How to take a scrolling screenshot on Android

To take a scrolling screenshot on Android, take a normal screenshot first, then tap the button in the preview that says something like Capture more, Scroll or Scroll capture. The phone then extends the image down the page, and you choose where it stops. Many phones have this built in, and it works in most apps that scroll up and down.

What is a scrolling screenshot?

A scrolling screenshot, also called a long screenshot, is a single tall image that captures more than one screen of content. Instead of taking five screenshots of a long chat or a web page, you get one image that runs from top to bottom.

It is useful for long receipts, recipes, chat threads, terms and conditions, directions and articles you want to keep.

Step by step on most phones

The button name differs between brands, but the steps are very similar.

1. Open the page or chat you want to capture, and scroll to the point where you want the image to start.
2. Take a normal screenshot, usually by pressing Power and Volume Down together.
3. Look at the preview that appears. Tap the button with a name like Capture more, Scroll, Scroll capture or Long screenshot.
4. Depending on your phone, either tap the button repeatedly to add more, or drag a frame down to choose where the image ends.
5. Tap Save or Done.

If you do not see the button at all, the app you are in may not support it, or your phone may need a system update. On most phones, you can open Settings and search for "scrolling screenshot" or "long screenshot" to check whether it is available.

Why the scroll button sometimes does not appear

Scroll capture relies on the phone being able to scroll the app by itself and stitch the parts together. That does not always work.

• The screen does not scroll. A home screen, a photo or a single-page app has nothing more to capture.
• The app draws its content in an unusual way. Some games, maps, video players and apps with custom layouts do not cooperate with the system's scroll capture.
• The app blocks screenshots. If an app blocks normal screenshots, it blocks scrolling ones too.
• The page keeps changing. Live feeds, animations or content that loads as you scroll can confuse the stitching and leave gaps or repeats.

What to try when scroll capture does not work

You still have options.

1. Take several screenshots. Scroll a little less than one screen each time, so each image overlaps the previous one. You can keep them as a set, or join them later.
2. Save the page as a PDF. In most browsers, the share or menu options include Print, and printing lets you save the page as a PDF. This keeps the full page and the text stays sharp.
3. Copy the text instead. If you only need the words, selecting and copying them may be easier than an image.
4. Use the app's own export. Many chat and note apps can export a conversation or a note, which captures everything in one go.

Tips for useful long screenshots

Long screenshots are handy but have a few quirks.

• They are bigger files. A tall image holds much more than a normal screenshot, so it takes more storage. If space is tight, see how much storage your screenshots really use.
• They can be hard to read on a small screen. Zoom in to read, or crop out the parts you do not need.
• Check the joins. Look over the seams where the parts were stitched together. Occasionally a line is repeated or a small part is missing.
• Watch for private details. A long chat screenshot can include far more names and messages than you meant to share. Read what to check before you share a screenshot before you send one.

Keeping long screenshots findable

Long screenshots are often the ones you most want to keep, such as a recipe or a long order confirmation. Because they hold so much text, they are also the ones you are most likely to search for later. If you take one of a recipe, our guide to turning recipe screenshots into a cookbook you can search shows one way to keep them useful.

How Screenshot Brain helps

Screenshot Brain reads the text in your screenshots on your phone, long ones included, so you can find a long capture later by typing a word that appears anywhere in it. Its cleaner also flags large files, which helps when long screenshots start taking up space.

Frequently asked questions

Do all Android phones have scrolling screenshots?

Many phones have the feature built in, but not all, and the button name varies. Check the preview after a normal screenshot, or search your settings for it.

Why does my long screenshot stop early?

The app may have reached the end of what it could scroll, or the content changed while it was capturing. Try again more slowly, or take several overlapping screenshots instead.

Can I take a scrolling screenshot of a whole web page?

Usually, yes, in most browsers. For very long pages, saving the page as a PDF may be more reliable.

Are scrolling screenshots saved in the same place as normal ones?

On most phones, yes. They are saved alongside your other screenshots.