Recorder. Add it via edit if missing.
2. Tap the settings gear to choose system sound, microphone, or both, plus resolution.
3. Tap the red button to start, and again to stop.
4. Find it in Photos or Gallery under Screen recordings.

Android at a glance

Audio: what records and what does not

• Device audio / Media sounds: game, video and app sound, recorded cleanly. Some apps opt out.
• Microphone: your voice and room sound.
• Calls: since Android 10, voice-call audio cannot be captured by recorders. Samsung's support pages say its recorder does not record phone, VoIP or video call audio. For calls, see can you screen record a phone call.
• Streaming apps: Netflix and similar apps record black. See why Netflix records black.

Older Android (10 and earlier)

Android 10 and earlier did not have a universal built-in recorder, though some brands added their own (Samsung from One UI 2, for example). Options:

• Update the phone if an update is available.
• Use a screen recorder app from Google Play. On Android 10, apps can capture internal audio from apps that allow it. On Android 9 and earlier, apps can only record the microphone.

Common problems and fixes

The tile is missing. Edit Quick Settings and drag it in.

No sound. Choose Device audio or Media sounds. For your voice, add the mic. Check the app's volume.

Recording stops when a call comes in. That is by design. Some phones also stop recording when the screen turns off.

Black screen. The app blocks capture. Common for streaming and some banking apps.

Lag or dropped frames. Lower the resolution in the recorder settings, close background apps, keep the phone cool.

Cannot find the file. Search "Screen recordings" in Gallery or Photos, or open the Files app and check Movies or DCIM/Screen recordings.

After recording: make it worth watching

Most people record their Android screen to show something: an app demo, a tutorial, a bug, a game moment. Raw recordings carry the status bar, notifications, and slow bits. A tight edit makes it watchable.

MobileStudio is a screen recorder and video editor for Android that is built for this. Record your screen, then trim, crop, adjust the canvas for vertical or landscape, add zoom effects on important taps, and present the result in a device frame with a clean background. It is designed for app creators, founders, marketers and anyone making product walkthroughs or tutorials, and it is on Google Play now.

Get MobileStudio

• Free version: Download MobileStudio free on Google Play
• MobileStudio Pro: Upgrade to Pro inside the app when you need the full editing toolkit.
• Also on iPhone? Join the iOS waitlist.

Tips for app demos and tutorials on Android

• Turn on Show touches (Pixel) or use zoom effects in editing so viewers see where you tap.
• Use single-app recording to keep notifications out.
• Clean the status bar. Charge the phone and clear notifications first.
• Record in short takes, one feature per clip.
• Use a consistent canvas across clips if you are making a series.

When a third-party recorder app makes sense

The built-in recorder covers most needs. A screen recorder app from Google Play is worth considering when you want:

• A face camera bubble on phones that do not offer one (Samsung does, Pixel does not).
• Longer or scheduled recordings with more control over bitrate and frame rate.
• Editing in the same app, so you can trim, crop and zoom without switching tools.
• A consistent tool across phones if you record on several brands.

What to check before installing:

1. Permissions. A recorder needs screen capture and, for voice, microphone access. Be cautious of apps asking for contacts, SMS or location.
2. Watermarks and limits on the free version.
3. Recent updates, so it works with your Android version.
4. Reviews that mention your phone brand. Some apps behave differently on Samsung or Xiaomi.

Showing your face while recording on Android

If you want your face in the recording:

• Samsung: use the Selfie video button on the screen recorder toolbar.
• Pixel and others: the built-in recorder does not add a camera bubble. Use a recorder app with a facecam feature, or record your face separately and combine the two in an editor.

Privacy features on newer Android versions

Newer Android versions add protections that affect recording:

• Single-app recording keeps other apps and notifications out of the video.
• Sensitive notifications, such as one-time passcodes, may be hidden during screen sharing and recording on recent versions.
• Protected screens, such as some banking apps and password fields, appear black.

These are there to protect you. If part of a recording is black or hidden, that is usually why.

Recording on an Android tablet

Android tablets use the same Quick Settings tile. A few differences:

• Landscape is the natural orientation for tutorials on tablets.
• Split-screen recordings capture both apps, so close the one you do not need.
• Stylus users (for example on Galaxy Tab) can draw on screen with the recorder's pen tool on Samsung, or use a notes app while recording.

Android screen recording checklist

1. Screen record tile is in Quick Settings.
2. Audio source chosen: device audio, microphone, or both.
3. Show touches on for tutorials.
4. Single app or entire screen chosen (on supported phones).
5. Do Not Disturb on.
6. Screen timeout long enough that the phone does not lock mid-recording.
7. A 10-second test played back with sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I show my taps in an Android screen recording?

Yes. Turn on Show touches in the recorder's options before you start, or add zoom effects while editing.

Can I screen record on Android without the notification showing?

The recording notification is part of Android's privacy design and stays visible in the status bar. Use single-app recording on Pixel, or crop the status bar out afterwards.

How long can an Android screen recording be?

There is usually no fixed limit with the built-in recorder. Storage, battery and heat are the practical limits.

Can I pause a screen recording on Android?

Some brands, including Samsung, offer pause on the recording toolbar. On others, stop and start a new recording, then join the clips in an editor.

Why does my recording stop when the screen turns off?

Many phones stop recording when the screen locks. Increase the screen timeout before long recordings.

How do I screen record on Android?

Swipe down twice, tap Screen record, choose audio, tap Start. Stop from the notification.

Does Android have a built-in screen recorder?

Yes, on Android 11 and later. Some brands added their own earlier.

How do I record internal audio on Android?

Choose Device audio (Pixel) or Media sounds (Samsung) before you start.

Why is the Screen record tile missing?

It is not in your active Quick Settings. Tap Edit or the pencil icon and drag it in.

Can I record only one app?

On newer Pixel phones, yes. Choose A single app when starting.

Where do Android screen recordings go?

Photos (Pixel) under On this device > Movies, or Gallery under Screen recordings on Samsung and others.

Related guides

• How to screen record on Samsung
• Does screen recording record audio?
• How to record a WhatsApp video call
• How to edit a screen recording on your phone