How to take scrolling screenshots on Android – the easy way

With just a few button presses, you can quickly take a screemshot of your Android device screen.

What occurs, though, if the material you are attempting to store is too large for a single screen? It could be an app settings page, a lengthy web page, or a conversation thread. Scrolling screenshots can help with that.

This tutorial describes how to take scrolling screenshots on Android without the use of third-party apps, how to handle the situation where the choice is not available, and how it functions on various devices.

What is a scrolling screenshot?

You can record vertically scrollable content in a single lengthy image by taking a scrolling screenshot, sometimes referred to as an extended screenshot. Your phone does it automatically, saving you the trouble of painstakingly piecing together many screenshots and providing you with a clear, comprehensive representation of the full page or discussion.

Although some manufacturers had already included this capability through custom Android skins prior to the official distribution, Android 12 marked the wide availability of this feature. After taking a standard screenshot, you can continue taking screenshots as you scroll by selecting the scrolling screenshot option.

Why scrolling screenshots are useful

When you need to record a lot of information without dividing it into many photos, scrolling screenshots come in handy. Typical use scenarios include the following:

• Capturing an entire article from a website for offline reading
• Saving long chats or SMS conversations
• Recording step-by-step settings in apps or system menus
• Documenting online orders, receipts, or bank statements
• Archiving long social media posts or comments

Instead of managing and sending five or six individual screenshots, you get a single, clean image that’s easier to share, store, or annotate.

How to take a scrolling screenshot on stock Android

If you’re using a Google Pixel or another phone running near-stock Android 12 or higher, the steps are straightforward:

1. Navigate to the screen you want to capture.
2. Press the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time to take a screenshot.
3. After the screenshot is taken, a preview appears in the bottom corner with an option labeled Capture more.
4. Tap Capture more to open a screen where you can scroll and adjust how much of the page to include.
5. Drag the crop handles to select the desired length, then tap Save when finished.

The scrolling screenshot will be saved to your Screenshots folder and accessible via the Google Photos or Files app.

How it works on Samsung devices (One UI)

Samsung introduced scrolling screenshots before Android 12 and calls the feature Scroll capture. To use it:

1. Open the page or conversation you want to capture.
2. Take a screenshot by pressing Power + Volume Down, or use the palm swipe gesture if it’s enabled.
3. A toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap the Scroll capture icon (a downward arrow within a bracket) repeatedly to continue capturing more content.
5. The phone scrolls down automatically each time you tap the icon, and stitches the new content to the previous image.
6. Once finished, the combined screenshot is saved to your Gallery in the Screenshots folder.

Samsung’s implementation is intuitive and works in most apps, including browsers, chat apps, and system settings.

Taking scrolling screenshots on Xiaomi (MIUI)

Xiaomi users with MIUI 12 or later can use the Scroll option built into the screenshot tool:

1. Go to the screen you want to capture.
2. Press Power + Volume Down, or use the three-finger swipe gesture.
3. A floating screenshot preview will appear in the corner.
4. Tap the Scroll option next to the preview.
5. The device will automatically scroll the page and compile the screenshot.
6. Tap Done or wait for the auto-scroll to finish.

Your scrolling screenshot is then saved and ready to share or edit.

How it works on OnePlus (OxygenOS)

On most OnePlus phones running OxygenOS 11 or higher:

1. Take a screenshot using Power + Volume Down or the three-finger swipe.
2. A preview appears with a button called Expanded screenshot or Scroll.
3. Tap the button, and the phone will begin scrolling down and capturing content.
4. You can tap to stop the scroll when you’ve captured everything you need.
5. The final result is a seamless long image.

OnePlus makes the process easy and generally reliable in apps like Chrome, WhatsApp, and system menus.

What to do if scrolling screenshot is not working

If you don’t see the scrolling option after taking a screenshot, here are a few reasons and possible solutions:

1. Your Android version is outdated

With Android 12, scrolling screenshot functionality was formally introduced. The native option might not be available if you are using Android 11 or earlier and the manufacturer of your phone has not included the functionality in its unique user interface.

Solution: Check for software updates under Settings > System > System update and update to the latest available Android version.

2. The app you’re using doesn’t support it

Certain applications may completely disable screen capture capabilities, particularly those with security limitations (such as banking or media streaming apps). In other situations, the scrolling capture feature will not be activated for static content that does not scroll vertically, such as games or films.

Solution: Try taking the screenshot in another app to confirm the feature works elsewhere.

3. The screenshot method didn’t trigger the right menu

If you take screenshots using Google Assistant or a third-party button remapper, the scroll option may not appear.

Solution: Stick with the hardware button method or built-in gesture support for consistent results.

4. Your device brand disables it

Rarely, the feature might be removed from select low-cost or carrier-locked devices. Check your device’s manual or a help website relevant to your brand if your Android version allows it but you are unable to see the choice.

Solution: As a last resort, third-party apps like LongShot or Stitch & Share can be used, though they won’t integrate as seamlessly.

Where scrolling screenshots are saved

Your scrolling screenshots are typically saved in the same folder as regular screenshots. The default locations include:

• Internal Storage > DCIM > Screenshots
• Internal Storage > Pictures > Screenshots

You can also find them in gallery apps like Google Photos under the “Screenshots” album. The long image format will usually be saved as a standard PNG or JPEG file, depending on your phone.

Scrolling screenshots make it significantly easier to capture and share large amounts of vertical content in one image. Whether you’re preserving a full article, archiving a conversation, or saving a list of settings for future reference, this feature streamlines the process and saves time.

Most modern Android phones with Android 12 or later support scrolling screenshots natively, with even better integration in custom skins from brands like Samsung, Xiaomi, and OnePlus. If the feature isn’t available on your phone, checking for updates or exploring brand-specific gestures may help you unlock it.

Scrolling screenshots are one of those tiny but useful features that you will find yourself utilizing regularly once you get used to it, particularly if you share content or document information from your phone on a regular basis.