A Quick Guide on How to Screen Record on Android in 2024

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If you’re looking into how to screen record on Android—whether you want to do a short how-to video to explain something, share gameplay, or anything in between—you’ve come to the right place.

Knowing how to get screen recording on Android can come in handy in various scenarios. In this article, we’ll explain the five steps to screen record on Android. We’ll also tell you the best way to take a screenshot and the top apps to level up your screen recording game.

What is Screen Recording?

In 2024, screen recording is one of the most essential features of a mobile phone. It allows users to easily explain to others what’s happening on their screen—whether for tutorials, documentation purposes, or gameplay videos.

Since its introduction to Android in 2020, it has evolved significantly, offering users ample options to record their screens. This includes nifty features like capturing ambient sounds or showing where and what you touch.

How to Screen Record on Devices Running Android 11+

If you’re unsure how to screen record on Android, swipe down from the home screen to access the screen recorder tool from the notification panel. Importantly, it’s an Android 11+ feature and not a separate app. Here’s a quick guide to help:

1. Open the Notifications Panel

First, make a single swipe down from the top edge of your Android screen. This opens the primary view of the notifications panel.

Depending on your phone, you’ll see four to six shortcuts here. Next, swipe down again and expand the drawer. Now, you’ll see the full set of shortcuts.

2. Swipe Left to Find the Recorder

Usually, the screen recording shortcut won’t be immediately visible. The first view of the notifications panel will show you the most frequently accessed settings and controls—auto-rotate, torch, data connection, and so on.

Swipe left on the notifications panel to reveal the next set of shortcuts. Depending on your phone, you might have to swipe a few times. You’ll see the ‘Screen Record’ button among the settings and controls shortcuts.

3. Open the Recorder and Start Capturing Video

Now that you can access the ‘Screen Record’ button, tap on it to begin. A pop-up window opens on your Android phone, which has all the screen recording options. You can:

Android also reminds you that it can access anything shown on your phone while recording, including passwords, financial details, and photos.

Therefore, be careful when recording your screen, and make sure you’ve selected the right settings before you hit the ‘Start Recording’ button.

4. Stop Recording and Retrieve the File

As long as you’re recording, a small red indicator will appear on the top panel. It’ll count down from 3, so you can get your ducks in a row and arrange the screen as you wish.

Remember that you’ll be able to record only as long as you have sufficient memory and battery. The maximum duration can vary from one device to another.

Swipe down for the notifications panel to stop recording your Android screen. You’ll see the recording notification, which has the duration and a ‘Stop’ option.

To end the recording, tap ‘Stop’ or tap the screen recorder button you clicked in step 3. To find the file you just saved, navigate to your phone’s photo gallery.

It’ll appear under videos. Alternatively, you can view, share, and edit the recording you just captured directly from the notification. The image below illustrates this entire process:

Related: How to Take a Screenshot on Android

Besides knowing how to screen record on Android, the OS offers another feature—screenshots. In fact, you’re likely to use screenshots more than screen recordings.

So, if you’re wondering how to screenshot on Android, there’s good news; the OS offers you two ways to take a static photo of your screen:

1. Swipe up from the bottom edge of any app to display all your open apps; tap ‘Screenshot’ at the bottom. You can edit, save, share, or delete it.
2. Press the power and volume buttons at the same time. On some apps like Chrome, you’ll see ‘Capture more’—this takes a long, scrollable screenshot.

How to Screen Record on Devices Running Older Android Versions

Luckily, the Play Store has plenty of options – here are the best-rated ones:

Bear in mind that not all apps will work on all Android versions. For instance, XRecorder is compatible with Android 5 and up. Open the Play Store from your phone to view the screen recording options available on your device.

Other Ways to Screen Record on Android

There’s one more way to record your screen, and it’s particularly helpful for gamers. Globally, gaming video content generates over $9 billion a year, and much of this comes from videos or live streams posted on Twitch, YouTube, and Facebook.

To support gamers, Android offers a built-in screen recorder so you can capture gameplay without having to switch apps. Here are the steps to use this feature:

1. Open the Google Play Games app.
2. Select a game, including the built-in ones.
3. Tap the Record gameplay button.
4. Select 480p SD or 720p HD and then Next.
5. Tap the Start recording option.
6. After 3 seconds, it’ll start recording your screen.

Some phones also display a game controller icon when you’re playing, which opens up the gaming dashboard. You’ll find screen recording options here as well.

How to Record Someone Else’s Screen

It may so happen that you want to record someone else’s screen. Let’s say you’re a parent wondering what your child is up to on their device and if they’re being safe online. Or you might want to catch a cheating spouse in the act. This is where you can use one of the best parental control apps such as mSpy.

The mSpy platform comes with an inbuilt screen recorder that captures the target devices’ screen and sends screenshots to your control panel. The best thing is that you don’t need to enable screen recording manually.

Once the app has been successfully installed on the target device, it’ll do so automatically. As we found in your detailed mSpy review, it works for both Android and iOS devices, and you don’t need to jailbreak a phone to install it.

Plus, mSpy works in stealth mode, leaving no trace on the device. This makes it difficult for the user to detect that their screen is being recorded.

Final Thoughts

Google is constantly looking to perfect Android’s built-in screen recorder. Despite being just a few years old, this tool has come a long way and has fast become a staple for Android users.

By following a few simple steps, you can learn how to screen record on Android, regardless of your manufacturer or OS version.

We suggest using a third-party app for greater control and more features, especially if you plan on using the screen capture feature regularly—for tutorials or gameplay content.

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