The fastest way: volume down and power button together
The standard method on most Samsung phones is to hold the volume down button and power button at the same time for about a second. Your screen will flash, you'll hear a camera sound, and the screenshot saves to your Photos app. This works on nearly every Samsung model from the last decade.
If you don't want to use the power button at all, Samsung built in other ways to capture your screen. The methods vary slightly depending on your phone's age and software version, but at least one will work on your device.
Key Takeaways
- Volume down and power button together is the standard method, but you can use palm swipe, voice commands, or the Quick Settings menu instead.
- Palm swipe (sliding the edge of your hand across the screen) works on most Samsung phones but must be turned on in Settings first.
- Google Assistant voice command "take a screenshot" works on any Samsung phone with Google Assistant enabled.
- The Quick Settings panel has a Screenshot button on some Samsung models — swipe down twice from the top to find it.
- Screenshots always save to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots, regardless of which method you use.
Using palm swipe to capture your screen
Palm swipe is a Samsung feature that lets you take a screenshot by sliding the edge of your hand across the screen from left to right (or right to left). It's built into most Samsung phones but turned off by default, so you have to enable it first.
Go to Settings > Advanced features > Motions and gestures > Palm swipe to capture and turn it on. The exact path varies slightly between Samsung versions — on some phones it's under Settings > Motions instead. Once it's on, place the edge of your hand (the side of your pinky) on the screen and swipe across in one smooth motion. Your phone will take the screenshot and show a preview in the corner.
This method works best when your hand is dry and you use a deliberate, confident swipe. If your phone doesn't recognize the motion, try adjusting the angle or speed slightly. Some older Samsung models don't support this feature at all — if you can't find the setting, your phone may not have it.
Taking a screenshot with your voice
If Google Assistant is set up on your phone, you can say "Hey Google, take a screenshot" and your phone will capture the screen without touching any buttons. This works on any Samsung phone with Google Assistant enabled, regardless of age or model.
Make sure Google Assistant is turned on by going to Settings > Google > Manage your Google Account > Search, Maps & News and checking that Google Assistant is active. You can also set up it by holding down the home button (if your phone has one) or swiping up from the bottom corner. Once it's ready, just speak the command naturally — you don't have to be exact with the wording.
Voice commands are useful when your hands are full or wet, but they only work if your phone can hear you clearly. In a noisy environment, your phone may not recognize the command.
Finding the screenshot button in Quick Settings
Newer Samsung phones (Galaxy S20 and later) have a Screenshot button built into the Quick Settings panel. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open the full Quick Settings menu, and look for a button labeled "Screenshot" or a camera icon. Tap it once to capture your screen.
The button's location depends on your phone's software version and how many other quick settings you have enabled. If you don't see it when ready, scroll left or right within the Quick Settings panel — it may be on a second row. You can also customize which buttons appear by tapping the pencil icon at the bottom of the panel and dragging Screenshot into view.
This method is reliable and doesn't require any setup, but it does take a few taps to reach the button. It's most useful if you take screenshots frequently and want a one-tap option.
Using Samsung's built-in screen capture tools
Some Samsung phones come with a dedicated Screen Capture or Capture app that you can launch from your home screen or app drawer. This app often includes extra features like the ability to capture scrolling screenshots (which stitch multiple screens together into one long image) or to edit and annotate your screenshot right away.
Open your app drawer and search for "Capture" or "Screen Capture." If your phone has this app, tap it to open a menu with options like Full Screenshot, Scrolling Screenshot, and Screenshot Editor. Tap the option you want, and your phone will either take the screenshot when ready or give you a few seconds to prepare. Scrolling screenshots are especially useful for capturing long conversations or web pages that don't fit on one screen.
Not all Samsung models include this app — if you can't find it, your phone may not have it. In that case, the other methods in this guide will work instead.
Where your screenshots are saved
Every screenshot you take, regardless of which method you use, saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots. You don't have to do anything to save them — they're stored the moment you take them.
To find your screenshots, open the Photos app, tap Library or Albums at the bottom, and look for the Screenshots folder. From there you can view, edit, delete, or share any screenshot. If you want to move a screenshot to a different folder or cloud storage, you can do that from the Photos app as well.
Screenshots take up storage space on your phone, so if you're running low on space, deleting old screenshots you don't need can free up room. You can also set your phone to automatically delete screenshots after a certain number of days — check your Photos app settings to see if this option is available.
Troubleshooting when screenshots won't work
If none of the methods above are working, the most common cause is that your phone's software is out of date. Go to Settings > About phone > Software update and check for updates. Installing the latest version often fixes screenshot problems.
If your phone is up to date and screenshots still aren't working, try restarting your phone — hold the power button, tap "Restart," and wait for it to turn back on. This clears temporary glitches that can block screenshots. If that doesn't work, check whether your phone is in a restricted mode or whether a third-party app is blocking screenshots (some security or parental control apps do this). You can test this by restarting in Safe Mode: hold the power button, then press and hold "Power off" until you see the Safe Mode option.
If screenshots work in Safe Mode but not in normal mode, a third-party app is likely the cause. Uninstall recently added apps one at a time until screenshots work again. If you still can't get screenshots to work after trying all of these steps, contact Samsung support — your phone may have a hardware issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot if my power button is broken?
Yes. Use palm swipe, voice command, or the Quick Settings button instead. All three methods work without the power button. Palm swipe requires you to turn it on first in Settings, but voice command and Quick Settings work when ready on most phones.
Do screenshots show up in my cloud storage automatically?
Not automatically, but you can set it up. If you have Google Photos or Samsung Cloud enabled, you can turn on backup for your Screenshots folder so they upload automatically. Go to your Photos app settings and look for backup or sync options.
Can someone tell if I took a screenshot of their message?
No. Samsung screenshots don't notify the other person. Some messaging apps like Snapchat do notify when you screenshot, but regular text messages, emails, and most social media apps do not.
What's the difference between a regular screenshot and a scrolling screenshot?
A regular screenshot captures only what's visible on your screen at that moment. A scrolling screenshot automatically scrolls down and stitches multiple screens together into one long image, useful for capturing entire web pages or conversations. Not all Samsung phones have scrolling screenshots — check your Screen Capture app or Quick Settings to see if the option is available.
Why is my screenshot blurry or low quality?
Screenshots capture at your phone's screen resolution, so they're as clear as what you see on your display. If a screenshot looks blurry, the content itself (like a photo or video) may be low quality. Screenshots of text should always be sharp — if they're not, restart your phone and try again.