The fastest way: press Power and Volume Down together
On most Samsung phones and tablets made in the last five years, hold down the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time for about one second. You will see a flash, hear a camera sound, and a notification will appear at the top of your screen. That notification is your screenshot—tap it to view, edit, or share it right away.
The screenshot saves automatically to your phone's gallery in a folder called "Screenshots". You do not need to do anything else. If you do not hear a sound or see a notification, your phone may use a different method (see the section below for older models).
This method works on Samsung Galaxy S series, Galaxy A series, Galaxy Z fold and flip phones, and most Samsung tablets. The timing matters slightly—press both buttons at once, not one after the other.
Key Takeaways
- Press Power and Volume Down together for one second to take a screenshot on most Samsung devices made after 2018.
- Your screenshot saves automatically to the Screenshots folder in your gallery and appears as a notification you can tap when ready.
- Older Samsung phones use Power and Home button together, or you can swipe the side of your hand across the screen.
- After taking a screenshot, you can crop, draw on, or share it directly from the notification that appears.
- If the standard method does not work, check your phone's Settings under Advanced Features to see what screenshot methods are available.
What to do if Power and Volume Down does not work
If you have an older Samsung phone (Galaxy S10 or earlier, or Galaxy A10 and earlier), try pressing the Power button and Home button together instead. Hold them for about one second. You should see the same flash and notification.
Some older Samsung models also support a palm swipe method: hold your hand upright with your palm facing the screen, then swipe from right to left (or left to right) across the screen in one motion. Your palm edge should touch the screen as you swipe. This method is less reliable than button combinations, but it works on many Galaxy S and Galaxy Note phones from 2013 to 2018.
If none of these work, open Settings, tap Advanced Features, and look for "Screenshots" or "Motions and Gestures". This menu shows you which screenshot methods your specific phone supports.
How to find and manage your screenshots
After you take a screenshot, it goes into your Gallery app automatically. Open Gallery, then look for a folder called Screenshots. All your screenshots are stored there in the order you took them, with the newest ones first.
You can also find screenshots by opening the notification that appears right after you take one. Tap the notification to open the screenshot when ready. From there, you can crop it, draw on it with a pen tool, or share it to messages, email, or social media without opening the gallery.
If you want to delete a screenshot, open Gallery, find the Screenshots folder, tap and hold the image, and select Delete. Deleted screenshots go to your phone's Trash or Recently Deleted folder for 30 days before they are removed permanently.
Editing your screenshot right after you take it
The notification that appears after you take a screenshot usually shows a preview and gives you quick options. Tap the notification to open the screenshot editor. From here you can crop the image, draw or write on it with a pen, add text, or highlight parts of it.
The editor toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen. You can select different pen colors, eraser, text tool, and other markup options. When you are done editing, tap Save or Done (the exact button name varies by Samsung model). Your edited version replaces the original in your Screenshots folder.
If you close the notification without editing, you can still edit the screenshot later by opening it in Gallery, tapping the three-dot menu, and selecting Edit or Markup.
Sharing a screenshot without saving it to your gallery
When the notification appears after you take a screenshot, you will see share options. Tap the share icon (usually a curved arrow or box with an arrow) to send it directly to a contact, messaging app, email, or social media. The screenshot is shared when ready without you having to open your gallery first.
If you want to share a screenshot you took earlier, open Gallery, find the Screenshots folder, tap the image, tap the share icon, and choose where to send it. You can share to Messages, WhatsApp, Gmail, Facebook, Instagram, or any other app installed on your phone.
Troubleshooting: screenshot not working
If you press Power and Volume Down and nothing happens, first check that your phone is not in Safe Mode. Safe Mode disables some features, including screenshots on some Samsung models. Restart your phone normally to exit Safe Mode.
Next, make sure you are holding both buttons at the same time, not one after the other. The timing needs to be simultaneous—press them together and hold for about one second. If you press them in sequence, your phone may interpret it as a volume adjustment or power menu instead.
If you still see nothing, open Settings, go to Advanced Features, and look for a Screenshots or Motions section. Some Samsung phones let you turn screenshot methods on and off. Make sure the method you are using is enabled. If it is turned off, tap it to turn it back on.
If your phone is very old or you have a Samsung tablet that does not respond to any of these methods, you can take a screenshot using your computer. Connect your phone to a computer with a USB cable, open Samsung SmartThings or a file manager, and use your computer's screenshot tool to capture what is on your phone's screen.
Different screenshot methods by Samsung device type
| Device Type | Primary Method | Backup Method |
|---|---|---|
| Galaxy S20 and newer | Power + Volume Down | Swipe down from top, tap Screenshot |
| Galaxy S10 to S19 | Power + Volume Down | Power + Home button |
| Galaxy A20 and newer | Power + Volume Down | Check Advanced Features |
| Galaxy A10 to A19 | Power + Home button | Palm swipe |
| Galaxy Z Fold / Flip | Power + Volume Down | Swipe down from top, tap Screenshot |
| Galaxy Tab S (all versions) | Power + Volume Down | Power + Home button |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of my entire screen if it is longer than what fits on the display?
Yes. After you take a screenshot, the notification shows a Scroll Capture or Capture More option. Tap it, and your phone will scroll down and capture more of the page automatically. You can keep tapping to capture as much as you need. The final image stitches together into one long screenshot.
Where do screenshots go if I do not see a notification?
Open your Gallery app and look for a Screenshots folder. If you do not see one, tap the menu icon (three lines or three dots) and select Show Hidden Folders or Show All Albums. Screenshots may also be in a folder labeled by date. If you still cannot find them, check your phone's file manager under the Pictures or DCIM folder.
Can I change where screenshots are saved?
Most Samsung phones save screenshots automatically to the Screenshots folder in your gallery and do not let you change this location. However, you can move screenshots to a different folder after you take them by opening Gallery, selecting the image, tapping the menu, and choosing Move or Cut.
What is the difference between a screenshot and a screen recording?
A screenshot captures a single still image of what is on your screen at that moment. A screen recording captures video of everything you do on your screen for as long as you record. To record your screen on Samsung, swipe down from the top twice to open Quick Settings, tap Screen Recorder, and tap Start.
Can I take a screenshot if my phone is locked?
No. You must unlock your phone first before you can take a screenshot. This is a security feature to prevent someone else from capturing your private information if they have physical access to your phone.