The fastest way to take a screenshot on your Samsung tablet

On most Samsung tablets, press the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time. Hold both for about one second until you see a flash on the screen or hear a camera shutter sound. The screenshot saves to your Photos app automatically.

If that combination does not work, your tablet may use an older method: press Power and Home button together instead. Samsung changed the standard between models, so try the Power + Volume Down method first, then switch to Power + Home if nothing happens.

You will see a notification at the top of the screen confirming the screenshot was taken. Tap that notification to open the image right away, or find it later in your Photos app under the Screenshots folder.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down buttons together for one second to screenshot on most current Samsung tablets.
  • Older Samsung tablets may require Power and Home button instead; try both combinations if the first does not work.
  • Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app in a Screenshots folder.
  • You can tap the notification that appears to open the screenshot when ready, or find it in your gallery later.
  • Some Samsung tablets with an S Pen stylus let you press the S Pen button and tap the screen as an alternative method.

Where your screenshots are stored

Every screenshot goes into your Photos app by default. Open Photos, then look for a folder called Screenshots — it usually appears near the top of your folder list. All your screenshots live there in the order you took them, with the newest ones first.

If you want to move a screenshot somewhere else, open it, tap the three-dot menu, and choose Move or Copy. You can create a new folder or send it to an existing one. This is useful if you take screenshots for different purposes — work, recipes, receipts — and want to keep them organized.

Using the S Pen to screenshot (if your tablet has one)

If your Samsung tablet came with an S Pen stylus, you have a second way to take screenshots. Press the button on the S Pen, then tap the screen where you want to capture. A menu appears with options including Screenshot.

This method is slower than the button combination, but it is useful if your hands are full or you want to mark up the screenshot right away. After you take the screenshot, you can draw on it with the S Pen before saving.

Taking a partial screenshot or scrolling screenshot

After you take a regular screenshot, a toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen with three options: Scroll Capture, Smart Select, and Share. Tap Scroll Capture to grab a longer image that includes content below the current view — useful for capturing an entire webpage or long message thread.

Smart Select lets you draw a shape around just the part of the screen you want to capture. Draw a rectangle, circle, or freehand shape, and only that area saves as a screenshot. This is handy when you want to send someone a specific detail without the whole screen.

These options disappear after a few seconds, so tap them quickly. If you miss the toolbar, take another screenshot and use the options before they vanish.

Troubleshooting when screenshots do not work

If the Power + Volume Down combination does nothing, first check that your tablet is not in a special mode. Some apps and games lock the screenshot function for security or copyright reasons — Netflix, banking apps, and some games will not let you screenshot their content. Try taking a screenshot of your home screen or a different app to see if the function works elsewhere.

If screenshots do not work anywhere, restart your tablet. Power it off completely, wait ten seconds, then turn it back on. This fixes most temporary glitches with the button combination.

Make sure you are pressing both buttons at exactly the same time. If you press one slightly before the other, the tablet may interpret it as a single button press instead. Practice the timing on your home screen a few times until it works consistently.

Finding and sharing your screenshots

Open your Photos app and go to the Screenshots folder. Long-press any screenshot to select it, then tap the Share button at the bottom. You can send it through text message, email, social media, or any other app on your tablet.

If you want to edit a screenshot before sharing — crop it, add text, or draw on it — tap the screenshot to open it, then tap Edit. Most Samsung tablets include a basic editor built into the Photos app. Make your changes and tap Save to keep the edited version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my screenshot button combination not working?

Some apps block screenshots for security. Try taking a screenshot of your home screen or a different app. If that works, the app you were using has screenshot protection enabled. If nothing works anywhere, restart your tablet and try again.

Where do I find screenshots I took weeks ago?

Open your Photos app and look for the Screenshots folder. Tap it to see all your screenshots in reverse order, with the newest first. You can scroll down to find older ones, or use the search function to look for a screenshot from a specific date.

Can I take a screenshot of a video while it is playing?

Most video apps, including Netflix and YouTube, block screenshots while content is playing. You can take a screenshot of the app's menu or home screen, but not of the video itself. This is a copyright protection built into those apps.

How do I screenshot just part of my screen?

Take a regular screenshot first. A toolbar appears at the bottom with a Smart Select option. Tap it and draw a rectangle, circle, or freehand shape around the area you want. Only that part saves as a screenshot.

Can I take a screenshot of a whole webpage that scrolls off the screen?

Yes. Take a regular screenshot, then tap Scroll Capture from the toolbar that appears. Your tablet will capture the content below the current view automatically. This works on most websites and messaging apps.