Samsung's built-in screen recording tool is in your Quick Settings panel

Samsung devices come with a native screen recording feature called Screen Recorder that lives in your Quick Settings — you do not need to read an app or adjust hidden settings. On most Samsung phones and tablets running Android 9 or later, you can start recording in two taps from your lock screen or home screen.

The tool captures everything on your display: apps, videos, games, web pages, and any audio playing through your device's speaker. It also records audio from your microphone if you turn that option on. The video saves to your Gallery or Files app as an MP4 file that you can share, edit, or delete like any other video.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Quick Settings by swiping down twice from the top of your screen, then tap Screen Recorder to start recording when ready.
  • Before you record, choose whether to capture sound from your speaker, your microphone, or both by tapping the audio icon in the recorder menu.
  • Stop recording by tapping the floating red button that appears on your screen, or by opening Quick Settings and tapping Screen Recorder again.
  • Your finished video saves automatically to your Gallery app in a folder called Recordings, and you can trim or share it from there.

Step-by-step: starting a screen recording

Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings fully. On the first swipe you see a smaller panel; the second swipe expands it to show all available toggles. Look for Screen Recorder — it usually appears in the main grid, though its position varies by device model and Android version.

Tap Screen Recorder once. A small menu appears with options for audio. By default, it is set to capture sound from your speaker (the audio playing in the app or video you are recording). Tap the audio icon if you want to change this: you can record speaker sound only, microphone only, or both at the same time. Once you have chosen, tap the red Record button or the checkmark to begin.

Your screen recording starts when ready. A floating red button with a stop icon appears on your screen — this button stays visible while you record so you can stop at any time. The status bar at the top shows a red dot and timer so you know recording is active.

Choosing audio options before you record

The audio menu that appears when you tap Screen Recorder gives you three choices. Speaker sound records whatever audio is coming from your device — music, video dialogue, game sounds, or app notifications. Microphone records only your voice or sounds near your phone. Both records both at the same time, which is useful if you are narrating a tutorial or demo.

If you do not want any audio, some Samsung devices let you toggle audio off entirely in this menu. Check the menu that appears on your device; if there is no off option, choose Speaker and mute your device before recording, or choose Microphone and stay silent.

Stopping and finding your recording

To stop recording, tap the red floating button on your screen, or open Quick Settings again and tap Screen Recorder a second time. Either action stops the recording when ready and saves the file. A notification appears confirming that your video has been saved.

Your recording appears in your Gallery app under a folder called Recordings, or sometimes under a Videos folder depending on your device. You can also find it in the Files app by navigating to DCIM or Movies. The file name includes the date and time you recorded — for example, "Screen_Recorder_20240115_143022.mp4".

Editing or sharing your recording

Open your Gallery app and find the Recordings folder. Tap the video you just made. A menu appears with options to play, share, delete, or edit. Tap the edit icon (usually a pencil) to trim the beginning or end, adjust brightness, or add filters. When you are done editing, tap Save to overwrite the original or Save as Copy to keep both versions.

To share your recording, tap the share icon in the Gallery menu. You can send it via email, text, social media, cloud storage, or any app that accepts video files. The file size depends on how long you recorded and your screen resolution — a one-minute recording is typically 10 to 30 MB.

Troubleshooting: Screen Recorder does not appear in Quick Settings

If you do not see Screen Recorder in your Quick Settings panel, it may be hidden or your device may not support it. Older Samsung devices running Android 8 or earlier do not have this feature built in. Check your Android version by opening Settings, scrolling to About Phone, and looking for Android Version.

If your device runs Android 9 or later but Screen Recorder is not visible, it may be disabled or not added to your Quick Settings grid. Open Settings, go to Advanced Features (or search for "Screen Recorder"), and toggle it on. Then return to Quick Settings and look for it again. If it still does not appear, try restarting your device.

Storage and file management for recordings

Screen recordings take up storage space on your device. A one-minute recording at standard resolution uses roughly 15 to 30 MB; longer recordings or higher resolutions use more. Check your available storage in Settings under Storage or Device Care. If you are running low on space, delete old recordings or move them to cloud storage like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud before recording new ones.

You can also set your device to automatically delete old recordings after a certain time. This is not a built-in Samsung feature, but you can use the Files app to manually delete recordings older than a set date, or use a third-party app that manages video files automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen while using other apps?

Yes. Once you start recording, you can open any app, navigate between screens, or use your phone normally. The recording captures everything you do until you stop it. Some apps like banking or payment apps may block screen recording for security reasons — if you try to record in those apps, the screen may go black or the app may close.

Does screen recording drain my battery?

Yes, screen recording uses more battery than normal phone use because it is constantly processing video data. A 30-minute recording may use 10 to 15 percent of your battery depending on your screen brightness and what you are recording. Plug in your device if you plan to record for a long time.

Can I record in 4K or adjust the video quality?

Samsung's built-in Screen Recorder records at your device's native resolution, which is usually 1080p or 1440p depending on your phone model. You cannot change the resolution or frame rate in the app itself. If you need 4K recording or custom quality settings, you may need to use a third-party screen recording app from the Google Play Store.

What if I want to record without sound?

Mute your device before you start recording by pressing the volume down button until it shows a vibrate icon, then tap Screen Recorder and choose Speaker as the audio source. No sound will be recorded. Alternatively, some Samsung devices let you toggle audio off in the Screen Recorder menu itself — check the menu when you open it.

Can I record a video call or FaceTime?

You can record the video on your screen, but the other person will see a notification that you are recording. Some apps like WhatsApp or Telegram show a recording indicator to the other participant. Check your app's privacy policy or the other person's preferences before recording a call.