> Resource > Business Software Tips > Android Screen Capture

How to Capture and Record Android Screen

I want a free Android app to be able to record a running app as video such as to have a demo video of an app.

Would like to share your Android screenshot with friends? Have a favorite Android game and want to record a video? Well, it's not difficult to complete it any more. Here, we'd like to show you how to capture and record screen on Android phone.

Part 1. Android screen capture

Part 2. Record Android screen


Part 1. Android screen capture

To make the Android screen capture easily, you can try Wondershare MobileGo for Android (for Windows users) or Wondershare MobileGo for Android Pro (Mac) (for Mac users). Both versions let you capture screenshot on Android phone phone or tablet with 1 click.

Download the free trial version to take a try!

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version

Note: Here, we’ll complete the task with the Windows version. As a Mac user, you can take the similar steps as well.


Step1. Connect Android phone/tablet to the computer

To get started, connect your Android phone or tablet with the computer via a USB cable. For Windows users, you can also make the connection via Wi-Fi. Install and launch MobileGo for Android on the computer. Once this program detects your Android phone or tablet, you will get the primary window like the screenshot shows below:

android screen capture


Step2. Capture Android screen

To capture the Android screen, you just need to open your Android phone or tablet. Find the screen that you want to make a screenshot. Click "Screenshot". If you change the screen on your Android phone or tablet, you shoud click "Refresh". Then, click "Screenshot" again.

screen capture on android device

capture android screen           screen capture on android

That's the tutotrial about how to capture Android screen. It's easy, rirght?


Download MobileGo for Android to try it!

Download Win VersionDownload Mac Version


Part 2. Record Android screen

Step1. Download and install Android SDK

Download and install Android SDK, then unzip the file and click SDK setup.exe. Here comes a small window asking you for add-ons installation and upgrade for your first time when opening the SDK. If you just want to take screenshot of Android, choose "USB driver package"and click update. I suggest to update all packages. It won't take long.

record screen on android


Step2. Hook up your Android to computer via the USB cable

Step3. Open DDMS (the Dalvik Debug Monitor) and start to capture screen

You will find more folders under SDK file folder when the update is finished. Go to tools folder and click ddms.dat. There will be a DOS window. Don't close it and wait for seconds, the system will detect your Android and give a list of Android devices connected.

Select your Android phone, choose Menu Device | Screen Capture and you will have you screenshot. It can be rotated, saved or copied.


record android screen


Step4. Recording Android screen video

android screen recorder

Till now there is no third party application that allows you to record Android screen as a screencast video, but here are still some possibilities to make screen video of Android. Follow the method mentioned above, lauch an Android screen recorder like DemoCreator and select the Android screen as the recording area to begin your full motion recording. You can operate your phone while refreshing the screenshot of Android screen frequently. Anyway, this is a really awkward way to record a display video of Android Phone. With the rapid development of mobile phone software, application that can be used to record display of Android Phone may come out soon!


Download Demo Creator now!

Download Win Version

  • (Lol not saying name)  2013-04-17 20:31
    thank you Emma :) this helped a lot now i can record my game....Modern Combat 3
  • google-7d25f0fedaec07e3e62ae5f  2013-03-30 00:41
    Great article. Thanks Emma.
  • Tom  2012-11-23 18:27
    It's still there but moved to another directory: C:Program Files (x86)Androidandroid-sdktools
  • ike  2012-11-12 19:34
    just captures a screenshot... lol
  • realanswers  2012-10-03 14:06
    Android SDK has a different interface now, these pictures are obsolete. The DDMS is not included in the SDK download & cannot be found on the Android.
  • Ju  2012-07-30 18:32
    Wtf lol
  • jez  2012-07-16 08:35
    i followed her but i got arrested
  • theonlyanil  2012-07-03 10:58
    doesn't work. It just captures the screenshot.