The Pixel 9 Pro XL includes a full built-in screen recorder. You don't need to download any extra apps. It supports internal audio, microphone recording, and touch visualization right out of the box.
Find the Screen Record Tile
Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full Quick Settings panel. Look for the Screen record tile. If you don't see it, tap the pencil icon in the lower-left corner and drag the Screen record tile into your active list.
On Android 14, the tile is labeled clearly. You can rearrange your tiles at any time to keep Screen record where you can find it quickly.
Choose Audio and Touch Options
Tap the Screen record tile and a popup will appear with three audio choices. You can record device audio (app sounds and game audio), microphone only (your voice narration), or device audio and microphone (both simultaneously).
The Show touches on screen option is right below the audio selection. Enable this to see a visual indicator whenever you tap the screen. It makes tutorials much easier to follow.
Start and Stop the Recording
Tap Start. A brief countdown happens, then the recording begins. Navigate to any app or screen you want to capture.
To stop, swipe down the notification panel and tap the Stop button. You can also press the red bar in the top-left corner of the screen and select Stop. The video saves directly to your Google Photos library.
Edit Your Video in Google Photos
Open Google Photos and find your recording. Tap Edit to access the video editor. You can trim the beginning and end to clean up any dead air.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also supports Magic Eraser for video. You can remove photo bombers or distracting objects from a paused frame if you need a clean thumbnail for sharing.
Record Games Without Lag
The Tensor G4 chip handles high refresh rates and 4K screen recording smoothly. For basic recording, the built-in tool is fine. If you want a front-camera overlay and live streaming, open Google Play Games and use its dedicated recording feature.
Adjust Recording Quality
Long-press the Screen record tile in Quick Settings to adjust the resolution and bitrate. The Pixel 9 Pro XL can record at up to 1080p or 4K depending on your settings.
Higher quality produces larger files. If you are short on storage space at the moment, dropping to 720p is a practical choice that still looks sharp on the OLED display.
Apps That Block Recording
Some apps will not let you record their content. Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video display a black screen when you try to record them. Banking apps and secure document viewers also block the screen recorder for privacy and security reasons.
This is a standard Android security feature. The screen recorder itself is working normally.