If you need to record the screen on your computer, Windows has the Game Bar and Snipping Tool and macOS has a screenshot tool. Apple's mobile devices have the Screen Recording tool, but what about Android?
An official screen recorder for Google's mobile OS was introduced in Android 11, but some devices from Samsung, LG, and OnePlus have had their own versions of the feature since Android 9 (Pie). Those with older devices can turn to a third-party app. Here are your options.
Capture Video With Android's Screen Recorder
Screen Recorder as seen on a Samsung device (Credit: PCMag / Samsung)The process for screen recording is largely the same across devices, with a few tweaks here and there. Pull down the notification shade from the top of the screen to view your quick settings options. Tap the Screen Recorder icon and give permission for the device to record the screen. Determine if you want sounds and screen touches recorded.
Tap Start recording and a countdown will begin before a toolbar appears on the screen and the recording starts. If you have a Samsung device, a toolbar will pop up with the ability to draw on the screen, turn on your front-facing camera, and pause the recording. When a recording is stopped, the video is saved to your phone's media storage.
Record Gameplay With Google Play Games
Google Play Games on a Pixel phone (Credit: PCMag / Google)If you're looking to record some gameplay, Google Play Games is a solid free option. It allows you to record your screen, take screenshots, track your FPS, and more. Open the app and select a compatible game—these can be any of the included games on the Home tab or a title you previously downloaded.
You'll know you have the capability to record gameplay if you see a game controller button when you swipe down from the top of the screen. Tap the gamepad icon, then tap the shortcut icons you want to enable.
To record gameplay, tap the Recording shortcut to add the icon to the shortcut menu. When you want to start capturing, tap the arrow on the side of the screen and select the Recording option. Set if you want to record sound, then choose Start and Start now to begin recording. Tap the Recording button again to stop the record and save the clip to your phone.
Screen Record With These Third-Party Apps
AZ Screen Recorder (Credit: PCMag / AZ Screen Recorder)If you have a phone running an older version of Android or you simply need a tool that can do more than Google's built-in options, there are many third-party apps in the Play Store. Here are some of the more popular options:
ADV Screen Recorder is a free option that allows you to record any activity on your screen, pause the video, add a front-facing camera view, show screen touches, and draw on the screen. The app also gives you the ability to change the resolution, bit rate, frame rate, video orientation, and microphone settings.
AZ Screen Recorder is a free, ad-supported app (with a $2.99 ad-free upgrade) that allows you to take (and pause) video, capture screenshots, and start a live video. The app can be controlled from the phone's notification shade and overlay button. You can also configure the resolution, frame rate, bit rate, device orientation, time lapse, and audio.
Run Android on Your PC
Emulating an Android phone with Windows 11's Phone Link (Credit: PCMag / Microsoft)Instead of relying on a mobile app to record your Android device's screen, you could instead run Android on your PC and then capture the emulated screen in Windows. If you have a Samsung device, you can link your phone with Windows and view apps from an phone screen on your PC.
You can then capture video with the Xbox Game Bar or Snipping Tool. There are also many screen capture tools that work well in Windows, though some of them are paid apps.
