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If you want to record a Zoom presentation, document weird pop-ups on your screen, or make an explainer video, it’s easy to capture what you’re doing or viewing on your Android phone. Starting with Android 11, you’ll find a basic screen recording tool in your Quick Settings menu that can capture video and audio from your phone, as well as audio from your phone’s mic. And some manufacturers offer more advanced features, including the ability to narrate your video using the front camera and draw on your screen as you record.
You will find the built-in screen recorder in the quick settings of your Android phone.
- Swipe the notification panel down to access the Quick Settings panel.
- Tap the “screen recording” icon (also known as “screen recording” or “screen recorder”). For some phones, tapping the screen recording icon will automatically start recording with a three-second countdown. Otherwise, you will have to press “Start” or “Start recording”. If the screen recording icon is missing from the Quick Settings panel, you can add it by scrolling to the last page, tapping the plus sign or pencil icon, and selecting the screen recorder thumbnail.
You’ll find the screen recorder settings by long-pressing the screen recording button in quick settings. Here you will find the options to change the video quality, front camera video size, whether to display taps and touches, etc. You can change these settings to get the desired output.
Once you start recording, you’ll see icons that let you mute/unmute the microphone so you can add a voiceover and, in some cases, your front camera. Some screen recorders also have a pencil icon so you can draw on the screen while recording.
When you’re done recording, swipe down to view notifications and select the option to stop recording. Some phones may also have a menu overlaid on your screen with an off button (a circle with a square).
You can’t record everything with the screen recorder
Due to legal and copyright considerations, you cannot use the screen recorder in all applications, and there will be times when you cannot record sound. For example, in the United States, some state and local laws prohibit you from secretly recording phone conversations, and the built-in screen recorder will not record calls. However, there are ways to record a call on your Android phone. Just be sure to check your local laws regarding wiretapping – personal phone calls are protected by wiretapping laws. Usually, it is enough to have the consent of the other person for the recording.
The other time you may encounter issues while using the screen recording feature is when the app developer does not allow recording to prevent you from creating undesired versions. permissions of its copyrighted content. Often only the sound of the application is protected.
[Image credit: Screenshots via Techlicious, Smartmockups]
Sagar Naresh Bhavsar has been writing about technology for over two years. Previously, he was a writer at Guiding Tech and TechWiser. He enjoys working out, having a cup of coffee and playing the guitar.