How to Screen Record on Android (With Sound): Pixel & Samsung
Vorec Team · 2026-10-24 · About 10 min read
To screen record on Android, swipe down twice from the top of the screen and tap Screen record in Quick Settings. Choose what to record and whether to include audio, tap Start, and recording begins after a short countdown. To stop on a Pixel, swipe down and tap the Screen recorder notification. On a Samsung Galaxy, open Quick settings from the top right, tap Screen recorder, pick a sound option and tap Start recording; tap the Stop icon when you're done. If the Screen record tile isn't there, you have to add it to Quick Settings first.
Android phones are made by many companies, and the screen recorder isn't identical on all of them. This guide follows two sets of official instructions: Google's own help pages (Android Help and Pixel Phone Help) and Samsung's US support article for Galaxy phones and tablets. All three were checked on 24 October 2026. If your phone is from another maker, the labels may differ, so check that manufacturer's own support site.
Quick answers. Pixel: swipe down twice > Screen record > choose audio and entire screen or a single app > Start. Stop from the Screen recorder notification. Samsung Galaxy: swipe down from the top right > Screen recorder > Sound settings (None, Media, or Media and mic) > Start recording. Stop with the Stop icon. Where the file goes: Google Photos > Collections > On this device > Movies (Pixel); the Gallery app (Samsung).
Which steps apply to your phone
| Pixel and Google's Android steps | Samsung Galaxy (One UI 2 or later) | |
|---|---|---|
| Open the controls | Swipe down twice from the top | Swipe down from the top right to open Quick settings |
| Control name | Screen record | Screen recorder |
| Audio choices | Record audio; Pixel's selfie mode names Record device audio and Record microphone | None, Media, or Media and mic |
| Record one app only | Yes, "A single app" on Pixel | Not described in Samsung's article |
| Show touches | Option before you start (Android Help) | Show taps and touches setting |
| Selfie camera | Show selfie camera (Pixel) | Front camera icon, on devices that support it |
| Stop | Screen recorder notification, or Stop | Stop icon |
| Saved to | Photos > Collections > On this device > Movies | Gallery app (some recordings only in My Files > Internal storage > DCIM) |
| Version note | Some steps on Pixel need Android 11 or later | One UI 2 or later; features vary by model and software |
The rest of the guide walks through each column. Samsung's note is worth keeping in mind for every step: availability of some features and settings varies by model and software version.
How to screen record on a Pixel (and phones that follow Google's steps)
Step 1: Find or add the Screen record tile
- Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to open the full Quick Settings panel.
- Look for Screen record. You may need to swipe right to find it.
- If it isn't there, tap Edit, then touch and hold Screen record and drag it into your Quick Settings.
Google notes that on Pixel phones some of these steps work only on Android 11 and up, so check your Android version if the tile is missing entirely.
Step 2: Choose what to record and whether to include sound
Before you tap Start, the Screen record menu lets you choose:
- Audio. Android Help says you can choose whether to record audio before you start. On Pixel, the selfie-camera instructions name the two separate switches: Record device audio and Record microphone.
- Entire screen or a single app. Pixel lets you record just one app. When prompted, tap A single app, then Start recording, then pick the app from the app selector.
- Show touches. Android Help says you can choose to show touches on the screen before you start, which is useful in a how-to video so viewers can see what you tapped.
If you want a silent recording (for example, because you plan to add narration later), leave the audio options off and check them again before each take.
Step 3: Start, record and stop
- Tap Start. The recording begins after the countdown.
- Do the thing you want to capture.
- To stop, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Screen recorder notification. When you are recording a single app, Pixel's steps say to tap Stop.
Step 4: Record your screen and your face together (Pixel)
Pixel can add a selfie-camera bubble to a screen recording:
- Swipe down to show Quick Settings and tap Screen record.
- In the Screen record menu, turn on Record device audio, Record microphone and Show selfie camera.
- Tap Start. The Screen record menu disappears; tap the recording indicator in the status bar to bring it back.
- You can pinch or drag the selfie to resize or move it. To turn it off mid-recording, tap the recording indicator, then Settings, and turn off Show selfie camera.
- Tap Stop. From there you can Edit, Delete or Share the recording.
Google notes that this feature doesn't support front camera zoom.
Step 5: Find the video
Open the Photos app and tap Collections > On this device > Movies. Google also suggests sharing a link through Photos when a video file is too large to send over some services.
How to screen record on a Samsung Galaxy
Samsung's Screen recorder is available on phones and tablets with One UI 2 or later.
Step 1: Open Screen recorder
- Swipe down from the top right of the screen to open the Quick settings panel.
- Tap the Screen recorder icon. If it isn't there, Samsung says you can add it to the panel.
Step 2: Pick a sound setting and start
- Choose an option under Sound settings. In the Screen recorder settings these are None, Media, or Media and mic.
- Tap Start recording. When the countdown finishes, the phone records whatever is on screen.
Samsung's article lists the options without defining them. Our reading: "Media" is the sound the phone itself plays and "Media and mic" adds your voice through the microphone; test a short clip to confirm on your model. Choose None for a silent take.
Step 3: Optional: add your face or draw on screen
- Front camera. On devices that support it, tap the Front camera icon (it looks like a person). A small window appears in the upper left corner, and you can touch and hold it to move it. Samsung notes the Galaxy Tab A8 doesn't support front camera recording in Screen recorder.
- Pencil. Tap the Pencil icon, pick a colour and write on the screen with your finger or S Pen. While you are drawing you can't interact with games, videos or navigation, so tap the Pencil icon again to go back to normal.
Step 4: Stop and find the recording
Tap the Stop icon. The video is saved in the Gallery app. Samsung adds that some screen recordings can only be found in My Files > Internal storage > DCIM.
Change quality, touches and where files are saved
To open the settings page, swipe down from the top right, then touch and hold the Screen recorder icon and swipe up to the Screen recordings options:
| Setting | What it does (per Samsung) |
|---|---|
| Record sound | None, Media, or Media and mic |
| Video quality | High (1080p), Medium (720p) or Low (480p) |
| Selfie video size | Size of the front-camera window, on devices that support it |
| Show taps and touches | Small dots appear where you touch the screen |
| Save screen recordings in | Where recordings are saved (not available on all devices) |
If you plan to show the recording on a laptop or a large screen, choose High (1080p).
Troubleshooting
| Problem | What to check |
|---|---|
| The Screen record tile is missing | Swipe right in Quick Settings, or tap Edit and drag it in (Pixel). On Samsung, add Screen recorder to the panel. On Pixel, some steps need Android 11 or later |
| Your voice is missing | Pixel: check that Record microphone was on. Samsung: choose Media and mic, not Media or None |
| An app shows a black screen or won't record | Samsung says not all screens or apps allow recording, and some apps may block Screen recorder for copyright reasons. Google's pages we checked don't cover this, so try another app to see whether the restriction is app-specific |
| A call didn't record | Samsung says Screen recorder doesn't record phone calls, VOIP calls or video calls |
| You can't find the video | Pixel: Photos > Collections > On this device > Movies. Samsung: Gallery, or My Files > Internal storage > DCIM |
| The file is too big to send | Google suggests sharing a link through the Photos app instead |
| The video looks soft | Samsung: set Video quality to High (1080p) |
Before you record a tutorial on Android
A recording you'll share as a how-to needs a little more care than a quick clip for a friend. Our screen recording privacy checklist covers what to hide, but on a phone the short version is:
- Turn on Do Not Disturb (or silence notifications) so a message preview doesn't appear mid-recording. Notifications can show names and message text.
- Clear the screen. Close the apps you don't need and open the one you are demonstrating at its starting screen.
- Plan the taps. Write the steps down so you don't hunt for buttons on camera. The tutorial video script guide has a template.
- Turn on touch indicators (Show touches on Pixel, Show taps and touches on Samsung) so viewers can follow along.
- Decide on sound now. If you will talk while recording, turn the microphone on. If you will add narration later, record silently.
The same steps for other devices are in our guides to screen recording on iPhone, on Windows and on a Chromebook.
Turning an Android recording into a narrated tutorial
A raw recording shows what happened. A tutorial also explains why, one step at a time. If speaking while you tap feels awkward, record silently first and add the voice afterwards. Our guide on how to add narration to a screen recording compares the ways to do that.
Where Vorec fits
Vorec records your screen too: it has its own macOS recorder, and an AI agent can drive it for you through the Claude Code plugin, capturing locally for you to review before anything is uploaded. If you already have a recording, such as one from your Android phone, you can upload it instead, and Vorec analyses it to draft narration matched to the workflow and generates the voiceover, so nothing is spoken into a microphone. In the editor you can add captions, callouts and zoom, and freeze-sync can hold a frame to give an explanation time to finish. The same capture can also produce a written step-by-step guide, and narration regenerates in supported languages on eligible plans. Plans start at $9/month (Starter); a free trial is available (current allowances on the pricing page).
FAQ
How do I screen record on Android with sound?
On a Pixel, turn on the audio options in the Screen record menu before you tap Start: Record device audio for the phone's sound, Record microphone for your voice. On a Samsung Galaxy, choose Media or Media and mic under Sound settings; Media and mic is the one that includes the microphone.
Can I record just one app on Android?
On a Pixel, yes. Start a screen recording, tap A single app, then Start recording, and pick the app. Samsung's article doesn't describe a single-app option.
Where do Android screen recordings go?
On a Pixel, open Photos and tap Collections > On this device > Movies. On a Samsung Galaxy, recordings are saved in the Gallery app, and some can only be found in My Files > Internal storage > DCIM.
Why can't I screen record a video call?
Samsung says Screen recorder doesn't record phone calls, VOIP calls or video calls, and that some apps may block recording for copyright reasons. Google's Pixel and Android help pages we checked don't address calls.
How do I stop a screen recording on Android?
On a Pixel, swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Screen recorder notification (or tap Stop when recording a single app). On a Samsung Galaxy, tap the Stop icon.
Can I change the recording quality?
On Samsung, touch and hold the Screen recorder icon to open its settings and choose High (1080p), Medium (720p) or Low (480p). Google's Pixel help page doesn't list a quality setting.
Want the recording to narrate itself? Record with Vorec, or upload one you already have, and get a narrated tutorial plus a written guide. Start free. Trial includes up to 3 projects; exports carry a watermark.