The quickest way to capture your screen
On most Samsung tablets, you take a screenshot by pressing the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time. Hold both for about a second until you see a flash, hear a shutter sound, or see a notification at the top of the screen. That's it — the screenshot is saved to your Photos app automatically.
The exact button combination depends on which Samsung tablet model you own and which version of Android it runs, but Power + Volume Down works on nearly all current Samsung tablets. If that doesn't work, try Power + Volume Up instead — some older models use that combination.
Your screenshot appears in the Gallery app (or Photos app on newer tablets) in a folder called Screenshots. You can open it right away, edit it, share it, or delete it from there.
Key Takeaways
- Press Power and Volume Down together for about one second to capture your screen on most Samsung tablets.
- You will see a flash, hear a sound, or get a notification confirming the screenshot was taken.
- Screenshots are automatically saved to your Gallery or Photos app in a Screenshots folder.
- If Power + Volume Down does not work, try Power + Volume Up instead on older Samsung models.
- You can edit, share, or delete screenshots directly from your Photos app after taking them.
What to do if the button method doesn't work
If pressing the buttons doesn't capture a screenshot, your tablet may be using a different method. Some Samsung tablets let you swipe your hand across the screen from left to right (or right to left) to take a screenshot — this feature is called Palm Swipe to Capture and is turned on in Settings on some models.
To turn on Palm Swipe, go to Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture and toggle it on. Then you can swipe the edge of your hand across the screen to take a screenshot. This method works even when the screen is locked on some tablets.
Another option is to use the Samsung Notes app or Samsung Keyboard if your tablet has them installed. Some versions include a screenshot tool in the app menu, though the button method is faster for most people.
Finding and managing your screenshots
After you take a screenshot, it saves automatically to your Photos app. Open Photos and look for a folder labeled Screenshots — all your captured images will be there. On some older Samsung tablets, they may appear in the main Gallery folder instead.
Once you find your screenshot, you can tap it to open it, then use the edit button (usually a pencil icon) to crop, draw on, or adjust the image. You can also share it directly to email, text, or social media by tapping the share button.
If you want to delete a screenshot, open it and look for a trash or delete icon, usually at the bottom or top of the screen. You can also select multiple screenshots in the Photos app and delete them all at once by holding down on one, tapping others to select them, then tapping delete.
How to take a partial screenshot or scrolling screenshot
Some Samsung tablets let you capture only part of the screen instead of the whole thing. After you take a regular screenshot using Power + Volume Down, a toolbar appears at the bottom with options like Crop, Share, and sometimes Scroll Capture. Tap Crop to select just the area you want to keep.
Scroll Capture lets you capture more than what fits on your screen at once — useful for long web pages or chat conversations. If your tablet supports it, you will see a Scroll Capture button in that same toolbar after taking a screenshot. Tap it and the screen will automatically scroll down and add more content to your image.
Not all Samsung tablet models support Scroll Capture, and the feature may not work in every app. If you don't see the option, your tablet or app doesn't support it.
Taking screenshots in specific apps
Screenshots work in most apps, but some apps block them for security reasons — banking apps, Netflix, and certain messaging apps sometimes prevent screenshots. If you try to take a screenshot in one of these apps and nothing happens, that's why. The app is designed to prevent you from capturing sensitive information.
If you need to save information from a blocked app, try taking a photo of the screen with another device, or look for an export or save option within the app itself. Many banking apps let you read statements as PDFs, for example.
For regular apps like email, web browsers, and social media, screenshots work normally. You can capture and share them without any restrictions.
Troubleshooting when screenshots won't save
If you take a screenshot but it doesn't appear in your Photos app, check that your tablet has enough storage space. Go to Settings > Storage to see how much space is available. If you're running very low on storage, delete old files or photos to free up room, then try taking a screenshot again.
Another reason screenshots might not save is if your Photos app or Gallery app has a problem. Try restarting your tablet by holding the Power button, selecting Restart, and waiting for it to turn back on. Then take a screenshot and check if it appears.
If screenshots still aren't saving, open Settings and search for "Screenshots" to see if there's a specific setting controlling where they save or whether the feature is turned on. On some tablets you can also try taking a screenshot using the alternative button combination (Power + Volume Up instead of Power + Volume Down) to see if that works.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot without using buttons?
Yes, if your Samsung tablet has Palm Swipe to Capture turned on, you can swipe the edge of your hand across the screen. Go to Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture to turn it on. Some tablets also let you use voice commands or third-party apps, but the button method is the most reliable.
Where do screenshots go after I take them?
Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app (or Gallery app on older tablets) in a folder called Screenshots. You can open Photos, find the Screenshots folder, and see all your captured images there. You can edit, share, or delete them from that folder.
Why won't my screenshot work in a specific app?
Some apps like banking apps, Netflix, and find messaging apps block screenshots for security reasons. If you can't screenshot in an app, that's intentional — the app is protecting sensitive information. Try using a different method to save the information, like exporting it or taking a photo with another device.
How do I capture just part of my screen?
After taking a regular screenshot, a toolbar appears at the bottom with a Crop option. Tap Crop and select the area you want to keep. Some tablets also support Scroll Capture, which lets you capture more than what fits on the screen at once — look for that button in the same toolbar if your tablet supports it.
What should I do if my screenshots aren't saving?
First, check that your tablet has enough storage space in Settings > Storage. If storage is full, delete old files to free up room. If that doesn't help, restart your tablet and try again. If screenshots still won't save, check Settings for any screenshot-related settings that might be turned off.