What Screen Video Does and Where to Find It

Screen video on Samsung devices means recording what appears on your screen — everything from apps, web pages, games, or video calls. Samsung phones and tablets have a built-in screen recorder in the Quick Settings menu. Samsung TVs do not have native screen recording, but you can mirror your phone's screen to the TV and record from your phone instead.

The screen recorder on Samsung phones captures video and audio together. You can record your entire screen or just a portion of it. The file saves to your phone's gallery as an MP4 video file that you can share, edit, or keep for reference.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung phones access screen recording through Quick Settings — swipe down twice and tap the Screen Recorder icon, which may need to be added to your Quick Settings first.
  • You can record system audio, microphone audio, or both at the same time, and choose between full-screen or partial recording before you start.
  • The recording stops when you tap the floating control button or through the notification panel, and the video file appears in your Gallery app when ready.
  • Samsung TVs cannot record their own screen, but you can mirror a Samsung phone to the TV and record the phone's screen instead.

Adding Screen Recorder to Quick Settings on Samsung Phones

The Screen Recorder icon may not appear in your Quick Settings by default. To add it, swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full Quick Settings panel. Look for an edit button — usually three dots or a pencil icon — at the bottom right of the panel. Tap it to enter edit mode.

Scroll through the available shortcuts until you find Screen Recorder. Tap and hold it, then drag it up into the active Quick Settings area. Release it in the position where you want it to appear. Tap the back arrow or outside the panel to save your changes. The Screen Recorder icon now appears in your Quick Settings every time you swipe down.

Recording Your Full Screen on a Samsung Phone

Open Quick Settings by swiping down twice from the top of your screen. Tap the Screen Recorder icon. A menu appears with options for audio and resolution. By default, it records system audio (sounds from apps and videos) and microphone audio (your voice). You can toggle either off if you want only one or neither.

Tap Start Recording or the red record button. A three-second countdown appears, then recording begins. A floating control button appears on your screen showing a red dot and timer. Your screen records everything you do — open apps, type, swipe, tap buttons — until you stop it. To stop, tap the floating button and select Stop, or swipe down to the notification panel and tap Stop Recording. The video saves to your Gallery when ready.

Recording Part of Your Screen on a Samsung Phone

Some Samsung models offer partial screen recording. Open Quick Settings and tap Screen Recorder. Before tapping Start Recording, look for a Partial or Region option and select it. A frame appears on your screen that you can resize and move to capture only the area you need.

Drag the corners or edges of the frame to adjust its size. Position it over the part of the screen you want to record. Once the frame is set, tap Start Recording. Only the content inside the frame records; everything outside it is ignored. This is useful for recording a specific app, a portion of a video, or a section of a webpage without capturing your entire screen.

Controlling Audio During Screen Recording

Before you start recording, the audio menu lets you choose what sound to capture. System Audio records sounds from apps, videos, music, and notifications. Microphone Audio records your voice and sounds around your phone. Both can be on at the same time, or you can turn either one off.

If you are recording a game or app demo, keep System Audio on and Microphone off. If you are recording a tutorial where you speak, keep both on. If you want a silent recording with no audio at all, turn both off. You cannot change the audio settings after recording starts, so set them before you tap Start Recording.

Finding and Sharing Your Screen Recordings

Screen recordings save to your Gallery app in a folder called Recordings or Videos, depending on your Samsung model. Open Gallery, tap the folder icon or menu, and look for Recordings. Your most recent recording appears at the top. Tap it to play, edit, or share it.

To share a recording, tap it in Gallery, then tap the Share icon (usually three dots connected by lines or an arrow pointing out). Choose where to send it — Messages, Email, Google Drive, or any other app on your phone. You can also edit the video using Samsung's built-in editor before sharing. Tap Edit, then trim the length, adjust brightness, add text, or crop the frame.

Screen Recording on Samsung TVs and Alternatives

Samsung TVs do not have a built-in screen recorder. If you want to record what appears on your TV screen, mirror your Samsung phone to the TV using SmartThings or Screen Mirroring, then record the phone's screen instead. The recording captures everything shown on both the phone and TV.

To mirror your phone, open Quick Settings on your phone and tap Screen Mirroring or Smart View. Select your TV from the list. Once connected, open the app or content you want to record on your phone. Open Quick Settings again, tap Screen Recorder, and start recording. The phone records its screen, which is also displayed on the TV. When you stop recording, the file saves to your phone's Gallery.

Troubleshooting Common Screen Recording Problems

If Screen Recorder does not appear in Quick Settings, check that you added it to the panel. Swipe down twice, tap the edit button, and drag Screen Recorder into the active area. If it still does not show, restart your phone and try again.

If the recording stops unexpectedly, your phone may have run out of storage space. Delete old files or videos to free up space, then try recording again. If audio is not recording, check that you turned on System Audio or Microphone Audio before starting. If the video file is corrupted or will not play, try recording again — a single failed recording does not mean the feature is broken.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just the audio without video on a Samsung phone?

No, the Screen Recorder captures video and audio together. If you need only audio, use the Voice Recorder app instead, which is built into Samsung phones. Open it from your app drawer, tap the microphone icon, and it records only sound.

Does screen recording use a lot of battery?

Screen recording uses moderate battery power. A 10-minute recording typically uses 5 to 10 percent of your battery. Keep your phone plugged in if you plan to record for longer than 15 minutes, or close background apps to extend battery life during recording.

What file format does Samsung screen recording save in?

Screen recordings save as MP4 files, which play on most devices and platforms. You can edit them with Samsung's built-in editor or transfer them to a computer and edit them with any video software that supports MP4.

Can I record a video call on my Samsung phone?

Yes, you can record the screen during a video call. Open the call, then open Quick Settings and tap Screen Recorder. The recording captures both the video call and any other content on your screen. Check your local laws — some places require all parties to consent to being recorded.

Why is my screen recording blurry or low quality?

Screen recordings default to your phone's native resolution. If the video looks blurry, check the resolution setting in Quick Settings before you record. Some Samsung models let you choose between standard and high resolution. Select high resolution for clearer video, though it uses more storage space.