Taking a screenshot on your Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is something you'll use all the time, whether you're saving a funny text, grabbing a recipe, or sharing a map. The Pixel gives you several ways to do it, and they're all fast. Let's go through each one so you can pick what works best for you.
Use the Button Combo
The classic method works on every Pixel. Press the Power button and Volume Down at the same time, then let go quickly. You'll see the screen flash, hear a shutter sound, and a small preview pops up in the corner. Tap that preview to edit or share right away, or just ignore it, the screenshot saves automatically.
If you hold the buttons too long, you'll trigger the power menu instead. Keep it quick, like a pinch gesture, and you'll get the screenshot every time.
Use the Power Menu
On the Pixel 9 Pro XL running Android 14, you can grab a screenshot directly from the power menu. Press and hold the Power button until the menu appears, then tap Screenshot. This is a handy alternative if the button combo feels awkward or if your buttons are getting sticky.
It captures whatever was on your screen just before you pressed the button, so make sure your content is visible before you start.
Swipe Up for Screenshot
If you're using gesture navigation, the single bar at the bottom, the Pixel has a trick that other phones don't. Swipe up from the bottom and hold for a second to open your recent apps overview. Below each app card you'll see a Screenshot button. Tap it, and your phone captures exactly what that app was showing.
This method is great because you don't need to touch any hardware buttons. It also works when you're in an app that hides the navigation bar.
Add a Quick Settings Tile
You can put a screenshot button right in your Quick Settings panel for one-tap access. Swipe down twice from the top of the screen to see the full panel. Look for a Screenshot tile. If it's not there, tap the pencil icon to edit your tiles, then drag the Screenshot tile into the active area.
Now, whenever you need a screenshot, just swipe down and tap the icon. No button pressing required.
Use Your Voice with Google Assistant
Say "Hey Google, take a screenshot" and your Pixel captures the current screen instantly. You can also hold the Power button to wake Assistant (if you've set it up that way) and speak the command. The screenshot saves to your Photos app just like any other method.
This works especially well when your hands are busy or when you're wearing gloves.
Capture a Scrolling Screenshot
When you need to save something longer than your screen, like a whole webpage or a chat thread, take a regular screenshot first. In the preview that appears, look for a Capture more button. Tap it to expand the screenshot downward into a single long image. Keep tapping until you've captured everything you need, then tap Save.
On the Pixel 9 Pro XL, this option shows up automatically when you take a screenshot of scrollable content. It's one of the best Android features.
Edit and Share Your Screenshots
The preview that appears after a screenshot is more than a thumbnail. Tap it to open the built-in editor. You can crop, draw, highlight, or add text. There's also a markup tool if you need to circle something. Tap the share icon to send it through any app, Messages, email, social media, whatever.
If you dismiss the preview, don't worry. Your screenshot is saved in Google Photos under the Screenshots folder. You can always find and edit it later.
Find Your Screenshots
Open the Photos app on your Pixel and go to Library > Screenshots. All your screenshots are collected there in one place. You can also access them directly through a file manager: open Files, then navigate to Internal storage > Pictures > Screenshots.
If you use Google Photos backup, your screenshots will sync to the cloud automatically. Just make sure the backup setting is turned on in the app's settings.