The fastest 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 a 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. This is the standard method across Samsung devices running Android 9 and newer.
If that combination does not work on your model, try pressing Power and Home buttons together instead — older Samsung phones use this method. The timing matters: press both buttons simultaneously and hold for a full second rather than tapping quickly.
Your screenshot saves automatically to your phone's gallery in a folder called Screenshots. You can open it when ready from the thumbnail that appears, or find it later in your Photos or Gallery app.
Key Takeaways
- Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to take a screenshot on Samsung phones running Android 9 or newer.
- Older Samsung models may require Power and Home buttons instead, so try both combinations if the first does not work.
- Screenshots save automatically to a Screenshots folder in your gallery and appear as a thumbnail in the corner when ready after capture.
- You can edit, share, or delete screenshots directly from the thumbnail before it disappears from your screen.
- Palm swipe and voice command are alternative methods available on some Samsung models if button combinations do not work for you.
What to do with the screenshot thumbnail
After you take the screenshot, a small preview appears in the bottom left or right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Tap it to open the screenshot when ready in your gallery or editing app. From there you can crop, draw on it, blur sensitive information, or share it directly to a contact or app.
If you do nothing, the thumbnail disappears but the screenshot stays saved in your gallery. You can find it anytime by opening your Photos or Gallery app and looking in the Screenshots folder. The screenshot remains on your phone until you manually delete it.
Using Palm Swipe if buttons do not work
Some Samsung phones allow you to 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 and varies by model.
To turn on Palm Swipe, open Settings, then go to Advanced Features (or Motions and Gestures depending on your Android version). Look for Palm Swipe to Capture and toggle it on. Once enabled, place the side of your hand on the screen and swipe across — your phone will capture the screenshot the same way the button method does.
This method works best on larger screens and takes practice. If your phone does not have this option in Settings, your model does not support it.
Taking a scrolling screenshot
A scrolling screenshot captures more content than fits on one screen — useful for long web pages, conversations, or documents. After you take a regular screenshot using Power and Volume Down, tap the thumbnail and look for a Scroll Capture or Capture More button (usually at the bottom of the preview).
Tap it and your phone will automatically scroll down and add more of the page to the screenshot. You can tap again to capture even more, or stop when you have what you need. The final image saves as one long screenshot in your gallery.
Not all apps support scrolling screenshots — it works best on web browsers, email, and messaging apps. If the button does not appear after you take a screenshot, that app does not have this feature.
Troubleshooting when screenshots do not work
If the Power and Volume Down combination does nothing, make sure you are pressing both buttons at exactly the same time. A delay of even half a second can trigger the power menu or volume adjustment instead. Try again with a firm, simultaneous press and hold for a full second.
If your phone vibrates or shows the power menu instead, you may have pressed Power alone or with a slight delay. Also check that your phone is not in a mode that blocks screenshots — some apps like banking or streaming services prevent screenshots for security reasons, and you will see a message saying the screenshot failed.
Restart your phone if nothing works after several tries. A restart clears temporary glitches that can interfere with the screenshot function. After the restart, try the Power and Volume Down method again.
Where screenshots save and how to organize them
All screenshots save to a folder called Screenshots inside your phone's main gallery or Photos app. Open your gallery, look for the Screenshots folder (usually near the top), and tap it to see all your screenshots in one place. They appear in order from newest to oldest.
You can move screenshots to other folders, delete them, or share them directly from the gallery. If you want to keep screenshots organized by topic, create a new folder in your gallery and move related screenshots there. Some people create folders for work, personal, or reference screenshots.
Screenshots take up storage space on your phone. If your phone is running low on storage, deleting old screenshots you no longer need can free up room. You can also back up important screenshots to cloud storage like Google Photos or Samsung Cloud before deleting them from your phone.
Using voice commands to take screenshots
Some Samsung phones with Bixby (Samsung's voice assistant) allow you to take a screenshot by saying "Hi Bixby, take a screenshot." This only works if Bixby is turned on and set up on your phone.
To check if your phone supports this, open Settings, search for Bixby, and see if it is available. If Bixby is installed, you can set up it by pressing and holding the Bixby button (if your phone has one) or saying "Hi Bixby" to wake it up. Then say "take a screenshot" and your phone will capture the screen the same way the button method does.
Voice commands work best in quiet environments where your phone can hear you clearly. If Bixby does not recognize your command, try speaking more slowly or clearly, or use the button method instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my screenshot show the power menu instead of capturing the screen?
You are likely pressing the Power button alone or with a delay before the Volume Down button. Press both buttons at the exact same moment and hold for a full second. If you are still getting the power menu, try the Power and Home button combination instead — your phone model may use that method.
Can I take a screenshot without using buttons?
Yes, if your phone supports Palm Swipe, you can swipe the side of your hand across the screen. You can also use voice commands with Bixby if it is set up on your phone. Check Settings under Advanced Features or Motions and Gestures to see which methods your model supports.
Do screenshots use my storage space?
Yes, each screenshot is a saved image file that takes up storage on your phone. If you take many screenshots, they can add up over time. Delete screenshots you no longer need, or back them up to cloud storage and then remove them from your phone to free up space.
Can apps prevent me from taking screenshots?
Some apps, especially banking and streaming services, block screenshots for security or copyright reasons. If you see a message saying the screenshot failed, that app does not allow it. You can still take screenshots in other apps and on your home screen.
Where do I find my screenshots after I take them?
Open your Photos or Gallery app and look for a folder called Screenshots. All your screenshots save there automatically. You can also search for "screenshots" in your gallery to find them quickly.