How to Take a Screenshot of an Android Device (from a Computer)

Are you writing a document and need to take a screenshot from your Android smartphone right at your computer? As long as you still have your USB cord for the device, you can still take a screenshot. Follow these directions to take a screenshot for your document.

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STEPS

1

TURN ON USB DEBUGGING ON YOUR PHONE.
Tap the "Settings" option.
Follow through with tapping "Developer Options".
Scroll down to "Debugging" section. You'll see the option for USB Debugging located in this menu area.
Tap the option for USB Debugging.

2

PLUG IN YOUR PHONE WITH YOUR USB CORD. Remember to plug the cord into your phone, as well as plugging the other end into the computer. It'll either ask you to install device drivers, or, if this has already been set up, it'll ask you what you want to do with it.

3

OPEN THE PHONE\'S FILES IN ITS FOLDERS.

4

BROWSE THROUGH TO FIND THE FOLDER MARKED "TOOLS".

5

FIND THE FILE CALLED "DDMS". This file is a self-executable/runnable file.

6

DOUBLE-CLICK THE ICON TO THE "DDMS" FILE.

7

ALLOW THE PROGRAM TO INSTALL AND OPEN. This program should be called "Dalvik Debug Monitor Service".
Ignore any errors the debugger encounters, temporarily.

8

OPEN THE DROP-DOWN BOX "DEVICES" FROM THE MENU BAR AT THE TOP OF THE SCREEN.

9

CLICK THE "SCREEN CAPTURE" BOX. There's also another quicker keyboard shortcut that will get you there a bit sooner. This shortcut is accessed when you press Ctrl and S together.

10

LOOK OVER THE OPTIONS AT THE TOP OF THE PROGRAM TO FIND THE OPTIONS THAT ARE AVAILABLE TO SCREENCLIP ON YOUR ANDROID PHONE.
TIPS
Any images that are saved to your computer, will be saved in PNG format.
Once you plug in your phone, you'll also be charging its power. So that's a second plus feature when you take a screenshot using this method.
WARNINGS
Your phone's memory card will not be accessed to take the screenshot of your device.
THINGS YOU\'LL NEED
Android device (includes an Amazon Kindle Fire)
computer (PC or Mac)
USB cord