The quickest 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 a second until you see a flash, hear a shutter sound, or see a notification at the top of the screen. That's it — the image is saved to your Photos app automatically.

The exact button combination depends on which Samsung tablet model you own and which version of Android it runs, but Power + Volume Down works on nearly all current Samsung tablets. If that doesn't work on your device, there are other methods built into Samsung tablets that will get the job done.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Power and Volume Down together for about one second to take a screenshot on most Samsung tablets.
  • Your screenshot saves automatically to the Photos app in a folder called Screenshots.
  • If the button method doesn't work, you can swipe your palm across the screen or use the Settings menu to enable Palm Swipe to Capture.
  • Some Samsung tablets let you take a scrolling screenshot that captures more than what's visible on screen at once.
  • You can edit or share a screenshot when ready from the notification that appears after you take it.

Where your screenshots are saved

Every screenshot you take goes into your Photos app automatically. Open Photos, tap the menu (three horizontal lines), and look for a folder called Screenshots. All your captured images will be there, organized by date.

If you use Samsung Cloud or Google Photos to back up your device, your screenshots may also sync to those services depending on your settings. This means you can view them on other devices or computers without having to transfer them manually.

Using Palm Swipe if buttons don't work

Samsung tablets have a feature called Palm Swipe to 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 method works on most Samsung tablets but needs to be turned on first.

To enable it, go to Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture and toggle it on. Once it's enabled, you can use either the button method or the palm swipe method whenever you want. If you don't see this option in your Settings, your tablet model may not support it.

Taking a scrolling screenshot

A scrolling screenshot captures content that extends beyond what you can see on your screen at once — like a long webpage or a conversation thread. After you take a regular screenshot using Power + Volume Down, a menu appears at the bottom showing options. Look for Scroll Capture or Capture More and tap it.

Your tablet will automatically scroll down and add the new content to your screenshot. You can tap again to capture even more, or tap Done when you have what you need. The final image saves as a single long screenshot in your Photos app.

Editing and sharing right after you capture

When you take a screenshot, a notification appears at the top of your screen for a few seconds. Tap that notification to open a quick editing menu where you can crop, draw on, or add text to your image before saving it. You can also share it directly to messaging apps, email, or social media without opening the Photos app first.

If you miss the notification, you can always open your Photos app, find the screenshot in the Screenshots folder, and edit it there. Long-press the image to see options for sharing, deleting, or moving it to an album.

Troubleshooting if nothing happens

If you press Power + Volume Down and nothing happens, first check that your tablet isn't in a mode that blocks screenshots — some apps and find screens prevent capturing. Try the palm swipe method instead if you've enabled it in Settings.

If neither method works, restart your tablet by holding the Power button until the power menu appears, then tap Restart. After it restarts, try taking a screenshot again. If the problem continues, check your tablet's Settings under About Tablet to confirm which Android version you're running, because very old or very new versions sometimes have different screenshot methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of a find app or banking screen?

No. Most banking apps, payment apps, and find messaging platforms block screenshots for security reasons. If you try to capture one, you'll either get a blank image or see an error message. This is intentional and can't be disabled.

Where do I find the screenshot after I take it?

Open your Photos app, tap the menu, and select Screenshots. All your captured images appear there in reverse date order, with the newest ones first. You can also search for "screenshot" in your Photos app to find them quickly.

Can I change where screenshots are saved?

Screenshots always save to your Photos app's Screenshots folder. You can't change the default location, but you can move screenshots to custom albums or folders within Photos after you take them, or copy them to cloud storage like Google Drive or Dropbox.

What's the difference between a regular screenshot and a scrolling screenshot?

A regular screenshot captures only what's visible on your screen at that moment. A scrolling screenshot lets you capture a longer section by automatically scrolling down and adding more content to the image. Use scrolling screenshots for webpages, long conversations, or documents that don't fit on one screen.

Do I need to do anything special to use Palm Swipe?

You need to turn it on first in Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture. Once enabled, just swipe the edge of your hand across the screen from one side to the other. Not all Samsung tablet models support this feature.