Recording Video of an Android Device

Overview

This guide is about how to record a video from a device. This can be done two ways:

1. Using Android Studio
2. Directly through ADB

1. Using Android Studio

Open Android Studio. First, go to your menu:

• View -> Tool Windows -> Android

You will find the record icon at the bottom left corner.

If you are using an AVD emulator, make sure "Use host GPU" is disabled.

To take a video recording of your app:

• Start your app as described in Run your App in Debug Mode.
• Click Android to open the Android DDMS tool window.
• Click Screen Record on the left side of the Android DDMS tool window.
• Click Start Recording.
• Interact with your app.
• Click Stop Recording.
• Enter a file name for the recording and click OK.

See this stackoverflow post for the source.

2. Directly through ADB

1. Connect your device to the computer using USB
2. Open up the terminal and find the path to adb executable on your machine.
3. Run the adb shell screenrecord to start recording

cd /Users/myusername/Library/Android/sdk/platform-tools
./adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/myapp.mp4

4. Press Ctrl-C to stop recording when done
5. Copy the video from the device to your computer:

./adb pull /sdcard/myapp.mp4 \local\path

Additional resources and options can be reviewed:

• Recording configuration and this CNET screen recording post
• Copying Files to Computer

With this, you can now easily record videos directly on an Android device.

Recording with an Emulator

Alternatively, apps can be recorded using the official or genymotion emulators. The easiest way to record your screen on OSX is to use the Quicktime Player:

1. Launch Quicktime Player
2. Select File => New Screen Recording
3. Click "Down Arrow" next to Record to Configure Microphone
4. Drag to Select Emulator Bounds
5. When done, hit "Stop" icon in Status Bar at the Top
6. Download and use Handbrake to compress the video.

References

• http://stackoverflow.com/a/31547690/313399
• https://www.webniraj.com/2013/11/07/screen-recording-on-nexus-5-using-android-4-4-kitkat-and-android-sdk/
• http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-record-your-screen-on-android-4-4-kitkat/
• http://www.herongyang.com/Android/adb-push-and-pull-Command.html