How To Record the Screen On Android (3 Methods)

Method 1: How to Use Apps to Record Your Android Screen

Since they’re much easier to set up and use, let’s start with apps. In the past, you’d need root access to use screen recorder apps. Now, all you need is an internet connection for a few seconds. That sounds much faster than rooting your phone and doesn’t come with any of the risks of rooting.

Related: Everything You Should Know About Android Rooting

Note: These apps only work if you have a phone working with Android 5.0 and above, up to 8.1. If you have an older version, we suggest you check the options below.

1. AZ Screen Recorder – Free with In-app Purchases

App Logo

This app will let you record your screen to HD and FullHD, and will even let you pause and resume your recording – not many apps can do that. It also comes with a simple and easy interface so anyone can use it to record their android screens.

Features:

• Live stream
• Overlay front camera
• Draw on screen
• A customized timer to stop

1. Download the app.

   Open the Google Play Store and download the app on your phone.

   

2. Launch and Observe

   Launch AZ Screen Recorder. You can do that either from your home screen, app drawer, or even download page itself. After you do that, an icon will appear on the side of your screen and you’ll even get a notification on your bar to mess with.

   

   AZ Screen Recorder Controls

3. Go to Settings.

   You should tweak your settings before you start recording. You could do that either by tapping the icon on the side of your screen – then tap the green settings wheel, or by pulling down our notification bar – then clicking the settings wheel under your AZ Screen Recorder notification.

   

   AZ Screen Recorder Settings

4. Ready to Record

   If you’re all set, you can either tap the icon on the side of your screen – then tap the red camera button, or pull down your notification bar – then click the camera icon, to start recording.

   

   Start screen recording

    

You can even set a timer so the recording won’t start until the countdown timer disappears. Once you start recording, you can pause it and resume at any time, and record as long as you want, as long as you have the space for the video file. Once you are done, you can find the video in your gallery.

2. Game Screen Recorder

App Logo

This app shares many features with AZ Screen Recorder but pitches itself as game focused. Where the two differ is that Game Screen Recorder can only record in selected apps launched through the recording app itself.

Features:

• Pause and Resume
• Automatically identify the game you’re playing
• Hide the Record Button Option

1. Download the App.

   Open Google Play Store and download the app on your phone.

2. Launch the App

   As soon as you launch your app, it will make you go through a small tutorial before getting dropped off on the main menu.

   

   Main Interface

3. Tweak Your Settings

   Firstly, you should change the settings to your preference – to make sure your recording turn out the way you want it to.

   

   Settings Gear

4. Add a Game or App

   Unlike the first app, in Game Screen Recorder, you can add an app to your record list after launching the app.

   

   Add an App

5. Record a Game or an App

   Once you’ve added your app or our game, you can see a small record button on the side of the screen. You should tap as soon as you’re ready to record, and after a short countdown timer, everything you do will be recorded – even if you leave the app. Tap the button again when you’re done, and then you can find your video in the second tab of the app.

   

   Record your game

Method 2: How to Record the Screen Using ADB

Screen recorder apps are a great way to record your Android screen doing pretty much anything, but there has to be another way, right? That’s ADB.

If you’re already familiar with the Android Debug Bridge, this probably isn’t new to you. You’ll need:

• micro USB cable
• Android device
• PC or Laptop

Also, after you’ve connected all the pieces, make sure that you have enabled USB Debugging on Android.

Note: This method works for Android 4.4 and Above

1. Open Command Window

   If you’ve just set up ADB tool recently, this window should look familiar. Once you’ve opened your platform-tools folder: shift + right click on any blank space in the folder, then select Open command window here.

   

   Open command window

2. Start the Command Process

   In order for your Android to start recording (as long as it is connected to your PC). You should type the following command:

   • adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/FILENAME.mp4

   In place of “FILENAME” you should put the name of your recording. As soon as you print enter, the recording will start, and it will keep going until it reaches the preset time of 3 minutes. Otherwise, press Ctrl + C at any time to stop.

3. Change the Time Limit

   If you want to record for more than three minutes, you can change that with just one line before the initial command:

   • adb shell screenrecord -time-limit TIME

   Obviously, in place of “TIME” you should put how long the recording you want to be in seconds.

   

   Shell Commands

Once the recording is finished, your video is saved on your micro-SD card with the filename you chose in the command. You can access it at any point in time, and move it from the SD card safely once the recording is finished.

Once the recording stops, your Android is safe to disconnect.

Method 3: How to Record the Screen on Android 9 and Up

Smartphones working with Android 9 and up have a built-in option for screen recording, so there is no need for extra apps or tweaking with ADB.

1. Enable Developer Options.

   By default, this option is disabled so you will need to enable it manually. Before that, you will need to unhide the Developer Options menu.

   What you have to do is open your Settings, tap on About Phone, then tap on Build number seven times in a row or more until you’ll be asked to enter your pin or lock screen password. Then a message saying “You are now a developer!” will pop up. Now, if you go back to System Settings, if you tap on the Advanced tab, Developer Options will now be available.

   

   Discover Developer Options

2. Enable your Screen Recorder

   So now you should go inside your Developer options menu, scroll down until you see Feature flags and tap on that. Then toggle on the settings_screenrecord_long_press.

   

   Tap Feature Flags

   

   Toggle recording on

   
   

After you enable that, all you have to do is long press the power button in order to see a menu pop up with the option “Start Recording”.

Note: If you take a screenshot during recording your screen, it will break your recording.