With Android KitKat 4.4, Google has added a new feature to the operating system that enables one to create a video recording of Android devices screen in MP4 format. This feature is very helpful in creating tutorials to explain the functioning of a newly launched app. Apart from that you can make other usages also, its just like taking screenshot on Windows but a step ahead, because you just dont get the picture snap but also the complete video.
Google recommends to use this feature by saying that one must use the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) and a USB connection. But those with root access to your phone can get it done entirely on their device just with the help of an app. They dont require having the Android SDK and the USB connection. However, in both the cases having the Android 4.4 KitKat is mandatory.
Go through the entire article to learn about how to record your Android device screen if you dont have root access to your Android phone:
Arrangements:
If you dont have root access to your phone then you have to get the Android SDK. You can get it downloaded from the Googles Android Developers website. You dont need to get Java installed.
After downloading the Android SDK in your computer, do the following:
Click the Start menu and launch the SDK Manager application
Enable the Android SDK Platform-tools checkbox
Click the Install button
This will download and install the platform-tools package that contains the ADB and other utilities
But the Android SDKs command-line ADB utility will initiate the screen recording only over a USB connection. Hence, you have to get USB debugging enabled on your Android device before you can start any kind of interface with it. To enable the USB debugging in your device, do the following:
Go to Setting screen of your device
Locate Developer option
Tick the check box against USB Debugging
How to record Android Devices Screen?
After enabling the USB debugging, get your device connected to your computer with a USB cable. Then perform the following steps to record a video of the screen of your device. The video will get encoded at a bitrate of 4Mbps, and will set the maximum screen recording time standard to your device.
In your computer download Android SDK from the Googles Android Developers website
Extract the Android SDK package
Navigate to the sdkplatform-tools folder
Hold Shift and right-click inside the folder
Here select Open command window
Run the adb devices command just to ensure that the ADB is communicating with your connected Android device
Accept the security prompt on your device
A list of devices connected to your computer will appear on the computers window
If you cant see it means adb is not been able to detect your device
Disable the USB debugging of your system and enable it once again
If you can see select your device of which screen you want to get recorded
Now you can start recording your devices screen by running the adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/example.mp4 command
After this command, your devices screen will start getting recorded but this will happen under default settings and hence the resulting video will get saved to a file at /sdcard/example.mp4 file of your device. You can continue changing the screen of your device. If you want it to get saved at a different location, you can specify it. After getting the recording done, you have press Ctrl+C in the Command Prompt window. This will stop the screen recording.
You can find the resultant screen recording video at the location specified by you earlier. Remember that although you are working on your computer but the recording will get saved to the internal storage of your device and not to your PC. By default, the video will take up your devices standard screen resolution.
Even if you dont have remote access to your Android phone yet you can create a recording of its screen to be used in making presentation or for other purposes. All you need is an Android SDK and the USB debugging of your device must be enabled. After getting your devices screen recorder youll receive an MP4 file that gets stored on your device and not on the computer. Remember, these screen recordings wont capture your finger. So follow the above mentioned tips and enjoy recording your device screen video with the Android KitKat 4.4.
About the Author: Hi! I am Polly M Quinton, a prolific blog writer and keen author of articles related to online tablet support and solution for issues related to computers and mobile devices. Being associated with the reputed best pc tuneup service provider Qresolve, I have resolved thousands of tech issues for our customers from worldwide. online android tablet support My areas of interest are PC security, endpoint security system, router support etc.