How to Screen Record on Android (Samsung, Pixel, OnePlus)

Every Android phone sold today ships with a built-in screen recorder. Still, most people have no idea it exists. If you have ever needed to capture a tutorial, save a video call, or record gameplay, knowing how to screen record on Android is a skill worth picking up. The process varies slightly between Samsung, Pixel, and OnePlus devices, so this guide covers each brand step by step.

Screen recording on mobile has exploded in popularity. Around 75% of all video viewing now happens on mobile devices, according to Yans Media. The screen recorder software market is projected to grow from $2 billion in 2025 to roughly $6 billion by 2033, at a 15% CAGR, per Data Insights Market. Clearly, screen capture is no longer a niche activity.

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Before You Start: Requirements

Screen recording became a native Android feature with Android 11, released in September 2020. If your phone runs Android 11 or later, you already have the tool installed. No downloads required.

Here is what you need:

• Android 11 or higher (check in Settings > About Phone)
• Enough storage space for video files (1 minute of 1080p video is roughly 130 MB)
• Permissions enabled for microphone access if you want voice narration

Older phones running Android 10 or below will need a third-party app. We cover those options further down.

How to Screen Record on Samsung Galaxy Phones

Samsung's screen recorder is one of the most feature-rich among Android manufacturers. It supports 1080p recording, front-camera overlay, and on-screen drawing with the S Pen on compatible models.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Open Quick Settings. Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to expand the full Quick Settings panel.
2. Find Screen Recorder. Look for the "Screen recorder" tile. If you do not see it, tap the pencil/edit icon to add it.
3. Choose your sound settings. Samsung gives you three options: No sound, Media sounds (internal audio), or Media sounds and mic (both).
4. Select video quality. Pick from High (1080p), Medium (720p), or Low (480p).
5. Tap Start recording. A 3-second countdown begins, then recording starts.
6. Stop recording. Tap the floating toolbar's stop button, or pull down the notification shade and tap Stop.

Your recording saves automatically to the Gallery app under a "Screen recordings" folder.

Samsung-Exclusive Features

Samsung's One UI adds extras you will not find on stock Android:

• Selfie camera overlay. Tap the person icon on the floating toolbar to add a front-camera feed in a small circle.
• Drawing mode. Tap the pencil icon to write or sketch on-screen during recording. Useful for tutorials.
• Partial screen recording (One UI 8.5). The Galaxy S25 series now supports recording only a specific portion of the screen. The system can auto-detect the main content area, so you tap once and start recording just that section, according to Android Authority.

How to Screen Record on Google Pixel

Google keeps things simple. The Pixel screen recorder is minimal but effective.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open Quick Settings.
2. Tap "Screen record." If the tile is missing, tap the edit (pencil) icon and drag it into your panel.
3. Configure your recording. Choose whether to record device audio, microphone audio, or both. You can also toggle "Show touches on screen."
4. Select what to record. Android 14 and later let you record a single app instead of the entire screen, which protects notifications and other private content from appearing in the video.
5. Tap Start. After a 3-second countdown, recording begins. A red indicator appears in the status bar.
6. Stop the recording. Swipe down and tap "Stop" in the notification, or tap the red status bar chip (Android 15+).

Recordings are saved to your Photos app.

Pixel-Specific Features

• Single-app recording. Available on Android 14+, this captures only the chosen app window. Notifications, incoming calls, and other overlays stay private.
• Status bar timer. Android 15 added a small chip in the status bar showing elapsed recording time, so you always know how long you have been capturing.
• External display recording. Android 16 introduced the option to record an external monitor connected via HDMI, a feature highlighted by Android Authority.

How to Screen Record on OnePlus

OnePlus was actually ahead of the curve on screen recording. OxygenOS included a screen recorder before Android made it a default feature.

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Pull down the Quick Settings panel by swiping down twice from the top edge.
2. Tap "Screen Recorder." The tile should be visible by default on most OnePlus phones.
3. Adjust settings before recording. Tap the gear icon to set resolution (up to QHD on supported models), frame rate (30 or 60 fps), and audio source.
4. Start recording. Tap the red record button. A floating control bar appears.
5. Stop when finished. Tap the stop button on the floating bar or in the notification shade.

OnePlus-Specific Features

• Internal and external audio simultaneously. OnePlus was one of the first brands to support recording both system audio and microphone input at the same time. This is perfect for commentary over gameplay.
• Partial screen recording. OxygenOS 15 added the ability to select and capture only a specific area of the display, similar to Samsung's implementation (Gizmochina).
• Gaming mode integration. OnePlus offers pop-up-free recording during gameplay with flashback capture and motion clips.

How to Record Internal Audio on Android

Recording internal audio (the sounds coming from apps, games, or media playing on your phone) is the feature people ask about most. Here is how it works across different scenarios.

Android 11 and Later (Built-in)

Starting with Android 11, the built-in screen recorder supports internal audio capture natively. When you see the option labeled "Device audio," "Media sounds," or "System audio," select it. That captures whatever your phone is playing without needing the microphone.

Why Some Apps Block Internal Audio

Certain apps, particularly streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and banking apps, block audio capture using Android's DRM protections. When you try to record, the audio track will be silent. This is by design, and there is no workaround on non-rooted devices.

The Microphone Workaround

If internal audio recording is unavailable on your device, you can select "Microphone" as the audio source and play audio through your phone's speakers. The quality will not match direct capture, but it works in a pinch. Use a quiet room for best results.

Third-Party Screen Recording Apps

The built-in recorder handles basic needs. For advanced use cases, third-party apps fill the gaps.

AZ Screen Recorder is a popular choice with no time limits, no watermarks on free recordings, and support for livestreaming to YouTube or Facebook. It records at up to 1080p/60fps.

XRecorder by InShot offers a clean interface, facecam overlay, and built-in video editor. The free version adds a small watermark.

Mobizen targets Samsung users specifically with optimized performance for Galaxy devices. It supports internal audio on Android 10+ and offers a floating control widget.

What most people miss is that third-party apps still rely on the same Android MediaProjection API. They cannot bypass DRM restrictions that the built-in recorder also faces. The advantage is in extra features like scheduled recordings, custom watermarks, and editing tools.

Recording via ADB (Advanced Method)

For developers and power users, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) offers a command-line approach to screen recording.

Setup

1. Enable Developer Options on your phone (tap "Build number" seven times in Settings > About Phone).
2. Turn on USB Debugging.
3. Connect your phone to a computer with ADB installed.

The Command

adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/recording.mp4

Press Ctrl+C to stop. The recording saves to your phone's storage.

Useful Flags

• --size 1920x1080 sets the resolution
• --bit-rate 6000000 adjusts quality (6 Mbps in this example)
• --time-limit 120 caps the recording at 120 seconds (max is 180)

Key Limitation

ADB's screenrecord utility does not capture audio at all. No internal audio, no microphone. If you need audio, pair it with a separate audio recording app and sync in post-production.

Tips for Better Android Screen Recordings

Quick tips to improve your recordings:

• Enable Do Not Disturb before recording. Incoming notifications will appear in your video otherwise.
• Close background apps to free up RAM and avoid frame drops.
• Use Wi-Fi instead of mobile data if recording an online activity. Wi-Fi connections are more stable.
• Record in landscape for content that will be viewed on desktops or TVs.
• Keep recordings short. Files get large fast. A 5-minute 1080p recording can exceed 600 MB.

If you are creating screen recordings for professional use, like product demos, onboarding videos, or marketing content, VibrantSnap can help. It records in 4K at up to 120fps and uses AI to auto-edit your footage, add embedded CTAs, and generate video analytics. Over 1,827 founders already use it, and it holds a 4.8/5 rating. Plans start at $7/month with a 7-day free trial.

How Android Screen Recording Compares to Other Platforms

Android's built-in recorder is solid but relatively basic compared to what iOS and desktop operating systems offer. If you also use Apple devices, check out our guides on how to screen record on iPhone and how to screen record on iPad. Windows users can explore how to screen record on Windows.

Need to enable screen recording on a device where the option is hidden? We have a guide for that too.

For creators who record frequently across devices, a dedicated tool like VibrantSnap provides consistent quality and AI-powered editing regardless of where you capture. One-click polishing turns raw screen recordings into professional content.