How to Take a Screenshot on Android 12

Taking screenshots on Android 12 is still as easy as ever

by
Josh Hawkins
Joshua Hawkins
Freelance Technology Reporter

Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire that loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life.

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Joshua Hawkins
Updated on May 10, 2021

What to Know

  • The most common way to take screenshots on Android 12 is by pressing the Power and the Volume Down buttons simultaneously.
  • Or, open the Recents screen, navigate to the app you want to take a screenshot of, and tap the Screenshot button at the bottom.
  • Or, activate Google Assistant and say, “Take a screenshot.” The Assistant will take a screenshot of the area behind the Assistant app screen.

This article explains three different ways to take a screenshot on Android 12, including one using Google Assistant.

Note:

These steps are based on Android 12 Developer Preview 3. Some of these methods may change as Android 12 heads into beta in 2021.

How to Take a Screenshot on Android 12 Using the Power Button

One of the easiest ways to take screenshots on Android 12 is by pressing down the Power and Volume Down buttons simultaneously. This method is excellent for taking quick screenshots of moving video and images or for items that vanish off your screen quickly.

  1. Press and hold down the Power and Volume Down buttons for roughly one to two seconds.

  2. Your screen should flash after a few seconds, and a small notification will appear in the bottom left-hand corner. Your phone may also make a camera shutter noise if you have the volume turned up.

  3. Tap the screenshot notification at the bottom of the screen to edit the shot, share it, or delete it.

How to Take a Screenshot on Android 12 in Recent apps

Another way you can take screenshots on Android 12 is through the Recents screen, which showcases your most recent applications.

  1. Open the app you want to screenshot.

  2. Use your finger and swipe up the screen from the very bottom to open the Recents screen.

  3. Navigate to the app you want to take a screenshot of and tap the screenshot button at the bottom. You can now share or edit the screenshot as needed from the notification in the bottom left corner.

    Steps to take a screenshot on Android 12 highlighting the Screenshot button and Share options

How to Take a Screenshot on Android 12 using Google Assistant

The final way to take a screenshot on Android 12 is through Google Assistant, which you’ll need to activate on your Android phone first.

  1. If Google Assistant is turned on, activate it using a voice command; OK, Google, and Hey Google are default options. This will bring up the Google Assistant screen.

  2. Next, say, “Take a screenshot.” Google Assistant will take a screenshot of the area behind the Assistant app screen.

  3. Once captured, you can then share or edit the screenshot using the notification on the screen's bottom-left corner.

Previously, screenshots taken with Google Assistant wouldn’t automatically save, but that has changed with more recent releases of the Android operating system.

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