Android How to take a screenshot with Android

There is no need for additional software if a picture of the actual screen is needed. Android  offers some possibility to take a screenshot.  The most popular way to do this by pressing the right keys at the same time.

A simple address, a website text or a cool content on your Android device: If you need to share something fastly, just take a screenshot. With a screenshot, the actual showed content on the display will be photographed and saved as a picture. Now you can edit the picture and send it to your contacts, for example with a messenger like WhatsApp . Most devices share the same key combinations, but as they are differed by android version and manufacturers, there are maybe additional ways to take a screenshot. 

Key combination to take a screenshot

Almost all smartphones and tablets can take screenshots by pressing the right keys at the same time. To take a picture of your sreen content, you need to press volume down and the power key at the same time. Keep pressing these two buttons until you see the screenshot in a popup-window.

Where is my screenshot?

After a successful screenshot you will find it in your gallery. To be exact, in the folder called Screenshots. From here, you can look at your screenshots, edit them or delete them. 

Screenshot via the power bar

Pressing those keys right needs a little sensivity. Sometimes you change the volume by chance, sometimes you turn off the screen accidentally. With most Android versions, you can also take screenshots via the power bar, this depends mostly on which brand you are using. Here you just have to tap on Screenshot to take a picture of your screen. Don't worry, the power bar wont be showed in that screen.

Other methods based on brands

Based on brand and OS (version), there are other ways to take a screenshot. This includes wiping gestures or additional keys.

Samsung - Screenshot 

Newer Samsung smartphones that have no physical home button anymore are using the ususal key combination. 

For Samsung devices that still have a physical home button, the key combination is to press Volume down and the home button.

Gestures

Many Samsung devices are allowing gestures to take screenshots. To enable these gestures, you have to set them up first:

1. Open the settings
2. Tap on Extended functions (not all models do have this)
3. Tap on Gestures
4. Choose Screenshot

You will find all possible gestures here. Well known is the wipe gesture with the side of the hand. For this, just wipe with your hand side from one side of the screen to the other. This gesture wont work if your virtual keyboard is displayed.

 

Huawei & Honor

Huawei and it's daughter Honor are using mostly the same operating system, called EMUI. Both Smartphones are using the same key combination for screenshots as usually, volume down and the power key. But EMUI offers a lot more possibilities to take a screenshot. First you have to activate them in your settings before you can use gestures. The following steps are explaining how to set up the three-fingers wipe method, to take a screenshot after you set it up, just wipe from top to bottom.

1. Open the Settings
2. Tap on Smart assistance
3. Tap on Motion control
4. Tap on Three-fingers screenshot
5. Activate it with the Toggle

Knuckle-Screenshot with EMUI

Smartphones with EMUI from Honor or Huawei are hiding some more possibilities.One would be taking a picture with your knuckles. Older devices with EMUI 5 and up can take a screenshot by knocking on the display twice. Since EMUI 8, the Knock screenshot changed and you now have to draw an "S" on the display. Like the three-fingers screenshot, you'll need to activate this in the settings.

1. Tap on Settings> Smart assistance > Motion control> Screenshot
2. Draw a "S" on the screen with your knuckles
3. There will be a visual or acoustical confirmation if the screenshot was taken
4. Tap on the display again to prevent a Scrollshot
5. The screenshot is saved in your Screenshots folder

 

 

HTC - Screenshot 

The latest HTC devices are not using the key combination if they do not have a home button. To take a screenshot, the power button has to be pressed for 2 seconds. As soon as the device vibrates, the home button in the navigations bar has to be pressed. 

1. Press and hold the  Power-key at least for 2 seconds
2. As soon as the HTC-smartphone vibrates, tap on the home button in the navigation barwhile still holding the Power button

HTC Edge Sense 

HTC-smartphones with Edge Sense can assign screenshots to the squeeze gestures. To assign the screenshot function, you need to set this up first:

1. Öffne die Settings
2. Tap on Edge Sense
3. Choose between Set short squeeze or Set squeeze & hold action
4. Choose Screenshot

After the set up you can use the pressure sensitive sides of your device to take a screen shot.