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To screenshot your phone, press Power + Volume down. Capturing the image shown on the car’s Android Auto display is different: some versions may offer a separate Share screenshot now command in Android Auto Developer settings, but Google’s current help does not confirm that command as a general feature.

First, choose which screen you want to capture

Android Auto projects an experience from your phone onto a compatible car display. Android Automotive OS is different: it is built into the vehicle. The steps below cover Android Auto, not screenshots on an Android Automotive OS system. Google explains the distinction between Android Auto and Android Automotive OS.

  • Phone screen: Use Android’s screenshot controls. The image captures what is on the phone, not necessarily what is displayed on the car screen.
  • Projected car display: Check whether Android Auto Developer settings on your phone offer a dedicated capture command. Availability is not established for all devices or versions.

Take a screenshot of your Android phone

  1. Open the screen you want to capture on your phone.
  2. Press Power and Volume down at the same time.
  3. If that shortcut does not work, press and hold Power for a few seconds, then tap Screenshot in the Power menu.
  4. Use the preview to edit or share the screenshot.

Google’s Android screenshot instructions note that steps can vary by phone. To find a saved image, open Google Photos and go to Collections > On this device > Screenshots. On some older phones without Photos, check the Screenshots folder in the Gallery app.

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Scrolling screenshots are a separate feature. Google says they work on Android 12 and later on most screens that allow scrolling; they do not turn a phone screenshot into a capture of the car display. See Google’s scrolling screenshot instructions.

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Try capturing the projected Android Auto display

Google documents how to enable Android Auto Developer settings, but its current help does not document a general screenshot command there. A community technical report dated February 22, 2026, and an Audi technical document from 2016 describe a command called Share screenshot now. Its presence and wording may vary, and Google does not currently guarantee it for every phone or Android Auto version.

  1. On your phone, open Settings, search for Android Auto, and choose Android Auto Settings.
  2. Tap Version to expand Version and permission info.
  3. Tap Version and permission info ten times, or until the development-settings prompt appears, then accept the prompt.
  4. Open the menu and choose Developer settings. Google’s Android Auto help documents these settings in the context of bug-report setup.
  5. Look for Share screenshot now. If the command is available, try it and follow any prompt shown on your phone. The 2016 Audi technical document and a February 2026 community report describe related capture flows, but neither establishes universal current availability.

If you do not see the command, a regular Power + Volume down screenshot should not be assumed to capture the projected car display. Google says Android Auto is integrated into phones and does not need to be downloaded; its documented bug-report setup supports wired or wireless car connections, so a cable is not a required screenshot accessory. Google’s instructions for Android Auto bug reports.

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For troubleshooting, use Android Auto’s bug-report process

If you are documenting a malfunction for Google, a standalone image may not include the information needed to diagnose it. Follow Google’s Android Auto bug-report instructions instead. Keep the phone connected to the car while capturing and sending the report; Google warns that disconnecting can lose key information.

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Google’s interactive bug-report flow also lets you attach screenshots and additional details to the report’s ZIP file. See the bug-report details.

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