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Screen Recording

How to Screen Record on Android [Step by Step Guide]

Last Updated on Mar. 8, 2024 – by David Morgan

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Do you know how to screen record on your Android phone? If not, don’t worry— it’s probably less complicated than you think.

Knowing how to record your screen is a valuable skill if you own an Android phone. You can use screen recording tools to record snippets of videos to send to friends, create walk-throughs to post on social media, or record your high score on your favorite game.

If you own a newer Android phone, you may be able to use your phone’s built-in screen-record feature. However, if your phone is a bit outdated, you can still screen capture on Android using third-party apps.

In this guide, we’ll teach you how to use both these methods and everything you need to know about video screen capture on Android devices. Continue reading to learn how to screen record on Android.

Other Ways to Screen Record on Android

How to Screen Record on Android

Until recently, Android users across the board needed to use external apps to record their Android screens. However, Android solved this problem in September 2020 when the company released the updated operating system, Android 11.

The Android 11 update includes a built-in screen recorder tool that users can use to record their devices’ activity. If your device’s OS is Android 11 or newer, you can follow these steps to use this screen recording Android tool:

Open Quick Settings: The Screen Recorder tool is located in the Quick Settings menu. To open this menu, swipe down from the top of your screen.

Tap the Screen Recorder icon: Your Quick Settings tab contains a grid of settings that you can adjust with a tap of a button. In the middle row of this grid on the far right of the page, you’ll see the Screen Recorder camera icon. If you are not currently recording your screen, this icon should appear gray. Tapping this button will turn the icon blue and begin the screen recording process.

Give permission to begin recording: Before your device can start recording, you must give the screen recorder permission to track your activity. You’ll see a page that informs you about the types of information the screen recorder will have access to. You can also adjust the sound settings on this page, allowing or disabling the screen recorder from recording media sounds and your microphone.

Click Start Recording: Once you have reviewed the permissions, click Start Recording to allow the tool to begin recording your activity. A countdown will appear, followed by a toolbar that indicates that the tool has started recording.

Pause or stop the recording with the toolbar: The Screen Recorder toolbar gives you the option to temporarily pause or stop the recording. You can continue recording your screen as long as you want, then click Stop when you are done.

This screen recording tool is relatively easy to use and gives you total control over the length of your recording and what the camera picks up. You can also use the toolbar to draw on the screen or turn on your front-facing camera. This toolbar will not appear in the recording, and you can drag it around as needed.

If you’d like to adjust additional settings for the Android Screen Recorder tool, you can long-press on the tool’s icon in your Quick Settings dropdown.

Once you stop recording, the video will appear in your camera roll. From there, you can upload it to social media, send it in a text message, attach it to an email, or perform any of the functions you would typically perform with a video.

If you cannot update your phone to Android 11, don’t worry— you can still record your screen. However, you’ll need to follow a few additional steps to use a screen recorder on your device. You can learn more in our section about “Other Ways to Screen Record on Android.”

How to Edit Screen Recordings on Android

Once you’ve recorded your screen with a screen recorder, it’s typically a good idea to edit the video before sharing it with the world. The primary reason is to ensure that it does not contain personal information, such as usernames or passwords.

However, you may also want to enhance the video to make it more engaging and viewable. For example, cropping the footage, adding captions, zooming in on specific portions, and adding voice-overs can ensure that your video portrays your desired message to your audience.

While you can perform simple trimming and cropping effects right from your Android photos app, you’ll need to download a video editing app to do more advanced edits. We recommend downloading PowerDirector to edit your screen recordings.

It will allow you to perform a range of functions with your screen recording. You can crop, trim, pan, and zoom the footage, add captions and arrows to clarify the subject, add voice-overs or other sound bytes, and include special effects and stickers.

Additionally, PowerDirector is user-friendly and easy to navigate, even if you have no prior video editing experience.

How to Add Pan and Zooms to Screen Recordings

Step 1: Upload your screen recording to PowerDirector and add it to the timeline.

Step 2: Touch the video on the timeline and tap the Edit icon (the pencil).

Step 3: Select Pan & Zoom.

Step 4: Set the starting and ending positions for the zoom motion.

PowerDirector App - Set Start and End for Pan and Zoom

Step 5: Preview your changes and adjust the zoom motion as needed.

How to Add Voice-over to Screen Recordings

You can follow these easy steps to add a voice-over to your screen recording:

Step 1: Drag the Playhead (blue line) in the timeline to the position where you would like the voice-over to start.

Step 2: Press the Media icon in the left-hand toolbar.

Step 3: Open the Music tab, then tap the Microphone icon in the top right.

Step 4: Click the red REC button on the left-hand side of the screen, then begin narrating your voice-over.

Step 5: Click the record button again to stop the recording. Now, you can save the voice-over, retake it if you made a mistake, delete it altogether, or replay it.

Step 6: Drag the edges of the audio in the timeline to change the duration of the voice-over clip.

How to Add Text Captions to Screen Recordings

You can also add text captions to your video with PowerDirector by following these steps:

Step 1: Open the Overlay icon on the left-hand side of the screen.

Step 2: With the Text tab, then select Default to customize the font, size, and placement of your captions.

Step 3: Tap the text on the video to open your keyboard and edit the text.

Step 4: Drag the text box in the video preview to change the caption position.

Step 5: Adjust the edges of the text bar within the timeline to change the duration of the caption.

Step 6: Repeat these steps to add captions throughout your video.

PowerDirector - Edit Text Captions onto Your Video

PowerDirector makes it easy to enhance your screen recording footage for social media or any other purpose. Download it for free today to begin optimizing your screen recordings and stepping up your video editing game.

Other Ways to Screen Record on Android

You may be wondering, “Can I screen record on Android 10 or older?” The answer is yes. While older Android operating systems and Samsung Galaxy phones do not have built-in screen recorder tools like Android 11, you can still achieve a similar effect using third-party apps.

You can find a wide range of screen recorder apps on the Google Play store. However, we’ve had the most luck with Google Play Games, AZ Screen Recorder, and ADV Screen Recorder.

Google Play Games

Google Play Games is a free app available through the Google Play app store. Users primarily use this app to record themselves playing games on their phones. If you’re looking for a screen recorder app to record your gameplay, this one is a solid option.

You can follow these steps to record your screen with Google Play Games:

Step 1: Open the Play Games app. This app comes pre-downloaded on most Android devices.

Step 2: Select a game. You can choose from any of the pre-downloaded games on the Home tab or select a game app you downloaded to your device.

Step 3: Once you reach the game details page, tap Record gameplay at the top of the screen.

Step 4: Choose your video quality setting. You can choose between 480p SD and 720p HD.

Step 5: Hit Next, then Launch.

Step 6: Tap Start Recording.

Step 7: When you’re finished recording, drag the video bubble to the center of your screen and hold it over the X icon. The recording will stop.

You should note that Google Play Games records at low frame rates, so the video quality isn’t the best. However, this app is a decent option if you’re simply looking to record your gameplay on your Android device.

AZ Screen Recorder

AZ Screen Recorder is a free third-party screen recording app that you can download through the Google Play app store. This app has similar functionality to the built-in screen recorder on Android 11 devices.

Once you download the AZ Screen Recorder app, you can follow these steps to record your screen:

Step 1: Open the app and click the orange camera button. The app will begin recording your screen.

Step 2: Navigate out of the AZ Screen Recorder app and perform the activity you want to record. Once you click out of the AZ Screen Recorder app, a small bubble will appear on your screen to indicate that the app is recording your activity.

Step 3: Tap the bubble icon to pause or end the recording. You can also click on this bubble to view saved recordings or access tools to use while your recording is in progress.

While the AZ Screen Recorder is free to download, this app does contain a significant number of ads. You can pay $2.99 to remove ads from the app.

ADV Screen Recorder

ADV Screen Recorder is another free third-party app. If you’re looking for a way to record high-quality footage, you’ll appreciate that ADV Screen Recorder allows you to adjust your resolution up to 1080p and bit rate up to 15 Mbps.

ADV Screen Recorder is also easy to use. You can follow these steps to record the screen on your Android device with this app:

Step 1: Open the app, click the three dots in the top right corner, and navigate to Settings. Adjust the video orientation, audio settings, video quality, and other settings to your liking.

Step 2: Click the + button to start a new recording. You will see a button overlay pop-up that gives you the option to begin recording, edit your recordings, and pause or stop your in-progress recording.

Step 3: Tap the record button to begin your recording.

Step 4: Stop the recording by clicking the square in the button overlay.

Step 5: Long-press the button overlay and drag it to the X at the bottom of the screen to minimize it.

Android Video Editor for Screen Recordings Free Download

If you’re looking to record your Android screen, you’ll be happy to know that there are several free, easy apps you can use to capture a high-quality screen recording. If you have a device that has updated to Android 11, you simply need to open the Screen Recorder tool in your Quick Settings. If not, you can use one of the three apps on our list instead.

Editing your screen recording into the PowerDirector app is an easy way to enhance your footage and make it easier for viewers to understand. Even better, you don’t need to have any previous editing experience to master PowerDirector’s video editing tools and effects.

Download PowerDirector for Android today to add this impressive editing app to your arsenal.

How to Create a Glitch Effect FAQs

1. What is a Screen Recording?

A screen recording is just what it sounds like— a recording of your screen. Rather than needing to take actual video footage of your Android screen with a camera, you can use a screen recorder tool to record your activity on your phone. Essentially, a screen recording is like a screenshot, only in video form.

2. How Do I Add Music to Screen Recording?

You can easily add music to your screen recordings with PowerDirector. Just follow these simple steps after adding your recordings to the timeline:

Step 1: Press the Media icon in the left-hand toolbar.

Step 2: Open the Music tab.

Step 3: Select the track and use the + icon to add it to the timeline.

3. How to Screen Record on Mac?

You can record your Mac screen using the QuickTime Player app. Every version of the Mac OS comes with this app pre-installed.

Once you open the QuickTime Player app, you can follow these steps to record your screen:

Step 1: Click File then New Screen Recording, A small toolbar will open with your recording tools.

Step 2: Adjust your recording settings if necessary, then click thered Record in the toolbar.

Step 3: When you’re ready to stop recording, click the square Stop button in the toolbar.

4. How to Screen Record on Windows?

You can also screen record on a Windows laptop or desktop computer. Here’s how on Windows 10:

Step 1: Open the website or app you would like to record.

Step 2: On your keyboard, press the Windows key and the G key simultaneously. The Game Bar dialog box will open.

Step 3: Click the Yes, this is a game checkbox to indicate that you would like to record your screen. You’ll still need to check this box even if you are recording a website rather than a game.

Step 4: In the Game Bar, you’ll see a small circle button labeled Record. Click this button to begin recording your screen. You can also press Win + Alt + R.

Step 5: Once you’re finished recording, click the red recording bar in the top right corner of your screen.

Your screen recording will appear in your Videos folder.

5. How to Screen Record on iPhone?

You can screen record on an iPhone using your phone’s built-in recorder tool. First, you’ll want to add this tool to your Control Center, which is the page that opens when you swipe up from the bottom. To do so,

Step 1: Navigate to your Settings app.

Step 2: Click Control Center.

Step 3: Tap the green + next to Screen Recording.

Now, the screen recording icon should appear when you swipe up from the bottom. Click this icon to begin recording your screen. When you’re done, tap the red bar at the top of the screen to end the recording. Your video will appear in your Photos app.

6. What Are the Best Apps for Editing Screen Recordings on iOS and Android?

When you record your Android screen through the built-in tool or an external app, your recording will save as a traditional video file. You can then upload your video into any video editing program to crop, edit, and enhance it. However, some editing apps offer better features and functionality for editing screen recordings than others.

If you’re looking to edit your screen recordings on an iOS or Android device, we recommend using one of these apps:

PowerDirector
Filmr
Kinemaster

7. What Are the Best Software for Editing Screen Recordings on Windows and Mac?

Once you finish taking a screen recording on your Windows or Mac computer, you’ll be able to perform a few basic edits in the media player app. You may be able to trim the video or draw on it through these built-in programs.

However, if you would like to add voice-overs, captions, or other advanced effects to your screen recording, you’ll need to use a video editing program. We recommend using one of these programs to edit your screen recording:

PowerDirector
VideoPad
Adobe Premiere Elements

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