Screen recording on your Nothing Phone 2a is a built-in feature that lets you capture tutorials, gameplay, or anything else happening on your display. It's powered by Nothing OS 2.5, which is based on Android 14, so the process is straightforward once you know where to look.
Access the Screen Recorder in Quick Settings
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to pull down the full Quick Settings panel. Look for a tile labeled Screen record. If you don't see it immediately, tap the pencil icon to edit your tiles.
You can then drag the Screen record tile from the bottom section up into your active Quick Settings. This adds it for easy one-tap access whenever you need it.
Start Your First Recording
Tap the Screen record tile you just added. A small menu will pop up from the bottom of your screen. Here, you can choose your audio source before you begin.
Your options are Device audio (captures sounds from apps and games), Device audio and microphone (app sounds plus your voice), or Microphone only. You can also toggle Show touches on screen, which is great for tutorial videos.
Include Your Voice in Recordings
If you're creating a narrated guide or commentary, select "Device audio and microphone" from the menu. This setting lets the Phone 2a record both the audio from whatever app you're using and your voice through the phone's microphone.
Just be aware of your background noise when using this mode, as the mic will pick up everything in your environment.
Stop and Save Your Video
When you're finished, swipe down from the top to see your notifications. You'll find a persistent notification that says "Screen recording." Tap the Stop button on this notification to end the capture.
Your video will save automatically to your gallery. You can find it by opening the Google Photos app or your file manager, typically in a folder named "Screen recordings" or "Movies."
Trim and Edit the Recording
Open your saved video in the Google Photos app. Tap the Edit button at the bottom, then select Trim. This lets you cut off the beginning or end of the clip, which is useful for removing the moments where you were starting and stopping the recorder.
Google Photos also offers basic tools to adjust color, apply filters, or stabilize shaky footage if needed.
What You Can't Record on Phone 2a
Due to copyright and security protections, some content will be blocked. Major streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, or Prime Video will typically show a black screen during recording.
Secure apps for banking or digital payments may also prevent recording. For most other apps, games, and general phone use, the screen recorder will work without any issues.
Change Recording Quality Settings
For more control, long-press the Screen record tile in your Quick Settings. This should open a settings page where you can adjust the video resolution and frame rate before you start a new recording.
Higher quality settings like 1080p at 60fps look great but create much larger video files. I'd recommend starting with a standard 1080p resolution for a good balance of quality and file size.
Share Your Screen Recording
Once your video is ready, open it in your gallery and tap the share icon. You can send it directly through messaging apps like WhatsApp, upload it to social platforms, or attach it to an email.
For very long recordings, the file size might be large. You may want to trim it down or use a video compression app from the Play Store before sharing it over the internet.
Consider a Third-Party App for Advanced Features
If you need features like live drawing on screen, more detailed editing, or scheduled recording, check the Google Play Store. Apps like AZ Screen Recorder or Mobizen offer these advanced options.
Just remember to grant the necessary permissions when you first open a third-party recorder. They'll need access to capture your screen and audio.
