The quickest way to capture your screen

On most Samsung phones, press the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time and hold them for about one second. Your phone will flash, vibrate, or make a camera sound, and a thumbnail of the screenshot will appear in the bottom corner of your screen. That's the standard method that works on nearly all Samsung models from the last several years.

If that combination doesn't work on your phone, try pressing Power and Home buttons together instead — older Samsung models use this method. The timing is the same: press and hold for about one second until you see the flash or feel the vibration.

Once you take the screenshot, you have a few seconds to tap the thumbnail to edit it, crop it, or share it directly. If you miss that window, the screenshot is automatically saved to your Photos app in a folder called "Screenshots."

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for one second on most Samsung phones to take a screenshot.
  • Older Samsung models may require Power and Home buttons instead.
  • A thumbnail appears in the bottom corner when ready after you take the screenshot, giving you a few seconds to edit or share it.
  • All screenshots are saved automatically to your Photos app in a Screenshots folder.
  • You can also use palm swipe or voice commands if your phone supports them, found in Settings under Advanced Features.

Where your screenshots are saved

Every screenshot goes into your phone's Photos app automatically, in a folder labeled "Screenshots." Open Photos, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), and look for Screenshots in the list. All your captures stay there unless you delete them, so you can find old screenshots weeks or months later.

If you want to move a screenshot to a different folder or back it up to cloud storage, open Photos, find the screenshot, tap and hold it, then choose Move or Copy. You can send it to Google Photos, Samsung Cloud, or any other storage app you have installed.

Using palm swipe if the button method doesn't work

Some Samsung phones let 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 need to enable it first.

Go to Settings, then tap Advanced Features (or Motions and Gestures on older models). Look for Palm Swipe to Capture and toggle it on. Once it's active, hold your phone steady and swipe the side of your hand across the screen in one smooth motion. The phone will capture the screenshot the same way as the button method.

Palm swipe works best when you use the fleshy edge of your hand rather than your fingers, and when you swipe in one continuous motion. If your phone doesn't recognize the gesture, try swiping a bit slower or adjusting where on the screen you start.

Taking scrolling screenshots to capture long pages

If you want to capture more than what fits on one screen — like an entire webpage or a long text conversation — use a scrolling screenshot. After you take a regular screenshot using Power and Volume Down, tap the thumbnail that appears and look for a button labeled Scroll Capture or Capture More.

Tap that button and your phone will automatically scroll down and add more content to the screenshot. You can tap again to keep scrolling, or tap Done when you have captured enough. The final image will be one long screenshot that combines multiple screens worth of content.

Scrolling screenshots work on most Samsung phones from 2019 onward. If you don't see the Scroll Capture button after taking a screenshot, your phone model may not support this feature.

Using voice commands to take screenshots

If your Samsung phone has Bixby (Samsung's voice assistant), you can say "Take a screenshot" out loud and your phone will capture the screen. First, make sure Bixby is set up by going to Settings and searching for "Bixby." Tap Bixby Voice and follow the setup steps if you haven't used it before.

Once Bixby is active, say "Hi Bixby" or press and hold the Bixby button (usually on the left side of your phone), then say "Take a screenshot." Your phone will capture the screen the same way as the button method. This is useful if your hands are full or if the physical buttons are damaged.

Troubleshooting when screenshots won't work

If the Power and Volume Down combination isn't working, first make sure you're pressing both buttons at exactly the same time and holding them for a full second. Many people press one button slightly before the other, which won't trigger the screenshot. Try again with a deliberate, simultaneous press.

If that still doesn't work, restart your phone by holding the Power button until the shutdown menu appears, then tap Restart. After the phone turns back on, try taking a screenshot again. A restart often fixes temporary software glitches that block the screenshot function.

If restarting doesn't help, check whether your phone is in Safe Mode, which disables some features. Restart your phone again, but this time watch for text that says "Safe Mode" in the bottom left corner. If you see it, hold the Power button again and tap Restart to exit Safe Mode, then try the screenshot buttons again.

For phones where neither button combination works, check Settings > Advanced Features to see if there's a screenshot option you can enable there. Some Samsung models let you turn the feature on or off manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of my lock screen?

Yes. The Power and Volume Down method works on the lock screen just like it does anywhere else on your phone. The screenshot will be saved to your Photos app, and you can view it in the Screenshots folder.

What if I accidentally take a screenshot and want to delete it?

Open your Photos app, go to the Screenshots folder, tap and hold the screenshot you want to remove, then tap Delete. You can also swipe left on the thumbnail to delete it quickly. Deleted screenshots go to your Trash folder for 30 days before being permanently removed.

Can I take a screenshot of a video while it's playing?

Yes, the screenshot will capture whatever is on your screen at that moment, including a paused or playing video. However, some apps like Netflix or banking apps may block screenshots for security reasons, and the screenshot will show a black screen or an error message instead.

How do I take a screenshot without using the physical buttons?

Enable Palm Swipe to Capture in Settings > Advanced Features, or use voice commands with Bixby. You can also read a third-party screenshot app from the Google Play Store if you prefer a different method.

Where do I find the screenshot thumbnail after I take one?

The thumbnail appears in the bottom left or bottom right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Tap it to edit or share the screenshot when ready. If you miss the thumbnail, the screenshot is still saved in your Photos app under Screenshots.