If you want to make a review of an app, or just for showing off your Android device, you will need a screen recording app that can make a video of your screen. A while back, we talked about some ways to record the screen of an iPhone or iPad, and that was pretty difficult in comparison to Android.
Android users who want to record the screen of their device will only have to install an app and start recording. It’s very simple and there are apps for both root and non-root users, so anyone can choose the app they want and are not obligated to root their device in order to record their screen.
If you do a quick search on the Google Play Store, you will see a bunch of apps that offer screen recording capabilities, however, not all of them are good. Depending on what device you have, some apps will work and some won’t, due to incompatibilities regarding the hardware of your Android device or the OS version you are running.
If you have a rooted Android device, then the process of recording your screen is fairly simple, as you only need to install the app and push “Record“. On non-rooted devices, there are some apps that also allow easy screen recording, but they sometimes have problems and won’t work on all devices.
Also for non-root users, there are other software programs that allow screen recording, but they need to be run on a computer in order to work.
Android Screen Capture on Non-Root Devices
If you haven’t rooted your Android device, you will have to follow these steps in order to start capturing your screen as a video file. Keep in mind that some of these methods will require you to connect your Android device to a computer and do the recording on the computer rather than on the smartphone itself. To do so, follow these steps:
- Download the latest version of Java [Download Link]
- Download the Android SDK [Download Link]
- Download the Screen Capture Software for Windows – Ashot [Download Link]
After you have downloaded all the necessary files, head over to your Android device, go to “Settings” -> “Developer Options” -> “Enable USB Debugging” and follow the video guide below to start recording your Android’s screen.
Note: Remember that Ashot does not actually capture a video file, but it takes screenshots when something moves on the screen. You will have to use another program like CamStudio, or other similar programs to create the video file.
There are also other apps that allow you to record the screen of a non rooted Android device, but keep in mind that some of them will also use a computer program to do so. Both Android SDK and Java will be required in order to use them.
The number of apps that allow users to directly capture their device’s screen as video is small, and if you look closely, their ratings are not as good. Keep in mind that these apps work on some devices and due to the lack of root access they can’t perform as good as others. Here are the other apps you can use to record your screen on a non-rooted Android:
Note: Keep in mind that these might not work, as many users have complained about incompatibilities between the apps and their devices.
Android Screen Capture on Rooted Devices
If you have rooted your Android device, then the process becomes significantly easier. All you will need is a recorder app and you are all set to go. These apps will work in background and they will record anything that is going on on your device.
Screencast Video Recorder
Screencast is one of the best Android screen recording apps that you could wish for. Its simple user interface allows on-tap recording and the quality of the video is pretty decent. The video files are stored on the device’s SD card, and they have the resolution of the display.
Depending on what device you have, the video is usually fluid, but for the best results, you can tweak the settings and select a framerate that pleases you. The output file comes in MPEG4 format with audio, so you can make quality video reviews of games or other Android apps.
If by any chance, Screencast Video recorder does not work for you, you can try some of these other Android screen recorder apps, but keep in mind that many users have experienced problems with them, and there is no guarantee that they will work for you:
- Screen Recorder-ROOT NEEDED
- Screen Recorder
- Screencast PRO
These apps will create a video file on your device’s SD card which you can later download and share or upload to any website you like. Keep in mind that on less powerful devices, the framerate of the video might drop and not be as fluid as you’d want. I have been using Screencast for quite awhile now and I am very happy with it, I recommend it as it doesn’t need too many resources to run and video are pretty good despite the fact that I use it on an older device.
