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Why do screenshots require a rooted phone?

J

JohnJSal

Android Expert
What's the reason that a phone needs to be rooted in order to take screenshots? I'm almost in disbelief that something as simple as a screenshot app isn't available (or built-in!) for an unrooted phone. It just seems like such a normal thing to do.

Is it possible that in the future an unrooted phone can have an app to do this, or is there something about Android itself that doesn't allow it?
 
well they use to work until we got the update but yea i am with you i wish i can find one also for a unrooted phone.
 
JohnJSal said:
What's the reason that a phone needs to be rooted in order to take screenshots? I'm almost in disbelief that something as simple as a screenshot app isn't available (or built-in!) for an unrooted phone. It just seems like such a normal thing to do.

Is it possible that in the future an unrooted phone can have an app to do this, or is there something about Android itself that doesn't allow it?
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From a security standpoint it make sense, how would you like an app that doesn't need root permissions to take screenshots while you're surfing the web or if you're viewing a document, a picture, etc.
 
You can take screen grabs on Android phones without rooting. Read this guide.

Basically, you install the developer tools on your PC and after that you just open the programme, connect your phone by USB, select screen capture from the menu and save the image on your computer.
 
Like Eris Ed said, you don't need to be rooted. It looks intimidating at first glance but you get the hang of it right away.
 
Well you have a couple of options, given above, either root, or the other method.

I agree it would be nice to have a screenshot tool...but it's really not that necessary. The only use for it would be to post it on forums...
 
AndroidSPCS said:
Well you have a couple of options, given above, either root, or the other method.

I agree it would be nice to have a screenshot tool...but it's really not that necessary. The only use for it would be to post it on forums...
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True that it's not something I'll use every day, but since my phone is new I'd like to show my friend some pictures of my home screens without having to go through all the trouble of either of those methods.
 
JohnJSal said:
True that it's not something I'll use every day, but since my phone is new I'd like to show my friend some pictures of my home screens without having to go through all the trouble of either of those methods.
Click to expand...

Save the screen grabs to your PC in a folder (Android Screens, for example) then copy that folder to the top level of your SD card so you can open them on your phone. To be honest, I take a few screen grabs using my PC about once a week to post on the Desire Homescreens thread and I don't feel like I'm missing out by not having the ability to do this within my phone.

A friend at work has an iPhone4 that can take a screen grab using his phone. He likes to take a screen grab and set it as his background, so it stays the same when he swipes to the next homescreen. We laugh at him a lot....
 
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