Taking screenshots

By Kyle Gibb  | Jul 25 2010 | 10:38 am  | 19 Comments

 

"How do I take a screenshot?" is a popular question from Android users. It's also not as easy as it should be, usually either requiring root access to the phone, or the Android SDK. Luckily, our very own Jerry Hildenbrand has written a detailed, step-by-step guide showing you exactly how to do it.  Enjoy!

Kyle Gibb

Kyle Gibb

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There are 19 comments

MowDownJoe says:

Nice Metroid wallpaper.

Yourdogsdead says:

I really wish such basic functionality was built into the OS. Luckily it may be implemented in the future.

AnAm85 says:

Why do most phones have to be rooted to do this?

Kyle Gibb says:

I used the SDK for this screenshot, you don't have to root.

Lupevalenz#AC says:

Woot woot! Bonus points to the anonymous tipster for having the Samus Aran Wallpaper :D

Kyle Gibb says:

Lol, this is a screenshot of my phone. You can see it in a number of posts I have made.

awperk says:

more props for the samus aran wallpaper...also, it is quite sad that you can't take screenshots without root on android. i believe you can take them by default in iOS, then again, i can't remember when i didn't have my ipod touch jailbroken so i may be mistaken.

thomas716 says:

What are "screen hots?"

Faulk_Wulf says:

I have the Battle Scars version on my laptop.
Here it is for those who want it:
http://transfuse.deviantart.com/art/Samus-Aran-44059164?q=boost%3Apopula...

gltovar says:

I have that wallpaper as a skin on the back of my laptop (asked his permission too)t http://www.flickr.com/photos/gltovar/3614849339/

For my droid background I modded the same artist's pic of a futuristic girl holding an apple to a futuristic girl holding an android http://www.flickr.com/photos/gltovar/4575198909/

Here is the artist's site: http://www.crimsonjassic.com/

tailsthecat3 says:

i want that wallpaper. link to the resized android wallpaper?? thank you thank you

clambert#AC says:

Just another reason to root your phone and get the app ShootMe, which works great btw.

If you can go through the hassle of all those freakin' steps you certainly can easily root your phone with unrevoked 3.1 (if your phone is supported). :)

tada1096 says:

wow i tried doing this and just cant get it to work.

i downloaded the sdk, then unzipped it. then i get a pop up to download a bunch of folders so i download them all. then i try ti install the drivers and it cant find them i had it look i the sdk folder manually including all folders and if doesnt find any drivers. so its a fail on my side any ideas anyone?

tada1096 says:

never,ind i did it, had to download the drivers using the htc sync download now it works :)

ramcharger1979 says:

5

Thanks for this. I am a pro now.

SMAK says:

found that the "drocap" application from the android market is excellent in taking screen shots. You have to learn to use it in the different mode that trigger the full screen capture but once you do i think most will be satisfied with the results....

Adalberto says:

WOW! That's a lot of steps for just a screenshot. Just switched to Android from a Palm Pre and obtaining them there was a breeze. Hopefully a simpler method is added in a next update. Or, has one been added recently?

Gerard Cerchio says:

I was not very happy all the steps involved so I built a windows and a mac application that does the screen capture without rooting. You only have to turn on USB debugging. You can get a free download demo at https://www.circlesoftapps.com/?page_id=106
Enjoy!