Start a Screen Recording in Three Steps

Samsung phones have a built-in screen recorder that captures everything on your display — apps, videos, games, web pages — along with audio from your phone's speaker or microphone. You do not need to read anything. Open the Quick Settings panel by swiping down twice from the top of your screen, find Screen Recorder, tap it, choose your audio source, and tap Start. The recording begins after a three-second countdown.

The screen recorder works on most Samsung Galaxy models running Android 9 or later. If you cannot find Screen Recorder in your Quick Settings, you can also start it through Settings: go to Settings > Advanced Features > Screen Recorder, then tap Start Recording.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Recorder is built into Samsung phones and found in the Quick Settings panel — no app read required.
  • You can record with speaker audio, microphone audio, or no sound at all depending on what you are capturing.
  • Recordings are saved as video files in your Gallery app and can be shared, edited, or deleted like any other video.
  • The recording stops when you tap the notification at the top of your screen or use the floating control button.
  • If Screen Recorder does not appear in Quick Settings, check that your phone runs Android 9 or later and enable it in Advanced Features.

Access Screen Recorder from Quick Settings

The fastest way to start recording is through Quick Settings. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice — the first swipe opens notifications, the second opens the full Quick Settings panel. Scroll through the tiles until you see Screen Recorder (it looks like a small rectangle with a dot inside). Tap it once.

If you do not see Screen Recorder in your Quick Settings panel, it may not be added to your visible tiles. Tap the pencil or edit icon at the bottom of the Quick Settings panel, then scroll down to find Screen Recorder and tap the plus sign next to it to add it. After that, it will appear in your main Quick Settings panel.

Choose Your Audio Source Before Recording

When you tap Screen Recorder, a menu appears asking what audio you want to capture. Your options are Mute (no sound), Media and System Sound (records what plays through your speaker — music, app sounds, video audio), or Microphone (records your voice). Choose the one that matches what you are recording.

If you are recording a game or video, select Media and System Sound. If you are making a tutorial and want to narrate, select Microphone. If you are recording something sensitive or just want video without sound, select Mute. You can only pick one audio source per recording — you cannot record both your voice and the phone's speaker audio at the same time.

Start Recording and Watch the Timer

After you choose your audio source and tap Start, a three-second countdown appears on your screen. During this countdown, position your phone or navigate to the first screen you want to record. When the countdown ends, the recording begins. You will see a red recording indicator at the top of your screen (usually a red dot or red bar with the time elapsed).

The recording captures everything that happens on your display from that moment forward — every tap, swipe, app you open, and text you type. The audio (if you selected it) records simultaneously. You can use your phone normally while recording; the recorder runs in the background.

Stop the Recording and Find Your Video

To stop recording, tap the red recording indicator at the top of your screen, or swipe down to open notifications and tap the Stop button. Some Samsung phones show a floating control button instead — tap the stop icon on that button. The recording saves automatically to your Gallery app as a video file.

Open your Gallery app, go to the Videos folder or the date when you recorded, and you will see your new video file. The file name usually starts with "Screen Recorder" followed by the date and time. You can play it, share it, edit it, or delete it like any other video on your phone. Video files are typically saved in MP4 format and can be transferred to a computer or shared through messaging apps, email, or social media.

Troubleshoot Missing or Stuck Screen Recorder

If Screen Recorder does not appear in your Quick Settings or Advanced Features menu, your phone may run an older version of Android. Screen Recorder is available on Samsung Galaxy phones with Android 9 or later. Check your Android version by going to Settings > About Phone and looking for the Android version number. If it is Android 8 or earlier, the built-in screen recorder is not available, though third-party recording apps can be downloaded from the Google Play Store.

If the recorder starts but freezes or stops unexpectedly, try restarting your phone and clearing the cache for the system apps. Go to Settings > Apps > System Apps, find Screen Recorder, tap Storage, and select Clear Cache. If the problem continues, check that you have at least 1 GB of free storage space on your phone — recordings need space to save.

Common Recording Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

The most common mistake is forgetting to choose your audio source before tapping Start. If you realize mid-recording that you wanted sound but selected Mute, you have to stop and start over — you cannot change the audio setting once recording has begun. Always check the audio menu before the countdown starts.

Another frequent issue is running out of storage space. Long recordings (30 minutes or more) can use several gigabytes. If your phone storage is nearly full, the recording may stop abruptly or fail to save. Delete old videos or photos before recording something long, or move files to cloud storage to free up space. Also avoid recording while other apps are running heavy processes in the background — close unnecessary apps first to keep your phone responsive and prevent the recording from lagging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen while using other apps?

Yes. Screen Recorder runs in the background, so you can open any app, take screenshots, or switch between apps while recording. Everything that appears on your screen during the recording is captured, including notifications that pop up. If you do not want notifications visible in your video, turn on Do Not Disturb before you start.

How long can I record for?

There is no set time limit, but the length depends on your available storage space. A one-hour video typically uses 500 MB to 1 GB of storage depending on screen activity and resolution. Check your free storage before starting a long recording. If you run out of space mid-recording, the video stops and saves what was captured up to that point.

Can I record with both my voice and the phone's speaker audio?

No. You can only select one audio source per recording — either Microphone, Media and System Sound, or Mute. If you need both, you would have to record twice or use a third-party app. For most tutorials, recording your voice with the Microphone option is sufficient.

Where are my screen recordings saved?

Screen recordings are saved in your Gallery app under the Videos folder, organized by date. The files are stored on your phone's internal storage. You can move them to cloud storage (Google Photos, OneDrive, etc.) or transfer them to a computer via USB cable or file-sharing apps.

What if my screen recording is choppy or laggy?

Close background apps before recording, especially games or streaming apps that use a lot of processing power. Restart your phone if it has been running for a long time. Make sure you have at least 1 GB of free storage. If the problem persists, try recording at a lower resolution or shorter duration to see if that improves performance.