The fastest way to capture your screen

On most Samsung tablets, you take a screenshot by pressing the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time. Hold both for about one second until you see a flash, hear a camera sound, or see a notification at the top of the screen. The image saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots.

The exact button location depends on your tablet model — the Power button is usually on the right edge or top edge, and Volume Down is on the right edge below the Power button. If you have an older Samsung tablet, the button combination might be different, but Power + Volume Down works on nearly all models made in the last five years.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to capture your screen on a Samsung tablet.
  • Your screenshot saves automatically to the Screenshots folder inside your Photos or Gallery app.
  • If the two-button method does not work, try Palm Swipe, which lets you swipe the edge of your hand across the screen to capture it.
  • You can edit, crop, or share your screenshot when ready after taking it using the notification that appears at the top of the screen.
  • Screenshots capture only what is visible on your screen at that moment — they do not include content you would need to scroll to see.

Where your screenshots are saved

After you take a screenshot, a small notification appears at the top of your screen for a few seconds. Tap that notification to open the screenshot right away, or swipe down from the top to see it in your notification panel. If you miss the notification, your screenshot is saved in your Photos app (sometimes called Gallery on older tablets) in a folder named Screenshots.

To find your screenshots later, open Photos or Gallery, look for an album or folder called Screenshots, and tap it. All your screenshots appear there in the order you took them, with the newest ones first. You can delete, edit, crop, or share any screenshot from this folder.

Using Palm Swipe if buttons do not work

If the Power + Volume Down method does not work on your tablet, try Palm Swipe, a gesture-based screenshot tool available on many Samsung tablets. To use it, swipe the edge of your hand (the side of your palm) across the screen from left to right or right to left in one smooth motion. Your tablet captures the screen the same way as the button method.

Palm Swipe is turned off by default on most Samsung tablets. To turn it on, open Settings, tap Advanced Features (or Motions and Gestures on older models), then look for Palm Swipe to Capture or Screenshot. Toggle it on, and you are ready to use the gesture. Some tablets require you to enable it in the Accessibility settings instead — if you cannot find it under Advanced Features, check there.

Editing and sharing your screenshot right away

When the notification appears after you take a screenshot, you have a few quick options. Tap the notification itself to open the screenshot in an editor where you can crop, draw on it, add text, or blur parts of the image. You can also tap the share icon (usually three dots or an arrow) to send it directly to another app like email, messaging, or social media without saving it first.

If you do not tap the notification within a few seconds, it disappears, but your screenshot is still saved in the Screenshots folder. You can edit it later by opening Photos, finding the screenshot, and tapping the edit or pencil icon. Most Samsung tablets come with a built-in editor that lets you make changes without downloading a separate app.

Troubleshooting when screenshots do not work

If you press Power + Volume Down and nothing happens, first check that you are holding both buttons at the same time for at least one second. Many people press them too quickly or separately. Try again slowly and deliberately — you should feel both buttons click under your fingers at the same moment.

If that still does not work, restart your tablet by holding the Power button until a menu appears, then tap Restart. After it turns back on, try the screenshot again. If screenshots still fail, check that your tablet has enough storage space — if your device is almost full, it may not be able to save new screenshots. Go to Settings, tap Storage or Device Care, and see how much space is left. If you are below 500 MB of free space, delete some old files or photos to make room.

On very old Samsung tablets (more than seven years old), the button combination might be different — try Power + Home button instead, or check your tablet's manual. If you have a Samsung tablet with a stylus, some models also let you take a screenshot by pressing a button on the stylus itself.

Taking scrolling screenshots to capture more content

A regular screenshot captures only what you see on your screen at that moment. If you need to capture a longer page or conversation, many Samsung tablets support scrolling screenshots, which automatically scroll down and stitch multiple images together into one long image.

To take a scrolling screenshot, first take a regular screenshot using Power + Volume Down. When the notification appears, look for a button that says Scroll or Capture More (the exact name varies by model). Tap it, and your tablet scrolls down automatically while capturing the new content. Tap Stop or Done when you reach the bottom of what you want to capture. The final image is one long screenshot that includes everything you scrolled through.

Not all Samsung tablets support scrolling screenshots — it depends on your model and Android version. If you do not see the Scroll button after taking a screenshot, your tablet does not have this feature, but you can still take multiple regular screenshots and crop them together in a photo editor if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot without using buttons?

Yes, if your tablet supports Palm Swipe. Swipe the edge of your hand across the screen from left to right or right to left. You must turn this on first in Settings under Advanced Features or Motions and Gestures. Some tablets also let you take a screenshot by saying "Take a screenshot" to Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant, if Bixby is turned on.

Where do I find the Power and Volume Down buttons on my tablet?

The Power button is usually on the right edge or top edge of your tablet. Volume Down is on the right edge, below the Power button. On some older models, the buttons may be on the left edge instead. If you are unsure, check your tablet's manual or look at the edges of your device — the buttons are usually small and slightly raised.

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

The standard screenshot captures your entire screen. However, after you take a screenshot, you can open it in the editor and crop it to show only the part you want. Tap the notification, then look for a crop or scissors icon to select and remove the parts you do not need.

Why is my screenshot blurry or low quality?

Screenshots are captured at your tablet's screen resolution, so the quality depends on your display. If the screenshot looks blurry, it may be because the content on your screen itself is blurry, or because you moved the tablet while taking it. Try holding your tablet still and taking another screenshot. If text or images are hard to read, zoom in on the original content before taking the screenshot.

Can I take a screenshot of a video or protected content?

Most videos and protected content (like streaming movies or banking apps) cannot be screenshotted — your tablet will either show a black rectangle where the video is, or the screenshot will fail entirely. This is a security feature built into those apps. If you need to capture that content, you may need to use a screen recording feature instead, which records video of your screen rather than a still image.