Did you know that over 72% of smartphone users choose Android?
If you sell online courses, create digital products, review software, or stream live gameplay on Twitch, screen recording on Android is a handy feature you should know about.
Until a few years ago, you needed external Android apps for screen recording. But Android OS now comes with native screen recording features to create videos of any length.
In this detailed article, we’ll not only talk about screen recording but also how you can record system audio on your Android phones without installing any application. ((Apple users click here to learn how to screen record from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch.)
Let’s dive in.
Looking for desktop screen recording software? Click here.
How to Screen Record on Any Android Device: A 7-Step Guide
Whether you own a Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Oppo, or any other Android phone, the screen recording functions are similar with slight variations.
Here’s a step-by-step guide on how you can record your Android smartphone screen:
Step 1: Swipe down the notifications panel on your screen.
Step 2: Locate the Screen recording function (you might have to swipe to the right if you can’t see it).
Alternate step: You can also find the screen recording option in Android phones by swiping the hidden widget on the right of your screen.
Step 3: Before you start recording, tap the setting button on the screen recording widget to choose your audio source. You can record your system’s internal sounds or your phone’s mic for external recording. Make sure you have the right settings before proceeding.
If you want to add voiceover to your screen recording, attach an external microphone with a smartphone for noise cancellation, or simply add an audio file later at the video editing stage. But don’t use the phone’s default microphone as it doesn’t filter out the surrounding noise.
Step 4: Tap the Screen recording button.
Step 5: Some phones have an additional setting that allows you to determine how the recording widget is displayed on your screen. Choose your desired setting and move to the next step.
Step 6: Tap the record button to start recording.
Step 7: Tap the Stop button when you’re done.
Those are the simple steps for screen recording on Android without any external mobile application.
Where To Find Your Android Screen Recordings
Once you stop screen recording on your Android phone, it is automatically saved to your phone’s Photo Gallery.
Inside Photos, you’ll find these screen recordings as regular videos in the screen recordings section.
The UI/appearance of the Photos app might vary depending on your Android version and device brand.
How To Edit Screen Recordings On An Android Phone
Android OS has built-in video editing features that allow you to crop and trim videos, apply filters, add watermarks or overlay text, use animation effects, or add background soundtracks.
You can apply any of those features on your screen recordings as well. Simply open the screen recording from your Photos app and tap the Edit button at the bottom of your screen (the location of the Edit option can vary depending on your device).
However, if you want advanced editing options to use the screen recording in your online course or live stream, consider using an advanced desktop video editing tool.
How To Record The Internal Audio Of Your Android Phone
The screen recording process on Android is pretty simple.
But what if you want to record only the internal audio of your phone in MP3, WAV, or any other audio file format?
Android doesn’t have built-in features to record the system audio only.
However, there’s a workaround.
Simply screen record your video the way I described earlier, choosing “system sound” as your audio source (explained in step 3).
Once you have the screen recording, extract the audio from this file using video editing software or an online video-to-audio converter (just Google “video to audio mp3).
How To Take A Screenshot On an Android Smartphone
Taking screenshots on Android is even simpler than screen recording.
Here are a couple of ways to do it.
Method 1: Press the Power and Volume Up buttons at the same time, on your smartphone.
Method 2: Swipe the hidden widget from the right of your screen and tap “Screenshot.”
You can locate and edit your screenshots in the Photos app on your Android phone.
Best Practices For Screen Recording On Android
As you’ve seen in this article, recording the screen of your Android phone is quite easy. However, to ensure you achieve the desired results with your recording, follow these best practices.
1. Close All Unnecessary Apps And Clear Memory
If you don’t want app notifications to pop up or your phone to freeze during screen recording, make sure you close all background apps and clear your phone memory.
This is critical because screen recording consumes your phone’s resources and can slow it down.
Closing down all other apps and clearing the memory gets your phone into optimal condition for a smooth recording.
2. Check Storage And Battery
Imagine creating the perfect screen recording only to find out your phone doesn’t have space to save it. And what if your phone’s battery goes out mid-way through a recording?
Not a great feeling, right?
So, before you begin recording, make sure your phone has enough resources to save your content.
3. Enable Airplane Mode
Don’t want WhatsApp messages, calls, or app notifications during your screen recording? Don’t forget to turn on airplane mode.
4. Check Screen Orientation
Make sure you select the appropriate screen orientation for your recording. Landscape mode is ideal for gaming and video tutorials, while portrait mode is better for apps designed for vertical use. Lock the orientation to prevent accidental rotation.
5. Plan Your Content
Before you start recording, plan out what you want to show and how you want to present it. This ensures a smooth recording without unnecessary pauses or mistakes.
5 Ways Online Course Creators Can Use Android Screen Recordings
You can leverage Android screen recording in multiple ways to grow your online course and digital product-selling business.
Here are a few examples.
Create Course Lessons
Show, don’t tell.
This approach works perfectly for online courses because our brains retain 95% of information when watching videos compared to just 10% when reading text.
You can make your course lessons much more impactful by using screen recordings to demonstrate your strategies instead of sharing theoretical knowledge only.
Publish Product Reviews
People trust your software recommendations when they see you as an expert. You can leverage this trust to generate affiliate sales by showcasing your favorite tools in action through screen recordings and providing actionable tips to achieve various goals.
Promote Your Courses And Memberships
Want prospects to line up for your online courses and membership programs? Regularly share screen recordings that offer a sneak peek into your premium programs and showcase the value customers are gaining from your products. This evokes curiosity and increases the perceived value of your course, resulting in more enrollments in future launches.
Provide Customer Support
Screen recordings are quite helpful for answering student Q&As and offering customer support. For example, if a course participant is facing problems locating an option inside your course platform, you can screen-record the solution for them. Similarly, if a student asks how they can apply a specific tip or strategy from your course, you can screen-record an example scenario for them.
Record Calls And Testimonials
Call recording with industry experts can be excellent bonus content for your online courses. You can use the Android screen recording features to capture your calls, edit and polish them using a professional editing tool, and include them in your course as a bonus.
Similarly, you can record testimonial calls of your successful students and include them in your marketing and sales activities to drive more conversions.
Ready to Elevate Your Content with Android Screen Recordings?
Recording your Android phone screen takes just a few taps. If you’re using Android 11 or higher, the steps I’ve shared in this article should work for you.
You can use this simple yet super-effective feature to create tons of content for your online courses, record valuable marketing content, and offer immense value to your course participants.
And if you want recommendations for screen recording software for your desktop, check out our top screen recording picks here.
Jeff Cobb, Founder of Learning Revolution
Jeff Cobb is an expert in online education and the business of adult lifelong learning. Over the past 20+ years he has built a thriving career based on that expertise – as an entrepreneur, a consultant, an author, and a speaker. Learning Revolution is a place where Jeff curates tips, insights, and resources to help you build a thriving expertise-based business. Learn more about Jeff Cobb here.
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