The basic method: buttons you press at the same time
On most tablets, you take a screenshot by pressing the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time, then releasing both. Hold them together for about one second — you'll see a flash on the screen, hear a camera shutter sound, and a notification will appear confirming the screenshot was saved.
The screenshot lands in your tablet's photo gallery or Files app, usually in a folder called Screenshots. You can open it, edit it, share it, or delete it from there like any other image on your device.
If that combination doesn't work, your tablet may use a different method depending on the brand and operating system. The sections below cover the main variations.
Key Takeaways
- Most tablets use Power + Volume Down pressed together for one second to capture a screenshot.
- iPad models use Power + Home (older models) or Power + Volume Up (newer models) instead.
- Samsung tablets often respond to Power + Volume Down, but some models use a palm swipe gesture across the screen.
- Screenshots save automatically to your photo gallery or Files app and can be found, edited, or shared from there.
- If buttons don't work, check your tablet's settings menu under Accessibility for alternative screenshot methods.
iPad: Power button combinations that vary by model
iPad screenshots depend on which model you own, because the button layout changed over time. On newer iPads with Face ID (iPad Pro 2018 and later, iPad Air 2022 and later), press the Top button and Volume Up button together for one second, then release.
On older iPads with a Home button (iPad Air 2, iPad mini 4, and earlier), press the Top button and Home button together for one second. The Home button is the round button at the bottom center of the screen.
On all iPad models, the screenshot appears in your Photos app under the Screenshots album. You'll also see a thumbnail in the bottom-left corner of the screen for a few seconds — tap it to edit the screenshot right away, or swipe it away to save it unchanged.
Android tablets: Power + Volume Down, or gesture alternatives
Most Android tablets, including Samsung Galaxy Tab models, use Power + Volume Down pressed together for one second. This is the same as the standard method described at the top of this article.
Some Samsung tablets also support a palm swipe gesture: hold your hand flat, place the edge of your palm on one side of the screen, and swipe across to the other side in one motion. You may need to turn this on in Settings > Advanced Features > Palm Swipe to Capture.
Other Android brands like Lenovo, Amazon Fire, and Google Pixel tablets may use Power + Volume Down, but a few older models use different combinations. If the standard method doesn't work, check your tablet's user manual or search the manufacturer's support site with your exact model number.
Where screenshots are saved and how to find them
Screenshots save automatically to your tablet's photo storage. On iPad, open the Photos app and look for the Screenshots album on the left side. On Android, open the Gallery app, Files app, or Photos app (depending on your brand) and look for a Screenshots folder.
You can also search for screenshots by date. Most tablets let you sort photos by when they were taken, so your newest screenshot will be at the top of the list. Once you find it, you can open it, crop it, draw on it, or share it by email, text, or social media.
Editing a screenshot right after you take it
On iPad, a thumbnail of your screenshot appears in the bottom-left corner for a few seconds after you capture it. Tap the thumbnail to open the markup tools, where you can draw, add text, magnify part of the image, or add a signature. Tap Done when you're finished, then Save to keep your changes.
On Android, the process varies by brand. Some tablets show a notification you can tap to edit when ready. Others require you to open the screenshot from your gallery, then tap an Edit button. Look for options to crop, rotate, draw, or add text. Save your changes when you're done.
When the button method doesn't work
If pressing Power + Volume Down (or your tablet's button combination) produces no screenshot, first make sure you're holding both buttons at exactly the same time for about one full second. Many people press them in sequence instead of together, which won't work.
If you're certain you're pressing correctly, check your tablet's Accessibility settings. On iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Keyboards and look for an option to enable screenshots. On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility and search for screenshot or gesture options. Some tablets let you take a screenshot by tapping a button on the screen instead of using physical buttons.
If your tablet is very old or from an uncommon manufacturer, a screenshot feature may not be built in. In that case, you can use a third-party app from your tablet's app store to capture the screen, though these apps sometimes require permission to access your device's display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of a video or streaming app?
Most streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and YouTube block screenshots for copyright reasons. Your tablet will capture the screenshot, but the image will appear blank or black. This is intentional and you cannot override it. Regular videos, websites, and apps without copy protection will screenshot normally.
Does taking a screenshot use storage space?
Yes, each screenshot is a full image file that takes up space on your tablet, usually between 100 kilobytes and 1 megabyte depending on screen size and resolution. If you take many screenshots, delete the ones you don't need to free up storage. You can also back them up to cloud storage like iCloud or Google Photos, then delete them from your tablet.
What if I accidentally took a screenshot and want to delete it?
Open your photo gallery or Files app, find the screenshot in the Screenshots folder, and tap and hold it until a menu appears. Select Delete or Move to Trash. On most tablets, deleted photos go to a Trash or Recently Deleted folder where they stay for 30 days before being permanently removed, so you can recover them if you change your mind.
Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen if it's longer than one page?
A standard screenshot captures only what's visible on your screen at that moment. On iPad, you can use the full-page screenshot feature in Safari by taking a screenshot, tapping the thumbnail, then selecting Full Page at the top. Android tablets don't have a built-in full-page feature, but some browsers like Chrome have their own screenshot tools that can capture an entire webpage.