If you need to record the screen on your computer, Windows has the Game Bar and macOS has a screenshot tool. Apple devices have the Screen Recording tool, but what about Android?
A screen recorder for Google’s mobile OS was introduced in Android 11, but some devices from Samsung, LG, and OnePlus running Android 10 have their own versions of the feature. Those with older devices can turn to a third-party app. Here are your options.
Android Screen Recorder
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 to the device to record the screen (you might have to edit the default icons that appear). Determine what sound, if any, you want recorded. Tap Start recording and a countdown will begin before a toolbar appears on the screen and the recording starts.
The toolbar include the ability to minimize the bar, draw on the screen, turn on your front-facing camera, pause the recording, or stop it completely. The toolbar and selfie window can be moved around the screen as desired.
When a recording is stopped, the video is saved to your phone’s media storage. For additional settings, long-press on the Screen Recorder quick settings icon.
Google Play Games
If you’re looking to record some gameplay, Google Play Games is a solid free option. While it can only record in 480p SD or 720p HD, the app allows you to record any game and add camera footage from your phone’s front-facing lens.
Open the app and select a game—these can be any of the included games on the Home tab or a title you previously downloaded. Tap the game’s thumbnail to view the its details, then tap the Record button at the top. From here, select the video quality.
Tap Launch to start your game, and a floating video bubble will appear on the screen with recording settings to select. The buttons that surround your head will control your microphone, the front-facing camera, and recording. You can also drag your video bubble around the screen to find the perfect location.
Tap the red button to start recording your video. After a three-second timer, Google Play Games will start recording. Tap the record button again to stop, or drag the floating video bubble to the center of the screen over the X. Once the video ends, you can edit it or upload it through the YouTube app, if you wish.
ADV Screen Recorder
ADV Screen Recorder is a free, third-party option that allows you to record any activity on your screen. Tap the plus icon in the app to open the button overlay, which allows you to control your recordings from any screen. Keep in mind that when this overlay is open, you cannot interact with the rest of the screen.
When you open the button overlay, you see controls that allow you to start recording, add a front-facing camera view, access your collection of videos, and draw on the screen. You must grant the app the proper permissions before all these features become available.
Tap the record button to start your video, then stop or pause from the button overlay. You can edit and share your recording from inside the app. In settings, you can change resolution (up to 1080p), bit rate (up to 15Mbps), and frame rates (up to 60fps). You can also change video orientation and microphone settings.
The app lets you control the overlay by changing opacity, replacing the default icon with a custom image and adding text, or eliminating it completely. You can also allow the app to show screen touches while recording, though you’ll have to enable the feature within the phone’s settings first.
You may notice that the app’s button overlay remains on the screen even after you close out the app. The only way to remove the overlay is to long-press on the icon and drag it over to the X toward the bottom of the screen.
AZ Screen Recorder
The third-party AZ Screen Recorder is a free, ad-supported app (with a $2.99 ad-free upgrade) that allows you to take video, capture screenshots, and start a live video. The app can be controlled from the phone’s notification shade and, once given the proper permissions, adds a pop-up control button to the screen.
Open the app and tap the orange camera button to begin recording your screen, then navigate on the phone like normal. A smaller camcorder bubble will also display on the screen and will remain even after you move away from the app. Tap this icon to stop or pause the recording. The bubble has additional options allowing you to open saved recordings in the app, activate different toolbox items, and start a live video on Facebook or YouTube.
Inside the app, you can view saved videos and screenshots, which can be shared and edited. A settings menu allows you to configure video options, like resolution (up to 2,220 by 1,080), frame rate (up to 60fps), bit rate (up to 12Mbps), device orientation, and time lapse, as well as control audio recording.
Don’t want the record button to show up in the recording? There are options that disable the button during recording, add an invisible button, and change the way you stop a recording.
Mobizen Screen Recorder
Unlike other screen recorders, Mobizen Screen Recorder primarily exists as a floating control bubble called the AirCircle. Tap the overlay to start a video, take a screenshot, or view captured media and change settings. You can start a screen recording from the AirCircle menu, then pause or stop the video. Commands in the notification shade allow you some degree of control as well.
Mobizen will then allow you to view, edit, and share your recordings. From the app’s storage overlay, you can view videos and screenshots, though it may also import some images from your device. A settings menu allows you to adjust resolution (up to 1080p), frame rate (up to 60fps), and audio settings.
A built-in recording wizard will help optimize your video, while clean recording mode removes the overlay and improves overall quality.
By default, Mobizen will have the front-facing camera deactivated, but you can turn that on in settings to add an additional video overlay on all recordings. You also have the ability to fully customize the AirCircle by replacing the logo with your own picture, hiding it during recordings, or changing its transparency.
The base app is ad-supported, and pop-ups are strewn throughout, but you can upgrade to a premium subscription ($3.99 a month or $31.99 for 12 months) to eliminate ads, create your own watermarks and GIFs, and more.
Super Screen Recorder
With the ad-supported Super Screen Recorder, you can record your screen, take screenshots, and more. Use the pop-up overlay to record video, take pictures, and draw on your screen. You can also add features like live video, a front-facing camera window, and a floating brush icon.
Inside the app, you can view, share, and edit the media you have captured. A full edit menu allows you to add music, merge videos and images, compress files, turn videos into GIFs, and more. The settings menu gives you control over resolution (up to 1080p), bit rate (up to 12Mbps), frame rate (up to 60fps), and video orientation. You can also change video and audio recording settings, set control options, and show screen touches, once developer options are enabled on the device.
With a pro subscription, Super Screen Recorder removes ads, gives you voice dubbing and voice changing functionality, and allows you to add custom images for the floating button and watermark.
