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How to Take Screenshots on Android without Root

To take screenshots on Android device without root is biggest discussion among all Android users. If you search over Google then you will find that most of the tutorials are for rooted devices and rest require that you take to take screenshots on desktop using Android SDK. Today I found an easiest way to take screenshots directly on Android device without rooting your device.

Recently I purchased a new Android powered phone (Samsung Galaxy Ace) and I was looking for a way to take screenshots directly on my phone. Unluckily I didn’t find any tutorial on internet. Today I was ending some services to save battery and accidentally I saw a service named as ScreenCaptureService in Running Services (Settings -> Application -> Running Services). I immediately got the intuition that this is something related to screenshots.

I did a search on Google and landed over to XDA developers forums. There I found that we can actually take screenshots with ScreenCaptureService. For your information I am using Android 2.2.1 version.

How to take Screenshots on Android without root

To take screenshots on your Android device, simultaneously press the Back and Home key. Then a message will appear that screencapter is saved as image. Screenshots are saved in ScreenCapture folder in your SD card.

For your reference I have taken the following screenshot by using this method:

I hope you like this post. Do share your views if this method works for you. If you know any other method to take screenshots on Android without root, please share it with us.

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43 Comments

  1. JK
    March 27, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    Thanks for sharing. I think this is the default feature of Android 2.2 Froyo.

  2. Anu @ New Trends
    March 27, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Hi Simrandeep,

    I too looking to buy a android phone as it’s time for android ;). I had no idea about such issue and resolution but I got both over here. Thanks dude!!!

  3. Mayur
    March 27, 2011 at 7:40 pm

    This may only work on some Samsung Android phones, for me it didn’t worked. I use ShootMe app to take screenshots on LG Optimus One without rooting. Check this:

  4. Kavya Hari
    March 28, 2011 at 10:47 am

    Yeah, am going to try this method. Thank you Simran for giving wonderful data on here:-)

  5. Jasmine
    March 28, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    Wow, your Android phone’s “desktop” looks really nice! I heard Samsung Ace is a great smart phone! How much did you get it for?

    • Simrandeep Singh
      March 30, 2011 at 6:49 am

      @Jasmine

      Thanks Jasmine. I got it for 14k. Yes, you heard it right Galaxy Ace is really nice smart phone 🙂

  6. Anca
    April 4, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    it doesn’t work for Nexus S, either.
    i also tried shootme, but the app noticed that the phone is not rooted.

  7. Anca
    April 4, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    i recently discovered that you can take screenshots in debug mode using ddms.bat (on win).

  8. Harsimran Singh
    May 8, 2011 at 4:41 am

    i need to share with the world a screen shot of my home screen and even with this trick its not happening. i am also using an ace. kindly revert back asap.

  9. Harsimran Singh
    May 8, 2011 at 4:44 am

    hey.. it just worked… thanx man.. may be i wasnt able to do it properly that time.. nice share.. loadsa thanx.. 🙂 … \m/

    • Simrandeep Singh
      May 9, 2011 at 9:51 pm

      @Harsimran Singh

      Glad it worked for you. Cheers 🙂

  10. Saaj
    May 13, 2011 at 7:15 pm

    Oh hello. This method work for me, but then when I tried to screenshot a page from an application (for example, Facebook), the application then exited (upon pressing the back button). This is because we have to press the back button plus the center button together. Hmm, any solutions to this? 🙁

    • Simrandeep Singh
      May 14, 2011 at 10:58 pm

      It happens with me too. I think there is no default option for this. I’ll find and review a app for this purpose.

  11. vipul sharma
    May 19, 2011 at 5:43 am

    I have samsung galaxy fit which runs android 2.2.1 . I accidentally captured screenshot twice while using the phone in last 2 months. I could’nt figure out how it happened but it happened. When i try using these home and back keys simultaneously, either it opens the task manager or goes back. I am still confused.

  12. phoenix844884
    June 8, 2011 at 9:41 am

    Hi

    I recently got the Samsung Galaxy S II and I found taking screenshot to be extremely easy on it. You just have to press the home and lock buttons together. Just like in iOS. The images are saved in in the ‘Gallery’.

  13. Alfee
    June 8, 2011 at 10:27 am

    It doesn’t work on my phone too. The screenshots that I want to take are from the browser or from other apps. The back button only serves to exit the app.

  14. nikhil
    July 23, 2011 at 3:05 pm

    works……..samsung galaxy fit….2.2.1

  15. chand
    July 24, 2011 at 8:26 am

    So how do we take screenshot of apps? pressing home key brings me home

  16. vath
    August 4, 2011 at 11:22 am

    great…it works on galaxy mini… but not simultaneus hit the back and home button… i’ve try it…and the right way is hold back button for a while then hit the home button…and done!!!!

  17. Ashish
    August 10, 2011 at 11:41 am

    Wow! Thanks for sharing this man. It works like a breeze. I’ve the same phone however I found that instead of pressing the back key and home key simultaneously hold down the back key and then press the home key will allow you to take screen shot of applications as well. Give it a try.

  18. kahping
    August 10, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    Tried this on my Desire HD. No Love 🙁

  19. Carlos Jr
    August 19, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    Galaxy 5 , the informed key combination just brings me a notify screen of the recent used functionalities/apps I used (and even a button for the Task Manager). Using Froyo.

  20. Velan
    August 30, 2011 at 4:56 am

    Yup , vath is right. The right way is hold back button for a while then hit the home button. I am using a Samsung Galaxy Ace. I tell you , it is a very good Android phone. 3.5in screen is just nice for me.

  21. sandevile
    September 4, 2011 at 9:15 am

    finally…. nice share..
    its work.. i’m using galaxy fit os ginger bread 2.3.4

    • irina
      January 9, 2012 at 11:26 pm

      please tell me how you did..

  22. Hanif @ DBH MUSIC
    September 19, 2011 at 8:11 am

    hi,
    i m using Huawei U8500.(android 2.2)
    can u tell me how can i take screenshot in my phone?

  23. Rekha c
    September 22, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    Works well on Samsung galaxy 3 🙂 Thanks 🙂

  24. James
    October 26, 2011 at 10:51 pm

    Thanks. It worked on my Samsung Galaxy S Plus.

  25. Chirag Khurana
    October 28, 2011 at 11:45 pm

    i own a samsung galaxy s…
    i can take a screen shot without any root and without any app..
    jst by a combination of two buttons
    i.e. by holding back key and then pressing home button..
    hope this helps..

  26. Steve
    November 14, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    Doesn’t work on an htc Inspire.

  27. nelly
    November 19, 2011 at 8:22 pm

    @Simrandeep
    It worked!! 🙂 Thank you soo much! I have Galaxy Ace as well.. Btw have you upgraded yours to 2.3? How do you do that?

    • Simrandeep Singh
      November 19, 2011 at 11:08 pm

      @nelly

      Yes, I have upgraded it to 2.3. You can search for it here. I have a guide to upgrade Galaxy Ace to Gingerbread.

  28. MAXI
    November 25, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    Hey folks who has a galaxy fit! I got it! just keep hold the bak button and then press twice the home button!

  29. aRLena
    January 5, 2012 at 6:21 am

    Does anyone here knows how to do screenshots in xperia arc without rooting? I’ll gladly appreciate any help here..

  30. Laura
    February 1, 2012 at 10:35 am

    Thanks, it worked for me. 😉

  31. Emil
    February 9, 2012 at 12:36 pm

    Just tried it, and it didn’t work (Galaxy Mini); so I tried a different combination of buttons.

    Found out that you have to hold the Home button, then press the Lock button on the side.:)

  32. Elvis E.
    April 8, 2012 at 7:18 am

    I tried it, and it worked like a charm in a Galaxy Mini: hold Back AND WHILE HOLDING tap Home button.

  33. Ashley
    July 30, 2012 at 9:03 am

    i have the pantech burst android and neither of those ways work for me… 🙁

    • rachel
      November 29, 2012 at 6:51 am

      Same here 🙁

  34. rams
    October 25, 2012 at 7:57 am

    Hi,friends for Samsung galaxy y, press home key and power button simultaneously for a while.It’s work for me.

  35. Murtaza yasin
    January 31, 2013 at 7:40 pm

    hi! guys i hav Pantech Burst. rooted n enjoyng screenshot with difrnt app… bt bfr i root my cel, many times i noticed that sometime my cell automatically take screenahot. it must b hapnd bcz i press sm keys in combination acidently….. bt wot keys make….. 🙁 still i dnt knw. i tried ur trik. it did nt work for me. any idea for pantech Burst??????

  36. Murtaza Yasin
    January 31, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    @Ashley , for Patech Burst u need to hold power volume down button and tap screen at same time. 😛

  37. Cheyenne
    February 26, 2013 at 3:35 am

    None of these work ;( (Pantech Burst) please help.

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