Screen recording on your Galaxy S26 Ultra is a fantastic way to capture what's happening on your display. You can use it to save a memorable video call, create a tutorial for an app, or record your high-score gameplay session. The tool is built right into One UI 8.5 and is more powerful than you might think.
Start a Recording from Quick Settings
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to pull down the full Quick Settings panel. Look for the tile labeled Screen recorder. If you don't see it immediately, tap the Edit button (it looks like a pencil or three dots) and drag the Screen recorder tile into your active panel.
Tap the tile once. A menu will pop up from the bottom of the screen, letting you configure your audio before you begin. This is where you choose what sound gets captured.
Pick Your Audio Source
You have three clear choices for audio. Selecting No sound will create a silent video of just your screen. The Media sound option records all audio coming from your phone, like game sounds or music from a streaming app.
For commentary or voiceovers, choose Media sound and mic. This captures both the phone's audio and your voice through the microphone. After making your selection, tap Start recording. You'll get a three-second countdown.
Use the Floating Controls
Once the recording starts, a small, semi-transparent toolbar appears on your screen. It has a timer, a pause button, a stop button, and a pencil icon. You can drag this toolbar anywhere on the edge of the screen to keep it out of your way.
This gives you full control without interrupting what you're capturing. I find it helpful to move it to a corner where my thumb can easily reach it.
Annotate Live with the S Pen
This is where the S26 Ultra's S Pen really shines. While recording, tap the pencil icon on the floating toolbar. You can then draw directly on your screen in real time to circle items, underline text, or make arrows.
It picks up the S Pen flawlessly, and you can switch between pen colors and tip sizes. It's perfect for creating clear, instructional videos without needing to edit afterward.
Finish and Save Your Video
To stop, simply tap the square stop button on the floating toolbar. You can also swipe down to see your notifications and tap the "Touch to stop" notification there. The recording saves instantly.
Your video will be waiting in the Gallery app, inside a dedicated "Screen recordings" album. From there, you can play, share, or edit it right away.
Trim and Edit Afterward
Open your recording in the Gallery and tap the Edit button (it looks like a pencil). Samsung's editor lets you trim the start and end points easily. You can also adjust the playback speed, add background music, or overlay text.
For quick social media clips, the auto-highlight feature can be a fun way to create a short reel from a longer recording.
Configure the Recorder for Your Needs
For more control, dive into the settings. Go to Settings > Advanced features > Screenshots and screen recorder. Here, you can set the default video quality. The S26 Ultra can record in up to 1080p resolution.
You can also toggle on "Show touches" which displays a white circle wherever you tap the screen. This is incredibly useful for tutorial videos. You can even set a default preference for whether the front camera picture-in-picture is on or off.
Understand the Recording Limits
Due to copyright protection, most premium streaming services like Netflix or Disney+ will block screen recording. You'll typically see a black screen where the video should be. Banking and secure payment apps also restrict recording for your safety.
For nearly everything else, your own photos, web browsing, games, and most social media apps, the recorder will work without any issue. If you're ever unsure, just give it a quick try.