How to use screen recording in Android 4.4 KitKat

Phil Nickinson

Android Central Editor Emeritus
Apr 21, 2009
4,506
3,181
0
OK. This is simple enough that I can do it. :p

screen-recording.jpg
First, make sure your SDK Tools are up to date. Otherwise, this won't work.

Plug in your phone, then open up a command line. You initiate the recording with a simple adb instruction, but it actually saves on the phone.

The basic command you need is this:

Code:
adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/yourfilename.mp4

You can name it whatever you want (within the usual limitations), and save it wherever you want on your device. (I'm lazy, so I've just been saving to /sdcard.)

When you're done, just copy the file to a computer or wherever.

Also note the arguments in the image above — particularly the one about bit rate. By default, it records at 4Mbps, which I've found to be inadequate, so I've been doubling that. So the command I've been using is:
Code:
adb shell screenrecord --bit-rate 8000000 /sdcard/yourfilename.mp4
(And, yes. The help listing suggests setting the option in Mbps, but you actually have to do some math and use bps. Annoying, but not a huge deal.)

To stop the recording, hit CTRL-C on your keyboard.
 
Last edited:
And in case you're using Android Studio, there is a dedicated button to start the recording:
S9I61dH.png
 
This is a KitKat feature and not a Nexus 5 feature right? So I could use this on the Nexus 4 running a KitKat custom ROM
 
Hey, can't I use the command "screenrecord /sdcard/1.mp4" in the terminal emulator on the device itself? I tried but it says "Filesize = N/A" in ES File Explorer and the file can't be opened by any app.
 
I don't know but I can't even turn off screen record. Anyone know how? I can turn it on, but there is no off
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
954,019
Messages
6,960,271
Members
3,162,900
Latest member
Marvinghrison