The fastest way: press Power and Volume Down together

On most Samsung tablets, hold down the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time for about one second. You'll see a flash on the screen and hear a camera shutter sound (if your tablet's sound is on). The screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app.

This method works on nearly all Samsung tablets made in the last five years. The buttons are usually on the right edge of the tablet when you're holding it in portrait mode (tall). If you don't hear the shutter sound, check that your tablet isn't in silent mode — swipe down from the top of the screen to see the quick settings panel.

If the Power and Volume Down combination doesn't work, your tablet may use a different method. Check the model number on the back of your tablet and look up the specific instructions, or try one of the alternative methods below.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to take a screenshot on most Samsung tablets.
  • The screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called "Screenshots."
  • You can also swipe the edge of your hand across the screen if your tablet has Palm Swipe Capture turned on in Settings.
  • After you take a screenshot, a preview appears at the bottom of the screen where you can crop, draw on, or share it when ready.

Finding your screenshot after you take it

Your screenshot appears in the Photos app under a folder called Screenshots. Open the Photos app (the colorful icon that looks like a mountain or landscape), then tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner. Tap Albums, then scroll down until you see Screenshots.

You can also find screenshots by opening the Files app and navigating to Pictures > Screenshots. This folder holds every screenshot you've taken on your tablet, organized by date with the newest ones first.

Using Palm Swipe Capture if Power and Volume Down doesn't work

Some Samsung tablets have a feature called Palm Swipe Capture that lets you take a screenshot by swiping the edge of your hand across the screen from left to right (or right to left). This feature is not turned on by default, so you'll need to enable it first.

Open Settings and tap Advanced Features (or Motions and Gestures depending on your model). Look for Palm Swipe to Capture and turn it on. Once it's enabled, place the side of your hand on the screen and swipe across to take a screenshot. This method works best when your hand is relaxed and you swipe in one smooth motion.

Editing and sharing your screenshot right away

When you take a screenshot, a preview thumbnail appears at the bottom left of your screen for a few seconds. Tap this preview to open the editing tools. You can crop the image, draw on it with a pen or highlighter, add text, or blur parts of it.

From the editing screen, you can also tap the Share button to send the screenshot directly to another app — Messages, Email, or any other app installed on your tablet. If you don't tap the preview, it disappears after a few seconds, but your screenshot is still saved in the Photos app.

Troubleshooting if your screenshot won't take

If you press Power and Volume Down and nothing happens, first check that you're pressing both buttons at the same time, not one after the other. Hold them down for a full second — pressing too quickly won't work. Make sure your tablet isn't in a case that's blocking the buttons.

If your tablet is very low on storage space, screenshots may fail to save. Open the Files app and check how much space you have left. If you're running low, delete some old photos or videos to free up room. You can also check if a screenshot actually saved by opening the Photos app and looking at the Screenshots folder — sometimes the shutter sound doesn't play even though the screenshot was taken.

On older Samsung tablets (more than six years old), the button combination may be different. Check your tablet's model number and search for the specific instructions for that model, or try the Palm Swipe method if your tablet supports it.

Using Samsung DeX to take screenshots on a larger screen

If you connect your Samsung tablet to a monitor or TV using Samsung DeX, you can take a screenshot of the DeX desktop view. The Power and Volume Down combination still works the same way. The screenshot captures what you see on the external monitor, not the tablet screen itself.

This is useful if you're working on documents or spreadsheets on the larger screen and want to save an image of your work. The screenshot saves to your tablet's Photos app just like a normal screenshot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots go on my Samsung tablet?

Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots. You can also find them in the Files app under Pictures > Screenshots. Both locations show the same images, organized by date with the newest first.

Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?

Yes. After you take a full screenshot, tap the preview that appears at the bottom of the screen. The editing tools include a crop button that lets you select just the part you want to keep. You can also use the rectangle or freehand drawing tools to highlight a specific area before saving.

Why doesn't the shutter sound play when I take a screenshot?

Your tablet may be in silent mode. Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the quick settings panel and check if the sound is muted. Even if the sound is off, the screenshot still saves — the shutter sound is just feedback that it worked.

Can I take a screenshot while using an app?

Yes, the Power and Volume Down method works in any app. The screenshot captures whatever is on your screen at that moment, including the app you're using. Some apps like banking apps may block screenshots for security reasons, in which case nothing will happen when you press the buttons.

How much storage space do screenshots use?

A single screenshot typically uses between 100 and 500 kilobytes of storage, depending on your tablet's screen resolution and what's displayed. You can take hundreds of screenshots before they use up a noticeable amount of space, but if your tablet is running low on storage, deleting old screenshots can help free up room.