The quickest way: buttons on the side of your tablet

On most Samsung tablets, you take a screenshot by pressing the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time, then releasing both. Hold them together for about a second — you'll see the screen flash or hear a camera shutter sound, and a thumbnail will appear in the corner. That's your screenshot, saved to your Photos app.

The exact button location depends on your tablet model. On newer Samsung tablets, the Power button is usually on the right edge, and the Volume Down button is just below it. On older models, these buttons might be on different edges, so check the sides and top of your tablet if the right edge doesn't work.

If you miss the timing and nothing happens, try again — it takes practice to press both buttons at exactly the same moment. If you hold them too long, your tablet might turn off or open a menu instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the Power button and Volume Down button together for about one second to capture your screen on most Samsung tablets.
  • Your screenshot saves automatically to your Photos app in a folder called "Screenshots."
  • Samsung tablets also offer a palm swipe method where you swipe the edge of your hand across the screen, but this must be turned on in Settings first.
  • If the button method doesn't work, check whether your tablet model uses different button locations or requires a different key combination.

Finding your screenshots after you take them

Every screenshot you take goes straight into your Photos app. Open Photos, look for a folder called "Screenshots," and you'll find all of them there in the order you took them, with the newest ones first.

You can also find screenshots by opening your file manager (called "My Files" on Samsung tablets) and navigating to Internal Storage > DCIM > Screenshots. This folder path is the same on almost all Samsung tablets, though the exact folder names might vary slightly depending on your Android version.

Once you've found a screenshot, you can edit it, share it, or delete it. Most Samsung tablets let you crop or draw on a screenshot right away — look for an "Edit" button that appears when you open the image.

The palm swipe method (if your tablet supports it)

Some Samsung tablets let you take a screenshot by swiping the edge of your hand across the screen from one side to the other. This method is less reliable than the button method and doesn't work on all models, but if your tablet supports it, you'll need to turn it on first.

To enable palm swipe screenshots, go to Settings > Advanced Features > Motions and Gestures > Palm Swipe to Capture. Toggle it on. Once it's enabled, swipe the side of your hand (not your fingers) across the screen from left to right or right to left. The motion needs to be smooth and fairly quick to register.

If this method isn't working, your tablet model might not support it, or the feature might be called something slightly different in your version of Android. The button method will always work as a backup.

Taking a screenshot of just part of your screen

If you only want to capture a portion of your screen instead of the whole thing, use the Partial Screenshot tool. After you take a regular screenshot using the buttons, a menu appears at the bottom with several options — one of them is usually a crop or partial screenshot icon.

Tap that icon, and your tablet will let you draw a rectangle around the area you want to keep. Adjust the corners and edges until you've selected just the part you need, then tap "Save" or "Done." The cropped version saves as a new screenshot.

Alternatively, you can take a full screenshot first and then crop it later in your Photos app or any image editor. This gives you more time to get the selection exactly right.

Troubleshooting when screenshots aren't working

If you press the Power and Volume Down buttons and nothing happens, first make sure you're pressing both buttons at the same time, not one after the other. The timing matters — if you press them a split second apart, your tablet might interpret it as a single button press instead.

Check whether your tablet is in a mode that blocks screenshots. Some apps, like banking apps or streaming services, prevent screenshots for security reasons. If you're trying to screenshot inside one of these apps, you won't be able to — try taking a screenshot of your home screen or another app first to confirm the feature itself is working.

If your tablet is very old or uses an unusual Samsung model, the button combination might be different. Look up your specific tablet model number (you'll find it in Settings > About Tablet) and search for its screenshot instructions online.

Make sure you have enough storage space on your tablet. If your internal storage is almost full, your tablet might not be able to save new screenshots. Check your storage in Settings > Storage, and delete old files or apps if you're running low.

Editing and sharing your screenshots

Right after you take a screenshot, a small menu appears at the bottom of your screen with editing options. You can usually crop, draw on the image, or add text before saving. If you tap the thumbnail that appears in the corner, it opens the full editing menu.

To share a screenshot, open your Photos app, find the screenshot, and tap the share icon (usually three dots or an arrow). You can send it via email, text message, or any messaging app installed on your tablet. You can also save it to cloud storage like Google Drive or Samsung Cloud if you want to access it from other devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot if my tablet is locked?

No. Your tablet must be unlocked and showing the screen you want to capture. If it's locked, pressing the Power and Volume Down buttons will just turn the screen on or adjust the volume instead.

Where do my screenshots go if I don't see them in Photos?

Check your file manager under Internal Storage > DCIM > Screenshots. If they're not there either, your tablet might not have saved them — try taking another screenshot and watching for the flash or sound that confirms it worked.

Can I take a screenshot of a video while it's playing?

Most video apps (Netflix, YouTube, etc.) block screenshots for copyright reasons. You'll see a black box where the video should be in your screenshot. Regular apps and websites usually allow screenshots unless they're specifically designed to prevent them.

How long does my tablet keep screenshots?

Your tablet keeps screenshots until you delete them. They take up storage space, so if you're running low on room, deleting old screenshots can free up space. You can always move important ones to cloud storage before deleting them from your tablet.

Is there a way to take a screenshot without using buttons?

Yes — if your tablet supports it, you can use the palm swipe method described above. You can also use Samsung's built-in screen recording feature if you want to capture video instead of a still image, though that's a different tool than screenshot.