Samsung's Built-In Screen Recording Tool

Samsung phones come with a screen recorder already installed — you do not need to read anything. On most Samsung models running Android 9 and newer, the tool lives in your Quick Settings panel, the menu you open by swiping down twice from the top of your screen.

To find it, swipe down twice to open Quick Settings fully, then look for a tile labeled "Screen Recorder" or "Record Screen". If you do not see it, swipe left in the Quick Settings panel to reveal more options. Once you locate it, tap it once to start recording. A countdown will appear, then your screen recording begins.

The recording captures everything on your display — apps, video calls, games, web pages — along with audio from your phone's speaker. When you are done, swipe down to Quick Settings again and tap the Screen Recorder tile to stop. Your video saves automatically to your phone's gallery.

Key Takeaways

  • Samsung's Screen Recorder is built into Quick Settings and requires no separate read or setup.
  • You can record with or without audio, and choose whether to include your voice through the microphone.
  • Recordings save to your phone's gallery and can be trimmed, shared, or deleted like any other video.
  • Some apps, like Netflix and banking software, block screen recording for security reasons and will show a black screen.
  • If Quick Settings does not show the Screen Recorder tile, you can add it manually through Settings.

Accessing Screen Recorder When It Is Not Visible

If the Screen Recorder tile does not appear in your Quick Settings, it may not be added to your panel yet. Open Settings, then go to Notifications and then Advanced Settings. Look for an option called "Quick Settings" or "Quick Panel". Tap it, then find Screen Recorder in the list and toggle it on or tap the plus icon to add it.

On some older Samsung models or custom software versions, the tool may be labeled differently — look for "Record Screen", "Screen Capture", or "Recorder". If you still cannot find it after checking Settings, your phone model may use a different method, and a third-party app from the Google Play Store will work as a backup.

Recording With or Without Audio

Before you start recording, you can choose whether to capture sound. When you tap the Screen Recorder tile, a small menu usually appears with options for audio input. You can select "Microphone" to record your voice while you narrate, "System Audio" to capture only what plays through your phone's speaker, or "Mute" to record video with no sound at all.

If no menu appears when you tap the tile, the recording will start with your previous audio setting. To change it next time, look for a settings icon (usually a gear or three dots) near the Screen Recorder tile, or open the Screen Recorder app itself if it appears in your app drawer — some Samsung models have a dedicated app rather than just a Quick Settings tile.

Where Your Recordings Are Saved

Screen recordings save to your phone's gallery in a folder called "Videos" or "Screen Recordings", depending on your Android version. Open your Gallery app, then look for the Videos folder or scroll to find your most recent recording. The file will have a name like "Screen_Recording_[date]_[time].mp4".

You can play the recording, trim it, delete it, or share it directly from the gallery to messaging apps, email, or cloud storage. If you want to move recordings to a computer, connect your phone to a USB cable and drag the files from the Videos folder, or use a cloud service like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud to back them up.

Apps That Block Screen Recording

Some apps prevent screen recording for copyright or security reasons. Netflix, Disney+, banking apps, and payment services often block the feature. If you try to record one of these apps, you will see a black screen in the video, though audio may still record. This is intentional — the app developer has set it up that way.

You cannot override this block. If you need to capture content from a protected app, check whether the app itself has a built-in share or export feature. For banking or payment apps, taking a screenshot instead (by pressing Power + Volume Down) is usually allowed and may be all you need.

Stopping and Managing Your Recording

While recording, a notification or floating button will appear on your screen showing that recording is active. Tap it or swipe down to Quick Settings and tap Screen Recorder again to stop. The video will save within a few seconds.

If you want to trim the recording before sharing, open it in your Gallery, tap Edit, and look for a trim or crop option. You can cut out the beginning or end, then save the trimmed version. The original file remains untouched unless you delete it. Most Samsung phones also let you edit videos directly in the Gallery app with basic tools like brightness, filters, and speed adjustment.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If your recording stops unexpectedly, your phone may have run out of storage space. Check your available storage by opening Settings, then About Phone, then Storage. If you are below 1 GB of free space, delete old files or videos to make room. Screen recordings are large files — a 10-minute recording can use 100 MB to 500 MB depending on resolution and frame rate.

If audio is not recording even though you selected Microphone, check that your microphone permission is turned on for the Screen Recorder. Go to Settings, then Apps, find Screen Recorder, tap Permissions, and make sure Microphone is toggled on. If the Screen Recorder app crashes when you try to use it, restart your phone and try again. If the problem persists, uninstall any recent updates to the app through Settings, then Apps, Screen Recorder, then the menu icon and "Uninstall Updates".

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a phone call or video call with screen recording?

Yes, screen recording will capture the video and audio from a call. However, many phone carriers and apps require you to inform the other person that you are recording — check your local laws before recording someone without their knowledge. Some apps like WhatsApp and Google Meet may block screen recording or show a notification to the other person that you are recording.

What resolution and frame rate does Samsung screen recording use?

Most Samsung phones record at 1080p (Full HD) resolution and 60 frames per second by default. Some newer models may offer 1440p or higher. You can check or change these settings in the Screen Recorder app settings or in your phone's Developer Options, though the default settings work well for most uses.

Can I record my screen while using other apps in the background?

Yes. Once you start recording, you can open any app and use your phone normally. The recording continues in the background. You can switch between apps, open notifications, or adjust volume without stopping the recording. Only apps that block screen recording will show a black screen in your video.

How long can I record before my phone runs out of storage?

This depends on your available storage and the resolution you are recording at. A phone with 5 GB of free space can typically record between 10 and 50 minutes of video, depending on whether you are recording audio and the frame rate. Check your storage before starting a long recording, and delete old files if you need more space.

Can I edit my screen recording on my phone?

Yes. Open the recording in your Gallery app, tap Edit, and use the built-in tools to trim, adjust brightness, add filters, or change the playback speed. You can also use third-party video editing apps from the Google Play Store for more advanced editing, though the Gallery app covers basic cuts and adjustments.