Samsung's built-in screen recorder captures video and audio of everything on your display

Samsung phones and tablets come with a screen recording tool already installed — you do not need to read anything. The recorder captures video of your screen, your voice through the microphone, and any sounds playing on the device. You start it from the Quick Settings panel, and it saves the video file to your Gallery app when you stop.

The exact steps depend on which Samsung device you have and which version of Android it runs, but the process is similar across all recent models. This guide covers the most common setup.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Quick Settings by swiping down twice from the top of your screen, then tap Screen Recorder to start recording when ready.
  • You can choose to record sound from your microphone, the device speakers, or both before you start — tap the settings icon inside the recorder panel.
  • The video saves to your Gallery app in a folder called Recordings, and you can edit or share it from there.
  • Recording stops when you tap the floating button that appears on your screen, or you can stop it from the notification panel.
  • If you do not see Screen Recorder in Quick Settings, swipe to the end of the panel and tap Edit to add it.

Finding and opening the screen recorder

The Screen Recorder tool lives in your Quick Settings panel. To open it, place your finger at the very top of your screen and swipe down. You will see a row of icons — this is the Quick Settings panel. Swipe down a second time to see more options.

Look for an icon that looks like a circle with a dot or a small square inside it. Tap it once to start recording. Your screen will dim slightly for a moment, and a floating button will appear — this is your stop button. Recording has begun.

If you do not see Screen Recorder after swiping down twice, it may not be added to your Quick Settings yet. Swipe all the way to the right in the Quick Settings panel and tap the three dots or the word "Edit". Find Screen Recorder in the list and tap the plus sign next to it, then tap Done. Now it will appear in your panel.

Choosing what sounds to record

By default, Samsung records both the sounds playing on your device and your voice from the microphone. You can change this before you start recording. In the Quick Settings panel, find the Screen Recorder icon and press and hold it (do not tap it). A menu will appear with options.

You will see choices like "Microphone only", "Device audio only", or "Microphone and device audio". Select the one that matches what you need. If you are recording a game or video, choose "Device audio only". If you are narrating a tutorial, choose "Microphone and device audio". Tap outside the menu to close it, then tap the Screen Recorder icon to start.

If you do not see these options when you press and hold, look for a settings icon (usually a gear or three dots) inside the Screen Recorder panel itself. Tap that to adjust sound settings.

Recording and stopping

Once you tap Screen Recorder, a floating button appears on your screen — usually a red circle or square. This button stays visible while you record so you can stop whenever you want. Open the apps and navigate to the content you want to record. The recorder captures everything you do.

To stop recording, tap the floating button. A notification will appear asking you to confirm. Tap "Stop" or "Done" in the notification. The video file is saved automatically to your Gallery app.

You can also stop recording from the notification panel. Swipe down from the top of your screen once to see notifications, find the Screen Recorder notification, and tap the stop or pause icon.

Finding and sharing your recorded video

After you stop recording, the video is saved in your Gallery app. Open Gallery and look for a folder called "Recordings" or "Videos". Your screen recording will be there with a timestamp as the filename — for example, "Screen Recorder 2024-01-15 14-32-45".

Tap the video to play it and check that it recorded what you wanted. From the Gallery view, you can share the video directly to messaging apps, email, or cloud storage. Tap the three dots or share icon and choose where to send it.

If you want to trim the video or add effects, tap the edit icon (usually a pencil) in Gallery. Most Samsung devices let you cut the beginning or end, adjust brightness, or add filters before you share.

Troubleshooting common recording problems

If your screen recording has no sound, check that you selected the right audio option before recording. Open Screen Recorder settings again and make sure "Microphone and device audio" or your chosen option is selected. Also check that your device volume is not muted — look for the mute switch on the side of your phone.

If the Screen Recorder tool is not appearing in Quick Settings, restart your device. If it still does not show up, go to Settings > Apps > Screen Recorder and tap "Enable" or "Turn on". Some Samsung devices hide it until you enable it in the app settings.

If your video is choppy or the frame rate is low, close other apps before recording. Screen recording uses processing power, and running many apps at once can slow it down. Also check that you have enough free storage — if your device is almost full, recording may not work properly.

Storage and file management

Screen recordings are video files, so they take up space on your device. A one-minute recording typically uses 30 to 50 megabytes, depending on your screen resolution and frame rate. Longer recordings can use several hundred megabytes.

If you are recording long videos regularly, move them to cloud storage or a computer to free up space. You can upload videos to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Samsung Cloud directly from the Gallery app. Tap the three dots on a video and choose "Move to" or "Upload".

To delete a recording you no longer need, open Gallery, find the video, press and hold it, and tap Delete. The file is removed from your device and your storage space increases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just part of my screen instead of the whole screen?

Samsung's built-in screen recorder captures your entire display. If you need to record only a portion, you would need to use a third-party app from the Google Play Store. However, you can crop or edit the video after recording in the Gallery app.

Does screen recording work while my screen is locked?

No. The screen recorder only works when your display is on and unlocked. If your screen locks during recording, the recording stops automatically.

Can I record while using other apps at the same time?

Yes. Once you start recording, you can open any app and use your device normally. The recorder captures everything that appears on your screen, including notifications and other apps.

What happens if I get a phone call while recording?

If you receive a call, the screen recording pauses. When you hang up, you can resume recording by tapping the floating button again, or you can start a new recording. The paused video is saved as a separate file.

Why is my video file so large?

Screen recordings are high-resolution video files, so they use significant storage. A five-minute recording can be 150 to 250 megabytes. If file size is a problem, move videos to cloud storage or compress them using a video editor before sharing.