Screen recording on Samsung Galaxy phones uses the built-in screen recorder tool, which you access from the Quick Settings panel
Samsung Galaxy phones come with a native screen recording feature that captures everything on your display — apps, videos, games, web pages — along with audio from your phone's speaker or microphone. You do not need to read a separate app. The tool lives in your Quick Settings menu, and recording starts with a single tap once you set it up the first time.
The exact steps depend on which version of Android your phone runs, but the process is nearly identical across all recent Galaxy models. Most phones let you choose whether to record sound, set a video quality level, and show or hide the on-screen buttons before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Open Quick Settings by swiping down twice from the top of your screen, then tap Screen Recorder to begin recording when ready.
- Before you record, decide whether you want to capture audio from your speaker, your microphone, or neither — this setting appears in the recording options.
- A floating button appears on your screen while recording; tap it to stop, and your video saves automatically to your Gallery app.
- Screen recordings use significant storage space, so delete old recordings regularly or move them to cloud storage to free up room on your phone.
Finding and opening the screen recorder
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full Quick Settings panel. The first swipe opens a smaller menu with your most-used shortcuts; the second swipe expands it to show all available tools. Look for an icon labeled "Screen Recorder" — it usually looks like a circle with a dot or a small rectangle.
If you do not see Screen Recorder in your Quick Settings, it may not be added to your shortcuts yet. Scroll down to the bottom of the Quick Settings panel and tap the pencil or edit icon (usually in the bottom right corner). Find "Screen Recorder" in the list of available tools, then tap the plus sign next to it to add it to your Quick Settings. Once added, it will appear the next time you open the panel.
Choosing audio and quality settings before recording
When you tap Screen Recorder, a small menu appears with options. The most important choice is the audio source: you can record with sound from your phone's speaker, sound from your microphone, or no audio at all. Choose "Speaker sound" if you are recording a video or app that has audio you want to capture. Choose "Microphone" if you want to narrate over the recording — for example, if you are explaining how to use an app. Choose "No sound" if you want a silent recording.
Some Galaxy models also let you set the video quality or resolution before recording starts. Higher quality uses more storage space but looks sharper on larger screens. Standard quality is usually fine for sharing clips or saving tutorials. You can also choose whether to show or hide the on-screen navigation buttons (the back, home, and recent apps buttons) — hiding them gives you more visible screen space in your final video.
Starting and stopping a recording
After you choose your audio and quality settings, tap the red "Start" or "Record" button. Your phone counts down three seconds, then recording begins. A floating button or notification appears on your screen to show that recording is active — do not tap this button unless you want to stop.
Perform whatever action you want to record: open an app, play a game, navigate a website, or take a call. Everything that happens on your screen is captured. When you are finished, tap the floating recording button or swipe down to open Quick Settings and tap Screen Recorder again to stop. Your phone saves the video automatically to your Gallery app in a folder called "Videos" or "Screen Recordings," depending on your Android version.
Finding your recorded videos
Open your Gallery app and look for a folder labeled "Videos," "Screen Recordings," or "Recordings." Your most recent screen recording appears at the top of the list. You can play it back, share it directly to messaging apps or social media, or move it to a different folder to organize your files.
Screen recordings are large files — a one-minute recording typically uses 30 to 50 megabytes of storage, depending on your phone's resolution and the quality setting you chose. If you record frequently, check your storage space regularly. Delete recordings you no longer need, or move them to cloud storage (Google Drive, OneDrive, or Samsung Cloud) to free up space on your phone.
Common issues and how to fix them
If Screen Recorder does not appear in your Quick Settings panel, make sure your phone is running a recent version of Android. Older Galaxy models may not have this feature built in. Check your phone's Settings app under "About phone" to see your Android version. If you are running Android 9 or earlier, you may need to use a third-party screen recording app from the Google Play Store instead.
If your recording has no sound even though you selected "Speaker sound," check that your phone's volume is turned up and that the app or video you are recording actually produces audio. Some apps block audio recording for copyright reasons — in that case, you will only hear sound if you select "Microphone" and speak into your phone yourself. If your microphone recording sounds muffled or quiet, move your phone closer to your mouth or speak more clearly.
If your phone becomes very slow or hot while recording, stop the recording and close other apps running in the background. Screen recording uses significant processing power, especially at higher quality settings. Closing unused apps frees up resources and prevents your phone from overheating.
Editing your screen recording after you save it
Once your video is saved to your Gallery, you can trim it, add text, or adjust the playback speed using the Gallery app's built-in editing tools. Open the video, tap "Edit," and look for options to cut the beginning or end, add captions, or change the speed. You can also open the video in a third-party video editor like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush if you want more advanced editing options.
If you want to share your recording but it contains sensitive information (like passwords or personal messages), trim those parts out before sharing. You can also blur sections of the video using most video editing apps — this is useful if you want to hide account numbers, addresses, or other private details while keeping the rest of the recording visible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record my screen while on a phone call?
Yes, you can record your screen during a call, but the other person will not hear audio from your microphone in the recording — only the sounds coming from your phone's speaker. If you want to narrate during a call, use the "Microphone" audio option, but be aware that the caller's voice will be captured along with your narration.
Does screen recording drain my battery faster?
Yes, screen recording uses more battery power than normal phone use because it is constantly processing and saving video data. If you are recording for a long time, plug your phone into a charger or use a portable battery pack. Lowering your screen brightness and closing background apps before you record also helps extend battery life.
What is the maximum length of a screen recording?
There is no built-in time limit for screen recordings on Samsung Galaxy phones. You can record for as long as your phone has storage space and battery power. However, very long recordings (over 30 minutes) create very large files that may be slow to share or edit.
Can I record my screen without the on-screen buttons showing?
Yes. Before you start recording, tap the settings icon in the Screen Recorder menu and look for an option to hide or show navigation buttons. Disable the navigation buttons, then start your recording. Your final video will show only the app or content you are recording, without the back, home, or recent apps buttons visible.
Where do I find my screen recordings if they are not in my Gallery?
Check your file manager app and navigate to the "Videos" or "DCIM" folder. Screen recordings may also be saved in a folder called "Movies" or "Screen Recordings" depending on your phone model. If you still cannot find them, open your Gallery app, tap the menu icon (three lines), and look for a "Recents" or "Videos" section that shows all video files on your phone.