Screenshots Android 4.0+ (API 14+) Risk: SAFE

Capture Screen Image (Screenshot)

Captures the current Android screen frame and saves it to a PNG image or raw stream.

Command Syntax

adb shell screencap
Generic Syntax: screencap [-p] [-d <DISPLAY_ID>] [<file_path>]

Options & Parameters

Flag Description
-p Save as PNG image format (default raw if omitted in legacy).
-d <ID> Specify display ID to capture (0 is primary phone screen).

Real-World Usage Examples

Take screenshot and save to device SD card
Saves PNG screenshot on device.
adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/Download/screenshot.png
One-liner: Capture and save directly to computer (exec-out)
Streams PNG directly to your computer without saving a temporary file on phone.
adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png