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 sound, or see a notification at the top of the screen. The image saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots.

If that combination doesn't work on your model, try pressing Power and Volume Up together instead — some older Samsung tablets use this method. The timing is the same: press and hold both buttons together for roughly one second.

You'll know the screenshot worked when your tablet shows visual or audio feedback. Most Samsung tablets display a small notification bar at the top, and many play a camera shutter sound. Some models also show a toolbar at the bottom of the screen that lets you edit or share the screenshot right away.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for about one second to take a screenshot on most Samsung tablets.
  • If that doesn't work, try Power and Volume Up instead — the method varies by model.
  • Your screenshot saves automatically to the Photos app in a Screenshots folder.
  • You'll see a notification, hear a sound, or see a toolbar appear when the screenshot is captured.
  • Some Samsung tablets show an editing toolbar right after capture so you can crop, draw, or share when ready.

Where your screenshots are stored

After you take a screenshot, it goes straight into your Photos app. Open Photos, then look for a folder called Screenshots — it's usually near the top of your folder list. All your screenshots appear there in order by date, with the newest ones first.

If you don't see a Screenshots folder, check inside the Albums tab instead. Some Samsung tablets organize screenshots there rather than as a separate folder. You can also search for "screenshot" in the Photos app search bar to find them quickly.

Using the screenshot toolbar to edit or share

Right after you capture a screenshot, many Samsung tablets show a toolbar at the bottom with quick options. You'll typically see buttons to crop, draw, share, or delete the image. This toolbar usually stays on screen for a few seconds, then disappears.

If you want to edit the screenshot after the toolbar is gone, open the Photos app, find the screenshot, and tap it. Then look for an Edit button or pencil icon — this opens your tablet's built-in editor where you can crop, rotate, adjust brightness, or add text and drawings.

Taking a screenshot of just part of your screen

If you only want to capture a portion of your screen instead of the whole thing, use the Partial Screenshot feature. After you take a regular screenshot using Power and Volume Down, the toolbar that appears should have an option to crop or select an area. Tap that option and drag to select just the part you want to keep.

On some Samsung tablets, you can also swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel, then look for a Screenshot or Capture button. Tapping this sometimes opens a menu where you can choose between full screenshot, partial screenshot, or scrolling screenshot (which captures content that extends beyond what's visible on screen).

Troubleshooting if screenshots aren't working

If pressing Power and Volume Down doesn't capture anything, first make sure you're pressing both buttons at exactly the same time. Press them together firmly and hold for a full second — pressing them one after the other won't work. Also check that your tablet's volume isn't muted, since some models won't play the shutter sound if mute is on (though the screenshot will still save).

If nothing happens after trying both button combinations, restart your tablet. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, then power it back on. After the restart, try the screenshot buttons again. If it still doesn't work, check your tablet's settings: go to Settings > Advanced Features and look for a toggle called Screenshots or Capture — make sure it's turned on.

Some Samsung tablets have a One-handed Operation or Accessibility mode that can interfere with button combinations. If you have accessibility features enabled, try turning them off temporarily to see if that fixes the issue. You can find these in Settings > Accessibility.

Using Samsung DeX or other connection modes

If your tablet is connected to a keyboard, mouse, or external display through Samsung DeX, the screenshot buttons still work the same way. Press Power and Volume Down on the tablet itself, and the screenshot will capture whatever is currently displayed — whether that's the tablet screen, an external monitor, or both.

If you're using a keyboard cover with dedicated buttons, check the keyboard's manual to see if it has its own screenshot button. Some Samsung keyboard cases include a dedicated capture key that works alongside or instead of the tablet's physical buttons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot without using the physical buttons?

Yes. Swipe down from the top of your screen with two fingers to open the Quick Settings panel, then look for a Screenshot, Capture, or Screen Capture button. Tap it to take a full screenshot. This method works on most Samsung tablets but may not be available on older models.

What's the difference between a regular screenshot and a scrolling screenshot?

A regular screenshot captures only what's visible on your screen at that moment. A scrolling screenshot (sometimes called a "scroll capture") automatically scrolls down and captures content that extends beyond the visible area — useful for capturing long web pages or conversations. Look for this option in the screenshot toolbar or in your tablet's Quick Settings.

Can I take a screenshot of a video or protected content?

Most videos and protected content (like streaming apps or banking sites) cannot be screenshotted — your tablet will either show a black area where the protected content is, or the screenshot won't work at all. This is intentional security. If you need to capture that content, you may need to use a screen recording feature instead, though some protected apps block that too.

Where do I find my screenshots if they're not in the Photos app?

Check the Files or My Files app on your tablet. Navigate to Internal Storage > Pictures > Screenshots. If you still can't find them, open the Photos app and search for "screenshot" in the search bar. You can also check your cloud storage (Google Photos, Samsung Cloud, or OneDrive) if your tablet is set to back up photos automatically.

Can I change where screenshots are saved?

On most Samsung tablets, screenshots save automatically to the default location and you cannot change it. However, you can move screenshots to a different folder after they're taken by opening the Photos app, selecting the screenshot, and using the move or copy option. Some file manager apps also let you organize screenshots into custom folders after capture.