The basic method: volume down and power button together
To take a screenshot on an Amazon Fire tablet, press the volume down button and the power button at the same time, then release both. You will hear a camera shutter sound and see a brief flash at the top of the screen. The screenshot has been saved to your tablet's photo gallery.
This method works on all current Fire tablet models, including the Fire 7, Fire HD 8, Fire HD 10, and Fire Max 11. The buttons are usually on the right edge of the tablet when you are holding it in portrait mode (tall). The exact location varies slightly by model, but the volume and power buttons are always adjacent to each other.
The timing matters: press both buttons at the same time, not one after the other. If you press the power button alone, your tablet will turn off or show the lock screen instead. If you press volume down alone, the volume will lower. You need both at once for the screenshot to work.
Key Takeaways
- Press the volume down button and power button simultaneously to capture a screenshot on any Fire tablet model.
- You will hear a camera shutter sound and see a flash at the top of the screen when the screenshot is taken.
- Screenshots are automatically saved to your Photos app or gallery, where you can view, edit, or share them.
- If the buttons are hard to find, check your tablet's manual or settings to confirm which edge holds the power and volume controls for your specific model.
Where your screenshots are stored
After you take a screenshot, it goes into your tablet's photo gallery or Photos app. On most Fire tablets, this is the Amazon Photos app or the Gallery app, depending on your model and software version. Open either app and look for a folder called "Screenshots" or check the "All Photos" section.
Screenshots are stored on your tablet's internal storage, not automatically uploaded to the cloud. If you have Amazon Photos set to back up your pictures, screenshots may eventually sync to your Amazon cloud account, but this is not when ready. You can manually upload a screenshot to the cloud by opening it in Amazon Photos and selecting the upload option.
What to do if the screenshot button combination is not working
If pressing volume down and power together does not take a screenshot, first make sure you are pressing both buttons at exactly the same time. A common mistake is pressing one button slightly before the other. Try again, holding both down for about one second before releasing.
If that does not work, restart your tablet. Sometimes a software glitch prevents the screenshot function from responding. Hold the power button until you see the power menu, then tap "Restart." After the tablet turns back on, try the volume down and power button combination again.
On very old Fire tablet models (Fire tablets from 2012 or 2013), the screenshot method may be different. If you have an older model and the standard method does not work, check your tablet's user manual or contact Amazon support for the correct button combination for your specific device.
How to edit or share a screenshot right after taking it
Some Fire tablets show a quick menu when ready after you take a screenshot, giving you the option to edit or share it right away. If you see this menu, you can tap "Edit" to crop, draw on, or annotate the screenshot before saving it. Tap "Share" to send it via email, messaging apps, or social media.
If the quick menu does not appear, open your Photos or Gallery app, find the screenshot you just took, and tap it to open it. From there, look for an edit or share button—usually represented by a pencil icon or a share arrow. Different Fire tablet models and software versions may arrange these options differently, but they are always in the photo viewer.
Taking a screenshot of a specific area instead of the whole screen
The standard volume down and power button method captures your entire screen. If you want to screenshot only part of the screen, you will need to take a full screenshot first, then open it in a photo editor and crop it to the area you want.
Some newer Fire tablets running recent versions of Fire OS may have a built-in screenshot tool that lets you select a region before capturing. To find this, try holding down the power button for a few seconds—if your tablet supports it, a menu will appear with options including "Screenshot" or "Capture." Tap that option and then drag to select the area you want to capture.
If your tablet does not have this feature, you can use a free third-party app from the Amazon Appstore, such as Screenshot straightforward or Screenshot UX, which let you select and capture specific areas of the screen.
Troubleshooting common screenshot problems
If your screenshots are blurry or cut off, the issue is usually that you moved the tablet while pressing the buttons. Keep the tablet still and try again. If screenshots are saving but you cannot find them, check whether your tablet is set to save to internal storage or an SD card. Go to Settings, then look for "Storage" or "Photos" settings to see where new pictures are being saved.
If the shutter sound does not play, your tablet's volume may be muted. Check the physical volume buttons on the side of the tablet—if the mute switch is on, turn it off. The shutter sound is just feedback; the screenshot will still save even if you do not hear it, but the sound confirms that the action worked.
If you have taken many screenshots and your tablet is running slowly, consider deleting old screenshots you no longer need. Screenshots take up storage space, and a full storage drive can slow down your tablet's performance. Open your Photos app, select the screenshots you want to delete, and tap the delete button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot without the power button?
No, the power button and volume down button combination is the only built-in method on Fire tablets. However, some third-party apps from the Amazon Appstore can take screenshots using alternative methods, such as shaking the tablet or tapping a floating button on the screen.
Will taking a screenshot drain my battery?
No, taking a screenshot uses almost no battery power. The process is very quick and does not set up any power-hungry components. You can take as many screenshots as you want without worrying about battery drain.
Can I take a screenshot of a video while it is playing?
Yes, you can take a screenshot while a video is playing, and it will capture a still image of that moment in the video. However, some streaming apps like Netflix or Prime Video may block screenshots for copyright protection. If the screenshot does not work on a video app, that app has disabled the feature.
Where is the power button on my Fire tablet?
The power button is usually on the right edge of the tablet when held in portrait mode (tall). On some models it is on the top edge. Check your tablet's user manual or look for a small indented button along the edges. The volume buttons are always right next to the power button.
Do screenshots take up a lot of storage space?
Each screenshot is usually between 100 KB and 500 KB in size, depending on your tablet model and screen resolution. This is small, but if you take hundreds of screenshots, they will add up. Regularly delete screenshots you no longer need to keep your tablet running smoothly.