Screen recording on your Google Pixel 8 is a built-in feature that's ready to go. You can capture app tutorials, save memorable video calls, or record your gameplay highlights without needing to install anything extra. The tool is tucked right into your Quick Settings for easy access.
Access the Screen Recorder
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to pull down the full Quick Settings panel. Look for the tile labeled Screen record. If you don't see it immediately, tap the pencil or edit icon at the bottom of the panel to customize your tiles.
Drag the Screen record tile up into your active Quick Settings. This adds it permanently so it's just a swipe away whenever you need it.
Start Your Recording
Tap the Screen record tile. A small menu will pop up asking you to choose your audio source. You can select Device audio to capture sounds from apps and games, Device audio and microphone to also record your voiceover, or Microphone only.
You'll also see a toggle to Show touches on screen. Turning this on displays a white circle wherever you tap, which is incredibly helpful if you're creating a tutorial. Once your settings are ready, tap Start.
Record with Your Voice
For narrated guides or gameplay commentary, choose "Device audio and microphone" before you start. This lets the Pixel 8 capture both the sound from the app and your voice through the phone's mic. I'd start with this option if you're explaining steps as you go.
A three-second countdown begins, giving you a moment to navigate to the app or screen you want to capture. A red recording indicator will appear in your status bar to let you know it's active.
Stop and Save the Video
To end the recording, swipe down from the top and tap the Stop button in the ongoing screen recording notification. You can also just tap the red indicator in the corner.
The video saves automatically to your Google Photos library. You'll usually find it in the main photos grid or within a "Screen recordings" album, depending on your Photos app settings.
Edit and Trim the Clip
Open the video in Google Photos. Tap the Edit button at the bottom to bring up the editing tools. Use the trim slider at the bottom to cut off the beginning or end, which is perfect for removing the moments where you were starting and stopping the recorder.
Google Photos also lets you adjust brightness, apply filters, or crop the video if needed. For simple cuts, the built-in trimmer is usually all you need.
Optimize for Gameplay Recording
If you're recording a game, consider using the recorder built into the Google Play Games app. Open the app, go to your profile, and look for the Record gameplay settings.
This method can sometimes offer better performance optimization to minimize lag. It also provides the option to include a front camera overlay, so your audience can see your reactions.
Adjust Quality and Settings
For more control, long-press the Screen record tile in your Quick Settings. This takes you directly to the screen recorder settings page. Here, you can change the video resolution and frame rate.
Higher settings like 1080p at 60 fps look smoother but create much larger files. For most purposes, the default 1080p resolution is a great balance of quality and file size.
Understand Recording Limits
Due to copyright protection, most premium video streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Max will block screen recording. You'll typically just see a black screen in the recording.
Secure apps for banking or digital payments may also restrict recording. For everything else, browsers, social media, games, and your own photos, the recorder will work without any issue.
Share Your Recording Easily
Once your video is ready in Google Photos, tap the Share button. You can send it directly via Messages, Gmail, or WhatsApp. For wider sharing, you can upload it to platforms like YouTube, TikTok, or Google Drive right from the share sheet.
If the file is very long and too large to send, Google Photos can help you create a shareable link instead of sending the actual file, which often works better.
Explore Third-Party Apps
If you need features like live drawing, more advanced editing, or scheduled recordings, check the Play Store. Apps like AZ Screen Recorder or Mobizen offer extended toolkits.
Just install your chosen app, grant it the necessary permissions over your display, and you'll have another powerful option for capturing your screen on your Pixel 8.
