Where are screenshots saved on Android?
On most Android phones, screenshots are saved in a folder called Screenshots, inside either the Pictures folder or the DCIM folder on the phone's internal storage. The easiest way to see them is the Screenshots album in your gallery app. If you want the actual folder, a files app will take you there in a few taps.
Where are screenshots saved on most phones?
The exact place depends on the brand, but it is nearly always one of these:
- Pictures, then Screenshots. Common on many phones.
- DCIM, then Screenshots. DCIM is the folder that also holds your camera photos, and some brands save screenshots next to them.
Both are on internal storage, the phone's built-in memory. Even if your phone has a memory card, screenshots are usually saved internally unless you have changed a setting that allows otherwise.
How to find your screenshots in the gallery
This is the quickest way, and it works on almost every phone.
- Open your gallery or photos app.
- Look for an Albums, Library or Collections tab.
- Open the album called Screenshots.
Your newest screenshot is normally at the top. Scrolling screenshots, which capture a whole page, are saved in the same album.
If you cannot see a Screenshots album, the gallery may be hiding some folders. Check its settings for an option to show hidden or all albums.
How to find the screenshots folder in a files app
If you want to move, copy or back up the files directly, go to the folder itself.
- Open your files app. On most phones it is called Files or My Files.
- Choose Internal storage. You may need to tap a Browse tab first.
- Open Pictures and look for Screenshots. If it is not there, go back and open DCIM, then Screenshots.
Many files apps also have an Images category with a Screenshots section, which saves you from browsing the folders.
What about screenshots taken inside apps?
Not every capture is a system screenshot. Some apps save their own images in their own folders.
- Games and video apps with built-in capture buttons may save to a folder named after the app.
- Chat apps save images you receive in their own media folders. If you screenshot something and send it, a second copy may appear there.
- Edited screenshots may be saved as a new file, sometimes in a separate Edited folder, depending on your phone.
This is one reason screenshots can feel scattered, and it is also a common cause of copies. See how to find and delete duplicate screenshots if you have a lot of repeats.
Can you change where screenshots are saved?
On most phones, no. The system decides where screenshots go and there is no setting to change it. A few brands offer options, such as saving to a memory card or choosing the file format. On most phones, open Settings and search for "screenshot" to see what yours allows.
If you need screenshots somewhere else, the simplest way is to move or copy them afterwards with your files app.
Are your screenshots also saved online?
Possibly. If your gallery app backs up photos to an online account, your screenshots may be backed up too. This means:
- A copy may exist online even after you delete it from the phone, depending on how the backup works.
- Deleting from one place does not always delete from the other.
- Sensitive screenshots, such as ones showing bank details, may be stored online without you thinking about it.
Check your gallery's backup settings to see which folders are included. Some let you leave the Screenshots folder out.
Finding a specific screenshot
Knowing where screenshots are saved helps, but it does not help much when you have thousands and need one. Folders sort by date, and screenshots of text all look alike as thumbnails. For finding a particular one, it is faster to search the text inside your screenshots or to find a screenshot by date.
How Screenshot Brain helps
Screenshot Brain brings your screenshots together in one place, so you do not need to know which folder each one is in. It reads the text in them on your phone, letting you type a word you remember and see the matches. New screenshots arrive in a Smart Inbox, and you can narrow by date, links, category or time.
Frequently asked questions
Why can I not find my screenshot in the gallery?
It may be in a hidden album, saved by an app to its own folder, or the gallery may not have refreshed yet. Check the files app under Pictures and DCIM, or restart the gallery app.
Can screenshots be saved to an SD card?
On most phones they are saved to internal storage. Some phones offer a setting to use a memory card, and you can always move them afterwards.
Are screenshots PNG or JPEG files?
It varies between phones. Many save PNG files, while some use JPEG, and a few let you choose.
If I delete a screenshot, is it deleted from my backup too?
That depends on your backup service. Some remove the online copy as well, and others keep it, so check your backup settings.