Taking a screenshot on your Samsung phone or tablet is a simple and helpful way to capture information, share content, or troubleshoot device issues. Whether you have a Galaxy S23, Galaxy S21, or an older model, there are several ways to capture a screenshot. In this article, we'll guide you through seven methods to learn how to take a screenshot on Samsung S21 and other phones or tablets, including some tips and tricks to make it faster and more efficient.

Why Take a Screenshot on Samsung?

Screenshots are a great way to save and share information from your Samsung device. They're especially helpful if you want to share an image or text you can't copy and paste. You can quickly capture and save any image or text on your Samsung phone or tablet with a screenshot. Here are some reasons why you might want to take a screenshot on your Samsung device:

Save a conversation: If you're having a meaningful conversation via text or messaging app, you can take a screenshot to save it for future reference. For example, you can screenshot a snap for later use.
Share an image: If you see a photo you like on social media or a website, you can take a screenshot and share it with your friends or family.
Capture an error message: If you encounter an error message on your Samsung device, you can take a screenshot and share it with customer support for help.
Save a recipe: If you find a recipe you like online, you can take a screenshot and save it for future reference.

How to Take a Screenshot on Samsung Phones and Tablets

Taking a screenshot on a Samsung phone or tablet is a simple process that only takes a few seconds. Here's how to do it:

Method 1: Pressing Power and Volume Down Buttons

Nearly all Android phones share the same easy way to take screenshots: holding the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. Samsung is no exception.

Step 1. Open the screen you want to capture.

Step 2. Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. You will hear a camera shutter sound or see the screen flashing, indicating that the screenshot has been taken.

samsung screenshot power volume down

Step 3. To view the screenshot, go to the Gallery app and look for the Screenshots folder.

Note: The specific button combinations for taking a screenshot may differ slightly depending on the device model. For instance, certain Samsung tablets might have a physical Home button. To capture a screenshot on such Samsung devices, you can press and hold the Power and Home buttons simultaneously.

Method 2: Using Palm Swipe Gesture

If you find pressing buttons difficult, Samsung S21 and most other devices provide a unique feature to take screenshots using a palm swipe gesture.

Step 1. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Motions and gestures, and turn on Palm swipe to capture.

samsung screenshot enable palm swipe to capture

Step 2. Open the screen you want to capture and swipe the edge of your hand across the screen from right to left or left to right.

samsung screenshot palm swipe gesture

Step 3. The screen will flash, and the screenshot will be saved in the Gallery.

Note: Due to a hardware limitation, the Galaxy Tab S6 Lite does not support Palm swipe to capture. If your device doesn’t have such an option, choose other methods.

Method 3: Using Bixby Voice Command

If you have a Samsung phone or tablet with Bixby, you can use voice commands to take a screenshot.

Step 1. Open the screen you want to capture on your Samsung S21 or other devices.

Step 2. Activate Bixby by pressing the side key or saying "Hi Bixby," and "Take a screenshot."

Step 3. The device will capture the screen and save it in the Gallery.

Method 4: Using Google Assistant

You can check the steps below if you prefer to take a screenshot using Google Assistant instead of Bixby.

Step 1. Wake up Google Assistant by saying "Hey Google" or pressing and holding your device's Home button.

Step 2. Once Google Assistant is active, say "Take a screenshot."

Step 3. Google Assistant will then take a screenshot of your device's current screen and save it to your device's Gallery app.

Method 5: Using Smart Select Tool

If you want to capture a specific portion of the screen, Samsung phones or tablets provide a Smart Select tool to capture a part of the screen.

Before taking a screenshot on your Samsung using the Smart Select tool, you must first enable the Edge Panel feature. To do so, please:

Step 1. Go to Settings > Display.

Step 2. Tap Edge panels to see all the available panel options. Then, tap Panels.

samsung screenshot edge panels

Step 3. You can see the Apps panel enabled. If not, you can tap Smart select to turn it on.

Now, you can use the Smart Select tool to capture a part of the screen.

Step 1. Open the content you want to capture on your Samsung device's screen.

Step 2. Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the Quick Settings panel.

Step 3. Tap the "Smart Select" icon (it looks like a rectangle with a circle inside).

Step 4. Select the type of selection you want to capture (options include Rectangle, Oval, and Freeform).

samsung screenshot smart select

Step 5. Use your finger to draw around the area you want to capture. Once you've selected the area, tap the "Done" button.

Step 6. Your captured selection will appear on the screen, with options to edit, share, or save it as an image file in the Gallery.

Method 6: Using Samsung Scroll Capture

If you want to capture a long article or a web page that requires scrolling, Samsung provides a Scroll Capture tool to capture the entire page. This is a super helpful feature!

Step 1. Navigate to the screen that you want to capture on your Samsung device. Make sure that the content you want to capture extends beyond the visible screen.

Step 2. Press and hold the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously for a few seconds. You should see a quick animation and hear a camera shutter sound to indicate that the screenshot has been taken.

Step 3. After taking the screenshot, you will see some options at the bottom of the screen. Tap on "Scroll capture" to capture more content that is not visible on the screen. If you do not see the option for scroll capture, try swiping left or right on the options panel.

samsung screenshot scroll capture

Step 4. Keep tapping the Scroll capture button until you have captured all the needed content. You can also preview the captured image and make adjustments if needed.

Step 5. Once satisfied with the captured content, tap "Save" to save the screenshot to the Gallery app.

Method 7: Using Third-Party Apps

If you want more advanced features, you can use third-party apps to take a screenshot on your Samsung device. There are many apps available on the Google Play Store, such as Screenshot Easy, Screen Master, and AZ Screen Recorder, that offer more customization options and editing tools. You can choose the app that suits your needs and preferences.

Conclusion

Taking a screenshot on a Samsung phone or tablet is a straightforward process that can help you capture and share information quickly and easily. By following these seven methods, you can take a screenshot with ease.

FAQs About How to Take a Screenshot on Samsung

1. How do you take a screenshot on a Samsung phone?

You can press Power and Volume Down buttons on your Samsung S21 or other devices to quickly take a screenshot.

2. How do you screenshot on Samsung without buttons?

On some Samsung devices, you can take a screenshot without using the physical buttons by using a gesture or a software feature. Here's how to do it:

Gesture method: Go to the screen you want to capture and place the edge of your palm on the screen, then swipe your palm across the screen from left to right (or vice versa). You should hear a sound and see a brief animation to confirm that the screenshot was taken.
Software feature method: Go to the screen you want to capture and pull down the notification shade from the top of the screen. Look for the "Smart capture" or "Capture" option, then tap it. This will allow you to capture the entire screen, a specific window, or even create a GIF of the screen.

Note that these methods may only work on some Samsung devices, and the exact steps may vary depending on your device model and Android version. If these methods don't work, you can use a third-party screenshot app from the Google Play Store.

3. How do I access my screenshots on Samsung?

All screenshots are saved in the Gallery app, which you can access by tapping the Gallery icon.

4. Can I edit my screenshots on Samsung?

Yes, you can edit your screenshots using built-in editing tools or third-party apps.

7 Ways to Take a Screenshot on Samsung

Miley Shen

Miley Shen