The basic method for most tablets
On most tablets, you take a screenshot by pressing two buttons at the same time: the power button and the volume down button. Hold both for about a second until you see a flash on the screen or hear a camera shutter sound. The screenshot is saved automatically to your Photos or Gallery app.
The exact button locations vary by tablet model and brand. On iPad, the power button is on the right edge or top right, and the volume down button is just below it. On Android tablets, the power button is usually on the right spine, and volume buttons are nearby. If you're not sure which buttons are which on your specific tablet, check the manufacturer's quick-start guide or look for labels on the edges.
If the two-button method doesn't work, your tablet may use a different combination. Some older models require holding power and home button together, while a few use only the power button. The next sections cover these variations.
Key Takeaways
- Most tablets take a screenshot by pressing power and volume down at the same time for about one second.
- The screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app (iPad) or Gallery app (Android) without any extra steps.
- If the standard method doesn't work, your tablet model may use power plus home button, or a menu-based option instead.
- You can also use accessibility features or built-in tablet tools to take screenshots if the button method fails.
iPad screenshot methods
On an iPad with a home button (iPad Air 2 or earlier, iPad mini 4 or earlier, or iPad 5th generation or earlier), press the top button (or side button) and the home button together. On newer iPads without a home button, press the top button and the volume up button at the same time. Both methods produce the same result: a screenshot saved to your Photos app.
After you take a screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the bottom left corner of your screen for a few seconds. Tap it to open the screenshot when ready and make edits—you can crop, draw on it, or add text before saving. If you don't tap it, the screenshot is still saved to your Photos app under the Screenshots album.
Android tablet screenshot methods
On most Android tablets, press the power button and volume down button together and hold for about one second. The screenshot saves to your Gallery or Photos app automatically. Some Android tablets also show a notification at the top of the screen confirming the screenshot was taken.
If that doesn't work, check whether your tablet has a dedicated screenshot button in the quick settings menu. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full quick settings panel, then look for a button labeled "Screenshot" or a camera icon. Tap it to take a screenshot without using physical buttons. This method is useful if your power button is broken or hard to press.
Using the accessibility menu as an alternative
If the button combination doesn't work on your tablet, you can take a screenshot through the accessibility settings. On iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Assistive Touch, turn it on, then tap the floating button that appears on your screen. Choose Device > More > Screenshot. On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Menu, turn it on, then tap the accessibility button that appears and select Screenshot.
This method is slower than the button combination, but it works on any tablet and doesn't require you to remember which buttons to press. It's also useful if your tablet's physical buttons are damaged or unresponsive.
Finding and managing your screenshots
On iPad, open the Photos app and tap the Albums tab at the bottom. Scroll down and tap Screenshots to see all your screenshots in one place. On Android, open the Gallery or Photos app, then look for a Screenshots folder or album. The exact location depends on your tablet brand—Samsung tablets usually have a Screenshots folder in the main gallery view, while others may require you to search for "screenshots" in the app.
Screenshots take up storage space on your tablet, so delete ones you don't need. You can also move important screenshots to a cloud service like Google Photos, OneDrive, or iCloud so you can access them from other devices. Most tablets back up photos automatically if you have cloud backup turned on in your settings.
Troubleshooting when screenshots don't work
If you press the buttons and nothing happens, first make sure you're holding both buttons at the same time, not one after the other. The timing matters—hold them together for about one full second. If you're still not getting a screenshot, restart your tablet and try again. Sometimes a software glitch prevents the screenshot feature from working until you restart.
If restarting doesn't help, check your tablet's storage. If your tablet is almost full, it may not have room to save a screenshot. Go to Settings and look for Storage or About Tablet to see how much space is left. Delete apps, photos, or videos you don't need to free up space, then try taking a screenshot again. If you still have trouble, try the accessibility menu method instead—it sometimes works when the button combination fails.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do screenshots go after I take them?
Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app (iPad) or Gallery app (Android) without any action needed from you. On iPad, they appear in the main Photos view and also in a dedicated Screenshots album. On Android, they usually go to a Screenshots folder, though some tablets organize them differently.
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
On iPad, after you take a full screenshot, the thumbnail appears in the bottom left corner. Tap it, then tap Edit, and you can crop it to show only the part you want. On Android, some tablets offer a partial screenshot option in the quick settings menu—look for "Partial screenshot" or "Screenshot" with crop options. If your tablet doesn't have this, take a full screenshot and crop it in the Photos or Gallery app afterward.
What if my power button is broken?
Use the accessibility menu instead. On iPad, enable Assistive Touch in Settings > Accessibility, then tap the floating button and choose Device > More > Screenshot. On Android, enable Accessibility Menu in Settings > Accessibility, then tap the accessibility button and select Screenshot. You can also use the quick settings panel if your tablet has a dedicated screenshot button there.
Do screenshots include my passwords or private information?
Yes, a screenshot captures everything visible on your screen at that moment, including passwords, messages, or personal information. Be careful what's on your screen when you take a screenshot, and delete screenshots that contain sensitive information. If you share a screenshot with someone, make sure you've cropped out any data you don't want them to see.
Can I take a screenshot while using an app?
Yes, you can take a screenshot in almost any app. The screenshot captures whatever is on your screen, whether it's a web page, email, game, or document. Some apps with security features (like banking apps) may block screenshots for privacy reasons—if that happens, you'll see a message saying screenshots aren't allowed in that app.