The fastest way depends on your tablet's operating system
Most tablets let you capture what's on screen in seconds using physical buttons or a menu. iPad users press the top button and volume-up button at the same time. Android tablet users usually hold the power button and volume-down button together. Both methods save a still image called a screenshot. If you need to record video of your screen instead — to show someone how to do something, or to save a moment from a game or app — you'll use a different method that's also built into both systems.
The exact button combination or menu location varies slightly between tablet models and software versions, so this guide covers the main paths for each operating system and what to do when the standard method doesn't work.
Key Takeaways
- iPad screenshots use the top button plus volume-up; Android tablets use power plus volume-down, though some older models may differ.
- Screenshots save automatically to your Photos or Gallery app and appear in a thumbnail in the corner of your screen for a few seconds.
- Screen recording is built into both iPad and Android and captures video with sound, found in Control Center (iPad) or Quick Settings (Android).
- If the button method doesn't work, check your tablet's settings or use the accessibility menu, which offers an on-screen button alternative.
Taking a screenshot on iPad
Press the top button (also called the power button or sleep/wake button) and the volume-up button at the same time, then release both immediately. You'll see a white flash and hear a camera shutter sound. A thumbnail of your screenshot appears in the bottom-left corner of the screen for a few seconds — tap it to edit or delete the image before it saves, or let it disappear to save it as-is.
The screenshot saves to the Photos app in an album called Screenshots. You can find it by opening Photos, tapping Albums at the bottom, scrolling down, and looking for Screenshots. If you don't hear the shutter sound or see the thumbnail, make sure your tablet's volume is not muted (check the mute switch on the side of the iPad) and that you pressed both buttons at exactly the same time.
Taking a screenshot on Android tablets
Hold down the power button and the volume-down button at the same time for about a second, then release. Your screen will flash or dim slightly, and you may hear a camera sound. A notification appears at the top of the screen confirming the screenshot was taken.
The screenshot saves to your Gallery or Photos app, usually in a folder called Screenshots. Open your gallery app, look for a Screenshots folder or album, and you'll find the image there. If this button combination doesn't work on your tablet, it may be an older model — try holding just the power button alone for a few seconds, or check your tablet's settings under Display or Accessibility for a screenshot option.
Recording your screen instead of taking a still image
Screen recording captures video of everything on your tablet, including sound from apps and your voice if you speak. On iPad, swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, then tap the Record button (a filled circle). A three-second countdown appears, then recording starts. Tap the red recording indicator at the top to stop. The video saves to Photos.
On Android, swipe down twice from the top to open Quick Settings, look for Screen Recorder or Screen Recording, and tap it. Some Android tablets require you to tap and hold the button to start recording. A countdown appears, then recording begins. Tap the notification at the top to stop recording. The video saves to your Gallery or Videos folder.
Screen recording is useful for showing someone how to navigate an app, recording a presentation, or capturing gameplay. The video includes everything on screen and all audio playing through your tablet's speakers, but not audio from a connected headset.
Using the accessibility menu if buttons don't work
If the button combinations don't work or are difficult to press, both iPad and Android offer an on-screen button. On iPad, go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then AssistiveTouch, and turn it on. A white circle with a dot appears on your screen — tap it, then tap Screenshot. On Android, go to Settings, tap Accessibility, then look for Accessibility Menu or similar, turn it on, and you'll see a floating button on your screen. Tap it and look for a Screenshot option in the menu.
This method is slower than using buttons, but it works if your tablet has a hardware issue or if you find the button combination hard to time correctly.
Finding and managing your screenshots and recordings
Screenshots and screen recordings save automatically to your tablet's photo or gallery app. On iPad, open Photos and tap the Screenshots album to see all your screenshots in one place. On Android, open Gallery or Photos, look for a Screenshots or Videos folder, or search by date. Both systems let you organize, edit, share, or delete these files from within the app.
If you want to move a screenshot to cloud storage or email it, open the photo in your gallery app, tap Share, and choose where to send it. You can also delete screenshots directly from the gallery if you no longer need them — they take up storage space on your tablet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I hear the shutter sound when I take a screenshot?
Your tablet's volume may be muted. Check the physical mute switch on the side of your iPad, or check your Android tablet's volume settings. Even if you have the volume turned up for music or videos, the system sound for screenshots is controlled separately in some cases. Try adjusting your tablet's overall volume and try again.
Where do my screenshots go after I take them?
They save automatically to your Photos app (iPad) or Gallery app (Android), usually in a folder called Screenshots. You don't have to do anything — the image is saved the moment you take it. Open the app and look for the Screenshots folder or search by the date you took it.
Can I record my screen with audio from an app and my voice at the same time?
Yes, screen recording captures all audio playing through your tablet's speakers. If you want to add your voice, speak while recording and your tablet will pick it up through the built-in microphone. Audio from headphones or external speakers won't be recorded — only sound coming from the tablet itself.
What's the difference between a screenshot and a screen recording?
A screenshot is a still image of what's on your screen at one moment. A screen recording is a video that captures everything that happens on your screen over time, including movement, taps, and audio. Use screenshots for sharing a single moment or image, and screen recording when you need to show a process or sequence of actions.
Do screenshots and recordings take up a lot of storage space?
Screenshots are small — usually less than a megabyte each — so they don't use much space. Screen recordings are much larger because they're video files; a one-minute recording can be 50 to 100 megabytes depending on your tablet's resolution. If you're running low on storage, delete old recordings you don't need.