If you are an Android user, you will know that Android phones have become a little too creative with their screenshot methods. New phones sometimes have a new way of taking a screenshot while some brands like MI, Motorola have unique screenshot-taking methods altogether. If you are a new Android user or not a techno-savvy person, you may have a hard time taking screenshots. Especially those times when you need to take one from a video. Getting that timing right is not so easy and might require some practice. But first, you need to know how to take a screenshot, this depends on your phone and the brand as well. Let us look at the different methods to take a screenshot so that you can experiment and find what works for you:
The most common method to screenshot on Android
This method is as old as the feature in itself! It is the good old method of holding down (just for a second) your power and volume down button. If you did manage to take a screenshot with this method you should hear a camera shutter sound from your phone and your screen might flash once too. Now, what is tricky in this is the time period variation for holding down these buttons. Some phones require you to hold them for one or two seconds while others require you to simply tap (touch and go). Depending on your device you will have to try taking screenshots, to nail the timing.
When you finally know the required time you can then guess when you should press the buttons to get the desired screenshot from a video. All this trial and error should not take more than 5 to 10 minutes. If your device has an actual physical home button at the bottom of your screen, you should try taking a screenshot by pressing down on the home button and the volume down (or up, in certain cases). Again, getting that timing right is crucial and might need some trial and error. If you are still not able to take a screenshot with this method you should try the other methods explained below:
Samsung’s Palm Swipe gesture
Samsung has a unique palm swipe gesture to take screenshots. If you haven’t turned it on from the settings here’s how to do it:
- Go to your phone’s “Settings”.
- Scroll dwon and look fro “Advanced features” and tap on it.
- Select “Motions and Gestures” from the list.
- Toggle the “Palm Swipe” to on (it will go from grey to green or blue).
When you are sure that the palm swipe gesture is active, try taking a screenshot by sliding the edge of your hand (pinky finger’s side) from the left end of your screen display to the right, preferably you should hold the phone in portrait (upright). This gesture is much easier to understand and nail down as you will have less trouble in getting the timing right while taking screenshots.
If your Samsung phone has a stylus(as most Galaxy Note phones these days do), try this method to take a screenshot with your stylus:
- Take out and use your S-Pen stylus to open the Air Command menu.
- Then select the “Smart Capture” option to take a screenshot.
Motorola’s three-finger swipe
Motorola was one of the first mobile brands to add the feature of gestures in Android smartphones. Some of these gestures added by their developers are hack for flashlight, twist for the camera, left swipe to go back, etc. Similarly for taking a screenshot, all you need to do is swipe down on the screen with three fingers (much like clawing on your screen).
It might not work if it’s turned off though. To turn it on go to Moto actions, and then toggle on the “Three-finger screenshot” option from the list. You could also do this from your phone settings by navigating to “Gestures and actions”.
For Pre-Gingerbread Android versions
By chance you want to take a screenshot on a phone which has Android 2.2 or lower, it sadly won’t be possible. For Android versions before Gingerbread, you will need to try using a third-party app to take a screenshot. It definitely won’t be easy but well, it’s high time for an upgrade anyway.
Where to find your screenshots?
Want to know in which folder your screenshots get saved? Follow these steps:
- Launch the “File manager” app
- Go to your “SD card” storage.
- Look for a folder named “Pictures” and open it.
- Then select the “Screenshot” folder and you will find all your saved screenshots.
Another alternative method:
- Go to your phone’s “Gallery”.
- Then go to “Albums”
- Here you will find a photos folder named “Screenshots” among others.