Originally written by Amit Kumar, updated by Dibyajyoti Kabi. First published March 19, 2019. Updated October 24, 2026.
To record your screen on Android, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap Screen record in Quick Settings. Pick your sound and touch options, tap Start, and stop it from the notification when you’re done. The tile is built into Android 11 and newer, so you don’t need a third-party app.
This post first showed a hidden feature flag for the Android Q beta. Google turned screen recording into a regular feature in Android 11, so I’ve rewritten it around the steps that work on phones today, and kept the old method at the end for anyone still on Android 10.
Key points
- Screen record is a Quick Settings tile on Android 11 and newer.
- You can record with no sound, media sound, the microphone or both.
- Turning on Show touches adds a dot wherever you tap.
- Recordings are saved as video files in your Photos or Gallery app.
- Samsung phones have their own Screen recorder tile with the same idea.
How do I record my screen on Android?
Open Quick Settings and tap Screen record. If you don’t see the tile, tap the pencil or Edit icon and drag Screen record into your tiles. Google lists the same steps on its Android help page for screenshots and screen recording.
- Swipe down twice from the top of your screen.
- Tap Screen record. If it’s missing, tap Edit and drag Screen record into Quick Settings.
- Choose whether to record audio and whether to show touches on screen.
- On newer versions, pick Record one app or Record entire screen.
- Tap Start. A countdown runs before the recording begins.
- To stop, swipe down and tap the Screen recorder notification.
How do I record with sound?
Turn on Record audio before you tap Start, then pick the source. Device audio records sound from apps and games, Microphone records your voice, and Device audio and microphone records both. The options can look a little different depending on your phone and Android version.
| Audio option | What it records |
|---|---|
| Device audio | Sound playing from apps, videos and games |
| Microphone | Your voice and the room around you |
| Device audio and microphone | Both at the same time |
Some apps block recording, like streaming video apps and banking apps. You’ll get a black screen or no sound in those.
How do I screen record on a Samsung phone?
Swipe down twice, tap Screen recorder in the Quick panel, pick your sound setting and tap Start recording. You can also draw on the screen or show a selfie video while recording. To change the video quality, touch and hold the tile to open its settings.
Where are my screen recordings saved?
Screen recordings show up in Google Photos or your phone’s Gallery app as video files. On most phones they’re in a folder named Movies or Screen recordings in internal storage. Open the Files app and search for Screen recordings if you can’t find one.
How did screen recording work on Android 10?
On Android 10 and the Android Q beta, screen recording was hidden behind a developer feature flag. Most phones on Android 10 also had their own recorder from the phone maker, so check Quick Settings first.
- Turn on Developer options. My guide on enabling Developer options and USB debugging shows you how.
- Open Settings > System > Developer options > Feature flags.
- Turn on settings_screenrecord_long_press.
- Press and hold the power button, then touch and hold Screenshot and tap Start recording.
This flag isn’t there on later versions, so use the Quick Settings tile instead.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a time limit on Android screen recording?
Google doesn’t list a fixed time limit for the built-in recorder. In practice it keeps going until you stop it, but long recordings take up a lot of storage, so keep an eye on free space.
Why is my screen recording silent?
You probably left Record audio off, or the app you recorded blocks audio capture. Turn on Record audio and pick Device audio before you start.
Do I need a third-party screen recorder app?
Not for most things. The built-in recorder covers sound and touches. Third-party apps only help if you need extras like a face cam on a non-Samsung phone or editing tools.
Related guides
- How to enable Developer options, USB debugging and OEM unlock
- How to downgrade from Android Q beta to Android Pie
- Android Q expected name, features and release date
That’s it. Once the Screen record tile is in your Quick Settings, recording your screen takes two taps.
If you can’t find the tile on your phone, leave a comment with your phone model and Android version, and I’ll tell you where it is.
