Quick answer
Press Power and Volume down at the same time. Or, once knuckle gestures are on, knock twice on the screen with one knuckle.
All 6 methods at a glance
| Method | What it does | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Power + Volume down | Works on every Huawei and Honor phone. | All models, including P20, P30, Mate 20, nova and Y series |
| Knuckle double-knock | Knock twice on the screen with one knuckle. | Quick screenshots without buttons |
| Scrolling screenshot (Scrollshot) | Draw an S with your knuckle, or swipe the thumbnail down. | Long web pages and chats |
| Three-finger swipe | Swipe down with three fingers. | One-handed screenshots |
| Notification panel shortcut | Tap Screenshot in the shortcuts panel. | If buttons and gestures don't work |
| Air gesture (Grabshot) | Close your open hand into a fist in front of the camera. | Touch-free screenshots |
Knuckle double-knock
- Turn it on. On newer phones (EMUI 10 and later, HarmonyOS): Settings > Accessibility features > Shortcuts & gestures > Take screenshot and switch on Knuckle screenshots. On older phones (EMUI 9 and earlier, such as P10, P20 and Mate 10): Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control > Smart screenshot.
- Knock firmly on the screen twice in quick succession with one knuckle.
- To capture part of the screen, knock once and keep your knuckle on the screen, then draw around the area you want. Choose a shape and tap Save.
Use a single knuckle, not a fingertip, and knock in the same spot. A screen protector can make it less reliable.
Scrolling screenshot (Scrollshot)
- Knock once with a knuckle and, without lifting it, draw an S on the screen. The page scrolls and captures itself.
- Or take a normal screenshot, then swipe the thumbnail down, or tap it and choose Scrollshot.
- Tap the screen to stop. It stops by itself at the end of the page.
Three-finger swipe
- Turn it on in Settings > Accessibility features > Shortcuts & gestures > Take screenshot > Three-finger screenshot (older phones: Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control > Three-finger screenshot).
- Swipe down from the middle of the screen with three fingers.
Notification panel shortcut
- Swipe down from the top of the screen, then swipe down again to show all shortcuts.
- Tap Screenshot. If it's missing, tap the pencil (edit) icon and drag it in.
Air gesture (Grabshot)
Newer models such as the P50, P60 and Mate series with air gestures
- Turn on Grabshot in Settings > Accessibility features > Shortcuts & gestures > Air gestures. If there's no Air gestures menu, your phone doesn't support it.
- Hold your open palm about half an arm's length from the screen. When a hand icon appears, close it into a fist.
Where are screenshots saved?
Open the Gallery app and look in the Screenshots album. In the Files app they're under Internal storage > Pictures > Screenshots.
Record your Huawei screen
- Press Power and Volume up at the same time, or knock twice with two knuckles.
- You can also swipe down and tap Screen Recorder in the shortcuts panel.
- Tap the red timer at the top to stop. The video is saved to Gallery.
Screenshot not working?
Knuckle knocks aren't detected
Check Knuckle screenshots is on, knock firmly with one knuckle (not a fingertip), and keep both knocks in the same spot. Thick screen protectors and gloves stop it working.
I can't find the setting on my older Huawei
On EMUI 9 and earlier, look under Settings > Smart assistance > Motion control. On any version, search for "screenshot" with the search bar at the top of Settings.
Power + Volume down only changes the volume
Press both at exactly the same moment and hold briefly. If the volume button is worn out, use the notification panel shortcut or the knuckle gesture.
Banking or video apps show a black screen
Those apps block screenshots on purpose, and it can't be turned off.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I screenshot on a Huawei P30 or P20?
- Press Power and Volume down together. You can also turn on Knuckle screenshots and knock twice on the screen with one knuckle.
- How do I take a scrolling screenshot on Huawei?
- Draw an S on the screen with your knuckle, or take a normal screenshot and swipe the thumbnail down.
- Do Honor phones work the same way?
- Yes. Honor phones use Magic UI, which shares Huawei's screenshot gestures, including knuckle and three-finger screenshots.