The fastest way to capture your screen

On most Samsung tablets, press the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time and hold them for about one second. Your screen will flash, you'll hear a camera shutter sound, and a thumbnail will appear in the corner. That's your screenshot—it's saved to your Photos app automatically.

The exact buttons depend on which Samsung model you own, but this Power + Volume Down method works on nearly all current Samsung tablets. If that doesn't work, try Power + Home button instead (older models sometimes use this combination). The key is pressing both buttons simultaneously and holding just long enough to hear the shutter sound.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to take a screenshot on most Samsung tablets.
  • Your screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called "Screenshots."
  • You'll see a thumbnail in the corner and hear a shutter sound when the screenshot is captured.
  • If Power + Volume Down doesn't work, try Power + Home button, which some older Samsung tablets use instead.
  • You can edit or share your screenshot when ready from the thumbnail that appears on screen.

Where your screenshots are stored

Every screenshot you take goes into your Photos app automatically. Open Photos, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), and look for a folder called "Screenshots." All your captured images will be there, organized by date with the newest ones first.

If you want to move a screenshot somewhere else, open it from the Screenshots folder, tap the three dots menu, and choose "Move." You can create a new folder or move it to an existing one. This is useful if you take screenshots for different purposes—work, recipes, game tips—and want to keep them organized.

Edit your screenshot right away

When you take a screenshot, a small thumbnail appears in the bottom corner of your screen. Tap that thumbnail and you'll open a straightforward editing tool. You can draw on the image with your finger, add text, crop out parts you don't need, or blur sensitive information like passwords or account numbers.

The editing window gives you a pen tool (for drawing), a text tool, and a crop tool. After you make changes, tap "Save" and your edited version replaces the original. If you want to keep both the original and the edited version, take a screenshot of your edited image before closing the editor.

Share a screenshot without opening Photos

You don't have to save your screenshot and then hunt for it to share it. That thumbnail in the corner has a "Share" button. Tap the thumbnail, then tap the share icon (usually an arrow pointing outward), and choose where you want to send it—email, text message, social media, or a messaging app.

This is the fastest way to send a screenshot to someone right after you take it. If you wait and come back to it later, you can still share from the Photos app, but sharing from the thumbnail saves you a few taps.

Troubleshooting when the button combination doesn't work

If Power + Volume Down produces nothing, first check that your tablet isn't in a mode that blocks screenshots. Some apps—banking apps, streaming services, or apps with security restrictions—won't let you screenshot their content. If you're trying to screenshot one of those apps, you'll need to use a different method or won't be able to capture it at all.

Second, make sure you're pressing both buttons at exactly the same time. If you press one slightly before the other, it might trigger a different action (like turning the volume down or opening the power menu). Practice the timing: press and hold both for one full second, then release. If your tablet is very new or very old, the button combination might be different—check your tablet's manual or Samsung's support page for your specific model number.

Using Samsung's Palm Swipe feature instead

Some Samsung tablets have an alternative called Palm Swipe to Capture. This lets you take a screenshot by swiping the edge of your hand across the screen from left to right (or right to left). To turn this on, go to Settings, then Display, then look for "Motions and Gestures" or "Advanced Features." Tap "Palm Swipe to Capture" and toggle it on.

Once enabled, you can take a screenshot by placing the side of your hand on the screen and swiping across. This method works well if you find the button combination awkward or if your Power button is hard to reach. Not all Samsung tablets have this feature, so if you don't see it in Settings, your model doesn't support it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of a video or streaming app?

Most streaming services and banking apps block screenshots for security or copyright reasons. If you try to screenshot Netflix, Disney+, or your bank's app, nothing will happen. Some apps will show a message saying screenshots aren't allowed. You can still screenshot regular apps, websites, and your home screen without restriction.

Where do I find the screenshot after I take it?

Open your Photos app, tap the menu, and look for "Screenshots." All your screenshots are stored there in a separate folder. You can also search for them by swiping down and typing "screenshots" in the search bar at the top of the Photos app.

Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?

The standard button method captures your entire screen. However, after you take a full screenshot, you can crop it in the editing tool that appears. Open the thumbnail, tap the crop icon, and drag the corners to select only the part you want to keep.

What if my Power button is broken?

If your Power button doesn't work, you can use Palm Swipe to Capture if your tablet supports it (check Settings > Advanced Features). Otherwise, you may need to use your tablet's accessibility menu. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Menu, turn it on, and look for a screenshot option in the floating menu that appears.

Does taking a screenshot use up storage space?

Yes, each screenshot is a full image file that takes up storage. A typical screenshot uses about 100 to 500 kilobytes depending on your screen resolution. If you take many screenshots, they can add up over time. Delete ones you no longer need to free up space, or move important ones to cloud storage like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud.