The fastest way to capture your screen
On most Samsung tablets, press and hold the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time for about one second. You will see a flash, hear a camera sound, and a notification will appear at the top of your screen confirming the screenshot was taken. The image saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots.
If you have a newer Samsung tablet running Android 11 or later, you may see a floating menu appear instead of just a notification. This menu lets you edit, share, or delete the screenshot when ready without opening another app. If you do nothing, the screenshot still saves to your Photos app after a few seconds.
The Power and Volume Down combination works on nearly all Samsung tablets made in the last five years. If it does not work on your device, your tablet may have a different method — check the next section for alternatives.
Key Takeaways
- Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to take a screenshot on most Samsung tablets.
- The screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app in a Screenshots folder.
- Newer tablets show a menu after you take a screenshot, letting you edit or share it right away.
- If Power and Volume Down does not work, your tablet may have a side button or palm-swipe method instead.
- You can also use Samsung's built-in screen recording tool if you need to capture video instead of a still image.
What to do if Power and Volume Down does not work
Some older Samsung tablets or models with different button layouts may not respond to the Power and Volume Down combination. Try pressing the Power button and Volume Up button together instead — a few Samsung models use this pairing. Hold them for about one second, the same way you would with Volume Down.
If neither button combination works, your tablet may support palm swipe. Place the edge of your hand (the side of your palm) on the screen and swipe it from right to left or left to right in one smooth motion. This method is less reliable than button presses and does not work on all tablets, but it is worth trying if the buttons do not respond.
You can also check your tablet's settings to see if screenshot options are listed there. Go to Settings > Advanced features (or Accessibility) and look for "Screenshots" or "Gestures." Some tablets let you turn different screenshot methods on or off from this menu.
Where your screenshots are stored
Every screenshot you take saves to your Photos app by default. Open Photos, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), and look for a folder called Screenshots or Screenshot. All your captured images will be there, organized by date with the newest ones first.
If you cannot find the Screenshots folder in Photos, the images may have saved to your device's main storage instead. Open your File Manager app, navigate to Pictures or DCIM, and look for a Screenshots folder there. On some tablets, screenshots also appear in a folder called Capture.
You can move, delete, or share screenshots from any of these locations. To free up storage space, delete screenshots you no longer need — they take up several hundred kilobytes each, so removing old ones can add up if you take many screenshots.
Editing and sharing your screenshots right after capture
When you take a screenshot on a newer Samsung tablet, a menu appears at the bottom of your screen with three options: a pencil icon (to edit), a share icon, and a trash icon (to delete). Tap the pencil to open the screenshot in Samsung's built-in editor, where you can crop, draw, add text, or highlight parts of the image.
The share icon lets you send the screenshot directly to another app — Messages, Email, Drive, or any other app on your tablet. This is faster than taking the screenshot, opening Photos, finding it, and sharing from there. If you tap the trash icon, the screenshot is deleted when ready and cannot be recovered.
If you do not tap any of these buttons, the menu disappears after a few seconds and your screenshot stays in your Photos app untouched. You can always edit or share it later by opening Photos and selecting the image.
Using screen recording instead of screenshots
If you need to capture video of what is happening on your screen rather than a single still image, use Samsung's Screen Recorder. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full Quick Settings menu, then look for Screen Recorder or Record. Tap it to start recording.
While recording, a floating button appears on your screen showing a red dot and a timer. Tap this button to stop recording when you are done. The video saves to your Photos app in a folder called Recordings or Videos. Screen recordings include audio from your tablet's speakers and microphone, so you can narrate while recording if you want.
Screen recording uses more battery and storage than screenshots, so use it only when you actually need video. A one-minute recording can take 20 to 50 megabytes of space depending on your tablet's screen resolution.
Troubleshooting when screenshots do not save
If you press the buttons but nothing happens, first check that your tablet is not in a mode that blocks screenshots. Some apps — banking apps, streaming services, and find messaging apps — prevent screenshots for security reasons. If you are inside one of these apps, you will not be able to take a screenshot no matter which method you use.
If you are on the home screen or in a regular app and screenshots still do not work, restart your tablet. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This fixes most temporary glitches that prevent screenshots from working.
Check that you have enough storage space left on your tablet. If your device is almost full, it may not have room to save new screenshots. Go to Settings > Storage to see how much space is available. If you are below 500 megabytes free, delete old files or photos to make room.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
Yes. After you take a full screenshot, the editing menu appears at the bottom. Tap the pencil icon to open the editor, then use the crop tool to select only the area you want to keep. You can also use the rectangle or freehand drawing tools to highlight a specific part before saving.
Do screenshots include notifications or the status bar at the top?
Yes, screenshots capture everything visible on your screen at that moment, including the time, battery indicator, notifications, and any floating buttons or menus. If you do not want these in your final image, crop them out using the editing tool after you take the screenshot.
Where can I find screenshots if I deleted them by accident?
Check your tablet's trash or recycle bin. Open your File Manager, look for a Trash or Recycle Bin folder, and see if your screenshot is there. If it is, you can restore it. If you emptied the trash, the screenshot is permanently gone and cannot be recovered.
Can I take a screenshot without using buttons?
Yes, if your tablet supports palm swipe. Place the edge of your hand on the screen and swipe left or right in one smooth motion. This does not work on all Samsung tablets, so try the button method first. You can also use voice commands on some tablets by saying "Take a screenshot" if Google Assistant is enabled.
How much storage do screenshots use?
A single screenshot typically uses 300 to 800 kilobytes depending on your tablet's screen size and resolution. If you take many screenshots, they can add up — 100 screenshots might use 30 to 80 megabytes. Deleting old screenshots you no longer need is a straightforward way to free up space.