How do I screen record on my Android phone without missing audio?

General
1

I’ve been trying to screen record on my Android phone, but I either can’t find the built‑in screen recorder or the videos save without any sound. I’m not sure if I should use the default tools or a third‑party app, and I’m worried about quality and privacy. Can someone walk me through the best way to screen record on Android with clear video and internal audio, and explain any settings I need to change so it actually works?

2

First thing, check if your phone even has a built in recorder.

  1. Find the built in screen recorder
    • Pull down the Quick Settings shade twice.
    • Look for “Screen Record” or “Screen Recorder”.
    • If you do not see it, tap the pencil / edit icon and drag “Screen Record” into the active tiles.
    • If it is not in the list at all, your brand or Android version might not include it.

  2. Set audio correctly before recording
    When you tap “Screen Record” you usually get a popup. On most phones you see options like:
    • No audio
    • Device audio
    • Microphone
    • Device audio and microphone

    Pick:
    • “Device audio” if you want game sounds, app audio, YouTube, etc.
    • “Device audio and microphone” if you want both system sound and your voice.

    Common issue: many people leave it on “Microphone only”, so the phone records room noise, not internal sound.

  3. Check system sound and mute settings
    • Make sure Media volume is up, not only Ringtone.
    • Turn off “Do Not Disturb” if your brand mutes some sounds in that mode.
    • Some apps like Netflix, Prime Video, banking apps block internal audio for DRM. In those cases you only get silence or a black screen. Nothing to do about that without violating their rules.

  4. If your brand hides the recorder
    Example paths that often work:
    • Samsung: Settings > Advanced features > Screenshots and screen recorder > set Sound to “Media sounds” or “Media sounds and mic”.
    • Xiaomi / Redmi / Poco: Tools folder > Screen Recorder app. Open it, tap the settings icon, set Sound source to “System sounds” or “System sounds and mic”.
    • OnePlus: Settings > System > Screen recording, then Audio source > “System internal audio” or similar.

  5. When the built in tool is missing
    If there is no native recorder in Quick Settings or Settings:
    • Look in the app drawer for “Screen Recorder”, “Screen recording”, “Game launcher”, “Game tools”.
    • Some gaming modes record internal audio only inside games.

  6. Third party apps and internal audio
    On Android 10 and newer, some third party apps support internal audio via the “audio playback capture” API. Examples:
    • AZ Screen Recorder
    • XRecorder
    • Mobizen

    After installing one of these:
    • Open the app settings.
    • Set Audio source to “Internal audio” or “System sound”.
    • If that option is missing, your device brand or Android version blocks it. Then the app records from mic only.

  7. Fixing “video saves with no sound”
    Run a quick checklist:
    • Replay the video in another player, like VLC, to rule out a bug in the gallery app.
    • Confirm the recording app shows audio level during record. If it stays flat, the source is wrong.
    • Check if the issue happens in all apps or only some (YouTube works, Netflix silent means DRM).
    • Make sure no Bluetooth headset is paired and active if your recorder has trouble mixing that audio. Try once with Bluetooth off.

  8. If you want to record in calls
    This is heavily restricted in many regions.
    • Most stock recorders mute internal audio during calls for privacy.
    • You only get mic audio, and even that might be blocked.

  9. Quick recipe that works on many phones
    • Pull Quick Settings.
    • Tap “Screen Record”.
    • In the popup set: “Device audio and microphone”.
    • Turn Media volume up.
    • Start record.
    • Test for 5 to 10 seconds inside the app you need.
    • Stop and play it back before you do a long recording.

If you share your exact phone model and Android version, people here can give a more precise tap by tap path.

3

Couple of extra angles that might help, on top of what @mikeappsreviewer already laid out:

  1. Check permissions for the recorder
    A weird one people skip:

    • Go to Settings > Apps > Screen recorder (or your 3rd‑party app)
    • Make sure it has Microphone permission allowed
      If mic permission is blocked, some phones just save silent video instead of warning you.

  2. Watch out for “privacy” sound blocks
    Newer Android + some brands silently kill internal audio when:

    • You’re on a call (regular, WhatsApp, Discord, etc.)
    • You’re casting or using HDMI out
      If you’re trying to record while chatting with someone, expect silence or only mic sound. That’s by design, not a bug you can “fix.”

  3. Check your audio output device
    If you’re using:

    • Bluetooth earbuds/headphones
    • USB‑C DAC or wired headset
      Some recorders only grab audio from the phone’s main speaker output. Try:
    • Turn Bluetooth off
    • Unplug headphones
    • Play sound on the phone speaker and record again

  4. Don’t trust the gallery app alone
    If videos “have no sound,” sometimes it’s just the stock player:

    • Install VLC or MX Player
    • Play your recording there and see if the audio track actually exists
      If VLC shows no audio track at all, then yeah, your recorder settings or permissions are wrong.

  5. Built‑in vs 3rd‑party: which to use
    Slight disagreement with people who always say “just use AZ/XRecorder/etc.”

    • Built‑in recorder is usually more stable, less lag, fewer ads, and better integration with internal audio
    • 3rd‑party is only worth it if:
      • Your phone has no native recorder
      • Or your brand blocks internal audio on the stock tool but somehow allows it for 3rd‑party (rare, but happens on some custom ROMs)

  6. Quick test routine so you don’t waste time
    Before recording something long:

    • Open any non‑DRM app like YouTube or a random game
    • Start screen record with “Device audio” or “Device audio + mic”
    • Make sure media volume is at least 50%
    • Talk out loud while the app is playing sound
    • Stop recording after 5–10 seconds and play it back
      You should clearly hear both your voice and app sound. If not, change one thing at a time (output device, permissions, recorder app) and test again.

  7. If literally nothing gets internal audio
    Then you’re probably stuck with mic‑only recording for that device / Android version. In that case your only workaround is kinda oldschool:

    • Turn volume up on the phone speaker
    • Use recorder with mic audio only
      Quality is worse, but at least you don’t get silent clips.

If you drop your exact phone model + Android version, people can usually point to the exact hidden menu your brand used to bury the sound options in.

4

Couple of angles that haven’t been covered yet and might explain why you still get silent clips:

  1. Check per‑app audio capture blocks
    Even beyond the usual Netflix / banking DRM, some OEMs add a “privacy” layer per app.

    • Long‑press the app you are trying to record → App info → “Allow screen recording” or “Allow audio capture” if your skin has it.
    • If that toggle exists and is off, you will always get video with no sound from that specific app, even if system recorder is set to Device audio.

  2. Turn off sound “enhancers” while recording
    Audio effects can silently break capture. Try disabling, then test again:

    • Any “Dolby Atmos,” “Dirac,” “Audio enhancer,” or “Game sound booster.”
    • Equalizer apps that hook into the audio output.
      These sometimes hijack the audio path so the recorder never sees proper internal sound.

  3. Avoid aggressive battery / performance modes
    I slightly disagree with the idea that built‑in tools are always rock solid. On some brands, power saving kills the recorder service mid‑session or throttles audio.

    • Set battery mode to Balanced or Performance.
    • Remove your recorder (stock or third‑party) from battery optimization:
      Settings → Apps → [Recorder app] → Battery → Don’t optimize.
      This fixes “randomly silent after 30 seconds” type issues.

  4. Watch sample rate & bitrate settings
    On third‑party apps like AZ Screen Recorder, XRecorder, Mobizen, play with:

    • Audio sample rate: 44.1 kHz is the safest.
    • Bitrate: do not crank it to the max if your phone is older; high bitrates can cause desync or broken audio tracks on weaker chipsets.
      If your videos show as having an audio track but it will not play in any player, it is often a weird encoder setting, not permissions.

  5. Test with a totally offline scenario
    To isolate DRM, privacy, and network apps:

    • Turn on Airplane mode.
    • Open a downloaded video or offline game.
    • Screen record with “Device audio” only.
      If this works perfectly, the problem is not the recorder but some combination of DRM, calls, or streaming app rules when you are online.

  6. Pros & cons of sticking to one recorder
    Whether you use the default recorder or a third‑party like AZ Screen Recorder or XRecorder, pick one and tune it rather than hopping constantly:

    Pros of using a single “go‑to” recorder:

    • You get consistent behavior and muscle memory for its quirks.
    • Easier to debug audio since only one app is in the chain.
    • Less chance of conflicts with overlays or permissions.

    Cons:

    • If that recorder has a device‑specific bug, all your recordings share the same problem.
    • You might miss features the competitors offer like timers or floating tools.

  7. Difference in advice vs @suenodelbosque & @mikeappsreviewer
    They covered the “where is the recorder” and “set Device audio + mic” basics very well. I would add:

    • Do not assume internal audio is always better. If you record a tutorial where you constantly pause and resume, mic‑only can sound more natural and avoid system UI clicks and notification sounds.
    • If you mainly record games, try your phone’s dedicated game tools first before any generic recorder. Some game launchers grab cleaner audio with less lag than the main system recorder.

If you can drop your exact model and Android version, the next step would be to dig into your brand’s hidden game tools, privacy toggles, and any vendor‑specific audio flags that might be cutting the sound path.