How to take a screenshot on a Samsung phone or tablet

A screenshot taken on Galaxy S22 Ultra

Whether you just reached a new level in a game or want to save an important document, you can capture it by taking a screenshot on your Galaxy phone or tablet. Depending on the type of device you have, capturing a screenshot may be a little different. Either way, it's an easy and convenient process for saving images on your device.

Note: Available screens and settings may vary by wireless service provider, software version, and device model. The screenshot function may not work while in Secure Folder.

Use button combinations to take a screenshot

No matter what Galaxy phone or tablet you have, the steps for taking a screenshot are similar, but it does vary slightly based on the model. Before you take one, you'll need to locate the Power and Volume down buttons.

Usually, the Volume buttons are on the left side and the Power button (or Side button) is on the right. However, for some models, the button locations may be reversed. Or, all the button could be on the same side!

When you want to take a screenshot, quickly press the Volume down button and the Power button (Side button) simultaneously and then release them. The screen will flash, indicating that a screenshot was captured.

Volume down and Power key highlighted on the S21 Ultra

Certain tablets may have a physical Home button instead. You can press and hold the Power and Home buttons simultaneously to take a screenshot.

Use palm swipe to take a screenshot

Note: This function may not be available on all Galaxy devices. The Galaxy Tab S6 Lite does not support Palm swipe to capture due to a hardware limitation. However, you can use the tablet keys or the Air command menu to take a screenshot instead. You can then view and share your screenshot in the Gallery app.

Wait, there's another way to take a screenshot. On some devices, you can use Palm swipe to take a screenshot without even pressing a button.

From Settings, search for and select Palm swipe to capture. Then, tap the switch next to Palm swipe to capture. Now you'll be able to take a screenshot just by swiping the edge of your hand across your phone's screen.

Switch highlighted next to Palm swipe to capture

Use your voice to take a screenshot

If you have Bixby Voice or Google Assistant set up, you can take a screenshot with a simple voice command. Say “Hey Bixby, take a screenshot,” and Bixby will capture what’s on your screen. You can even string together complex commands and say “Hey Bixby, take a screenshot and share on Twitter.”

If you prefer to use Google Assistant to take screenshots, simply say “Hey Google, take a screenshot.”

"Take a screenshot" displayed in a pop-up bubble

Use the S Pen to take a screenshot

S Pens are compatible with many of our Galaxy phones and tablets. In addition to their many uses and features, you can also take a screenshot with them by using Screen write.

Note: Only devices that come with a preinstalled S Pen or are compatible with the S Pen Fold edition or S Pen Pro can use an S Pen to take a screenshot.

Remove your S Pen from your device, and then navigate to the screen you'd like to capture. With your S Pen, tap the Air command menu icon, and then tap Screen write. Your device will automatically take a screenshot of the page you're on. Use the controls to write or draw on the screenshot if you'd like. When you're done, tap the Save icon to store the screenshot in Gallery.

You can also use your S Pen to capture parts of an image with Smart Select.

Screen write icon highlighted on the Air command menu

Use the Tasks Edge panel to take a screenshot

Your device's Edge panel can also help you out when taking a screenshot. You’ll just need to add the Tasks Edge panel and the Take screenshot shortcut.

  1. Open the panel by swiping left on the Edge panel handle on the right side of the screen.

  2. Tap the Settings icon at the bottom, and then swipe to and tap the Tasks panel to select it.

  3. Tap Edit under the panel. Your preferred shortcuts will appear on the right side; swipe to and tap Take screenshots on the left side to add this to your shortcuts.

    Note: The Take screenshots shortcut may be automatically added.

    List of tasks with icons on a Galaxy phone
  4. You can also select or deselect additional shortcuts if desired. To remove a shortcut, tap the red minus icon.

    Note: You cannot add more than twelve shortcuts.

  5. Then, navigate to a screen you’d like to capture. 

  6. Swipe left on the Edge panel handle again to open it. Swipe left a second time to view the Tasks panel.

    List of tasks on the Tasks panel with a Galaxy phone
  7. Next, tap Take screenshot. Your device will take a screenshot of the current screen. Now, you can easily use this shortcut whenever you need to capture your screen!

Use scroll capture to capture more than one screen

Is that webpage too long to capture in just one screenshot? Scroll capture lets you take multiple screenshots of one page and then combines them all into one big screenshot. That way, you get the whole picture. Plus, it works with all the other ways to take screenshots. In other words, if you use the button combinations, palm swipe, or even the S Pen, you'll still have the option to use scroll capture. 

  1. Navigate to the screen you want to capture.

  2. To take the screenshot, use any of the methods described previously.

  3. When the Smart capture menu appears, tap the Scroll capture icon - it looks like a downward arrow, and it will bounce up and down.

    Scroll capture options displayed on a Galaxy phone
  4. Then, tap the icon a second time to begin the scroll capture process.

  5. Keep tapping the icon until it reaches the bottom of the page or your desired spot.

  6. Add tags to your screenshots by tapping the hashtag icon in the Smart capture menu.

  7. Suggested tags will appear, but you can create your own as well. Tap Save to save your tag.

    Save highlighted next to a list of Tags
  8. When you are done, simply tap outside of the Smart capture menu bar. To view the captured screen, tap the screenshot preview or navigate to Gallery.

  9. Note: The smart capture icon will not appear unless you are on a large web page, app screen, or image that requires scrolling. It may not work on certain websites. On newer phones, you cannot turn Smart capture off. It's always enabled.

View screenshots

No matter what kind of device you have, you'll be able to view your screenshots in the same place. Just navigate to and open Gallery. You can also swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notification panel, and then tap the screenshot notification.

On some devices, you can tap the Albums tab in Gallery to see a collection of all the screenshots you've taken.

Another way you can access these screenshots, along with your videos, documents, and downloads is through My Files. Just navigate to and open the My Files app, and then tap Images under Categories to view your screenshots.

You may want to take things a step further though and store your screenshots onto a microSD card, an OTG flash drive, or a PC to prevent an overload of photos in Gallery. There are many options for moving photos such as using My Files to transfer your screenshots onto a microSD card.

Album 1 and Group 1 Albums displayed on a Galaxy phone

Share a screenshot

If you just cleared that impossible level in a new game, share your victory with friends by sending a screenshot.

To share a screenshot right after you've captured one, swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Notification panel. Then, tap the down arrow on the screenshot notification. Tap Share, and then share the screenshot by using one of the available sharing options.

To share it at any time, open the Gallery app. Select the Albums tab, and then tap Screenshots. Touch and hold the screenshot you want to share, and then tap Share. Use one of the available sharing options.

Share highlighted on a Galaxy phone

Additional options

There are a couple more things you can do when you’re taking a screenshot, like adding a personal touch by editing it.

Right after you've taken a screenshot, a small menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select Edit (the pencil icon) to write or draw on the screenshot, or crop out a portion of it that you don’t need right away. The cropped portion will be saved in Gallery.

Galaxy Tab S6 showing Additional options from screenshot
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