The quickest way: power button and volume down
On most Samsung phones and tablets made in the last five years, press the power button and volume down button at the same time. Hold them both for about a second. Your screen will flash, you'll hear a camera sound, and a thumbnail of the screenshot will appear in the bottom corner.
This method works on Galaxy S series phones, Galaxy A series, Galaxy Tab tablets, and most other Samsung devices running Android 9 or newer. The screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called "Screenshots".
If nothing happens when you try this, your device may use a different method — check the section below for your specific model.
Key Takeaways
- Power button plus volume down is the standard method on nearly all recent Samsung devices and takes effect when ready.
- Your screenshot saves automatically to the Screenshots folder in your Photos app with no extra steps needed.
- Older Samsung phones and some tablets use power button plus home button instead, or a swipe gesture from the edge of the screen.
- You can edit, crop, or share a screenshot right from the thumbnail that appears in the corner before it disappears.
- If your device has a physical home button, that button is usually part of the screenshot shortcut rather than volume down.
What to do if power and volume down doesn't work
Some older Samsung phones — particularly the Galaxy S6, S7, and earlier — use power button and home button instead. The home button is the physical button at the bottom center of the phone. Press both at the same time for about a second, the same way you would with volume down.
If your Samsung device has no physical buttons on the front, or if you own a Galaxy Tab without a home button, look for a swipe gesture option. Swipe the edge of your hand across the screen from right to left (or left to right, depending on the model). This motion captures the screen. You can turn this on in Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture.
Galaxy Note devices sometimes add an extra option: you can use the S Pen to take a screenshot by pressing the S Pen button while tapping the screen, though the power and volume method works on these too.
How to find and use your screenshots
After you take a screenshot, a small preview appears in the bottom left or right corner of your screen for a few seconds. Tap that thumbnail to open editing tools right away — you can crop, draw on the image, or add text before saving.
If you miss the thumbnail, your screenshot is already saved. Open your Photos app, tap the menu (three lines or three dots), and look for a folder called "Screenshots". All your screenshots go there automatically. You can also search for them by date or open the Gallery app and scroll to find them.
To share a screenshot without opening Photos, tap the thumbnail and select Share. You can send it through text message, email, social media, or any other app on your phone.
Editing and cropping right after you capture
When the thumbnail appears after you take a screenshot, tap it to enter edit mode. You'll see options to crop the image (cut away parts you don't need), draw on it with a pen or highlighter, add text, or blur sensitive information like passwords or account numbers.
These tools are built into Samsung's screenshot feature, so you don't need a separate app. After you make changes, tap Save or Done, and the edited version replaces the original in your Screenshots folder. If you want to keep both the original and the edited version, take note of the timestamp before you edit — you can find the original by that date.
Troubleshooting: screenshot not working
If you press the buttons and nothing happens, first check that your device is not in a mode that blocks screenshots. Some apps — banking apps, Netflix, and some games — prevent screenshots for security reasons. If you're trying to screenshot inside one of those apps, the screenshot straightforward won't capture.
If screenshots don't work anywhere on your phone, restart your device. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This fixes most temporary glitches. If the problem continues, go to Settings > Apps and look for an app called "Screenshot" or "Capture" — make sure it's not disabled. On some Samsung devices, you can also try Settings > Advanced Features and toggle "Screenshots" or "Palm Swipe to Capture" off and back on.
If you're using an older Samsung device and the power-volume method doesn't work, check your device's manual or search "screenshot [your exact model number]" online, because older models vary more widely in their button combinations.
Using Samsung's built-in tools for longer captures
If you need to capture more than what fits on one screen — like a long text message thread or a webpage — Samsung phones have a Scroll Capture feature. After you take a regular screenshot, the thumbnail shows a "Scroll" button. Tap it, and the phone automatically scrolls down and captures additional content, stitching it into one long image.
This feature works on most Galaxy S and Galaxy A phones from the last few years. The stitched image saves as a single file in your Screenshots folder, and you can edit it the same way as a regular screenshot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do screenshots save on my Samsung phone?
Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app in a folder called "Screenshots". You can also find them in the Gallery app or by opening Files and navigating to Pictures > Screenshots. They're stored on your phone's internal storage, not in the cloud, unless you have cloud backup turned on.
Can I take a screenshot without using buttons?
Yes, if your phone supports palm swipe. Go to Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture and turn it on. Then swipe the edge of your hand across the screen. Some Samsung tablets also let you use the S Pen to take screenshots, depending on the model.
Why does my screenshot show a black screen or blank image?
Some apps block screenshots for security — banking apps, Netflix, and certain games won't capture. If you're outside an app and screenshots still show blank, restart your phone. If the problem continues, check Settings > Advanced Features to make sure screenshot features aren't disabled.
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
Yes. Take a regular screenshot first, then tap the thumbnail and use the crop tool to select only the area you want to keep. You can also draw a rectangle or freehand shape to highlight just the part you need before saving.
How do I delete screenshots I don't need?
Open Photos, go to the Screenshots folder, long-press the image you want to delete, and tap Delete or Trash. The image is removed from your phone. If you accidentally delete a screenshot, check your phone's Trash or Recently Deleted folder — most phones keep deleted photos there for 30 days before permanent removal.