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Sometimes colleagues or friends ask us to send them a tutorial on how to do specific things on their phones, like accessing a website. You can take and send screenshots, but that takes a long time. It is much better to just send a video with your face on it and your narration.
This front-facing camera has so much power that it can actually help you save a lot of money on buying extra equipment.
If you have a Samsung Galaxy, this screen recording feature works right out of the box. If you have a Google Pixel, it might not, and you may need to download a specific screen recording app. Most of these apps are free, and even if you have to pay five bucks, it is a great return on investment compared to buying a dedicated camera.
Here is how to set up and record your own tutorials directly on your Samsung Galaxy.
1. Find the Screen Recorder
First, you need to locate the tool:
Double swipe your notification bar down with two fingers, and then swipe down even more.
Look for the screen recorder icon.
If you do not see it, tap the pencil icon to edit your quick settings.
Find the screen recorder at the bottom, press and hold it, and drag it up into your active quick settings.
2. Configure Your Video Settings
Before you start, you want to make sure your audience can hear you and see what you are tapping. Instead of just tapping the icon, press and hold your finger on the screen recorder icon to open its settings.
Scroll down to the video section.
Increase the size of the selfie video so you are visible.
Enable “Show taps and touches” so your viewers can follow along.
Ensure the sound is set to record both “media and microphone” so it captures your narration. (If you don’t need narration, you can just choose media).
Everything you capture will automatically be saved into your picture and video directory.
3. Start Recording Your Tutorial
Now that you are configured, go back to your main screen and tap the screen recorder icon. It will give you a countdown before it starts.
During the recording, tap the face icon to activate your selfie camera. You will see your face in a bubble on the screen, and you can actually move this face around while you are recording. As you navigate the phone, you can tap on things and those touches will be shown in the final video. You can also annotate directly on the screen to highlight specific links or areas.
The S Pen Bonus Hack
If you have a Samsung Galaxy with an S Pen, there is a fantastic bonus feature. When you whip out your S Pen and hover it over the screen, it shows a visible cursor. As you are doing your tutorial, this cursor allows you to guide and navigate the viewer’s eyes to the exact things you want them to press on.
I hope this saves you time and money, and adds some convenience to your life. If you enjoyed this guide, please leave your feedback in the comments. I really look at your feedback to choose the direction for my future videos.
