How to Take a Screenshot on Your Android Phone or Tablet Create an image of your Android screen for troubleshooting or other purposes

Screenshots (a.k.a. screen captures or screengrabs) are images of your screen that come in really useful when you need to show tech support what's going on with your phone or just to share your setup (e.g., at a homescreen-sharing site like My Color Screen. For Android phones and tablets, there are a few ways you can get that screengrab--from built-in methods to special apps on Google Play.

Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich): Hit the Power and Volume Down Button Simultaneously

Google introduced a screenshot-taking feature (which Apple's iOS already had) finally with Ice Cream Sandwich, Android 4.0. If you have Android 4.0 or later, you can take a screenshot of your device by pressing the power button and the volume down button at the same time. It might take a little bit of trial-and-error to master that simultaneous pressing. (I find that holding the buttons down for at least more than a second together avoids the annoying situation when your phone simply turns off the screen or lowers the volume.) You'll find the screenshots in your Gallery under a Screenshots folder.

Use Your Phone's Built-in Shortcuts

Some phones come with screengrabbing utilties built-in. Many Samsung devices, such as the Galaxy SII and Galaxy Note, for example, let you press the power and home button together to take a screenshot and place it in your Gallery. To find out if your phone has a screenshot tool, either check the manual or do a simple Google search for "[name of phone] take a screenshot]".

There might also be a device-specific app you can download to take screenshots and also do more with those images of your screen. For example, Screen Capture Shortcut Free works with some Samsung devices and lets you take captures after a delay or when you shake your phone. For other devices. search the Google Play Store for the name of your device and "screenshot," "screengrab," or "screen capture."

Install an App for Screenshots

If you don't have ICS or your phone doesn't have a built-in screenshot feature, you can try an Android app that does or doesn't require rooting your Android device. (Rooting gives you more control over it, so you can do things like tether your phone to serve as a modem for your laptop (without the onerous fees) or give a third-party app permission to take a picture of your Android phone's screen.)

I just hope you find this help useful.