How to Screenshot on Samsung Galaxy A5 (2015, 2016, 2017) — All Methods

ByHarvey Hisona Posted on Updated on

Taking a screenshot on the Samsung Galaxy A5 is straightforward once you know which method works on your specific model year. The 2015, 2016, and 2017 editions of the Galaxy A5 each support slightly different screenshot techniques — this guide covers every method so you’ll get it right the first time, plus a troubleshooting section if nothing seems to be working.

Which Galaxy A5 Model Do You Have?

The Samsung Galaxy A5 was released in three annual editions. Check Settings → About phone → Model number to identify yours:

Model Year OS (at launch) Screenshot Methods
SM-A500 2015 Android 4.4 KitKat Hardware buttons only
SM-A510 2016 Android 5.1 Lollipop Hardware buttons + Palm Swipe
SM-A520 2017 Android 6.0 Marshmallow Hardware buttons + Palm Swipe + Scroll Capture

Knowing your model number matters because the 2016 and 2017 editions introduced Palm Swipe gesture support, and the 2017 model added Scroll Capture for capturing long web pages or chats in a single image.

Method 1: Hardware Buttons (All Galaxy A5 Models)

This is the universal method and works on every Galaxy A5, regardless of model year.

Steps:

  1. Navigate to the screen you want to capture.
  2. Press and hold the Power button and the Home button simultaneously.
  3. Hold both buttons together for about 1–2 seconds until you see the screen flash white and hear the camera shutter sound.
  4. Release both buttons immediately after the animation plays — holding too long triggers the power menu.
  5. A thumbnail preview appears in the lower-left corner of the screen. Tap it to view immediately, or swipe it away to dismiss.

Your screenshot is saved to Gallery → Screenshots (or Photos → Screenshots if you’re using Google Photos as your default gallery app).

Tips for Hardware Button Screenshots:

  • If the screen powers off instead of taking a screenshot, you’re pressing Power too early — press both buttons truly simultaneously.
  • Remove your phone case if the Home button feels unresponsive; a thick case can block proper button registration.
  • The screenshot preview banner stays visible for about 3 seconds — tap Edit in the banner to crop or annotate immediately.

Method 2: Palm Swipe Gesture (Galaxy A5 2016 and 2017)

The Galaxy A5 (2016) and A5 (2017) support Palm Swipe to Capture, which lets you take a screenshot with a single hand movement across the screen. This is especially useful when your other hand is occupied.

Enable Palm Swipe on Galaxy A5 (2016)

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Motions and gestures (or search “Palm swipe” in the Settings search bar).
  3. Toggle Palm swipe to capture to On.

Enable Palm Swipe on Galaxy A5 (2017)

  1. Open Settings.
  2. Tap Advanced features.
  3. Toggle Palm swipe to capture to On.

Taking a Screenshot with Palm Swipe

  1. Hold your hand vertically with the side of your palm (pinky side) touching one edge of the screen.
  2. Swipe your entire hand horizontally across the screen from edge to edge in one smooth motion.
  3. The screen will flash and you’ll hear the shutter sound, confirming the screenshot was captured.

Why Palm Swipe Might Not Work:

  • Your swipe is too fast — slow down and keep firm contact with the screen.
  • Your palm isn’t flat enough — ensure the side of your hand (not fingertips) is touching the screen.
  • The feature is disabled — revisit Settings to confirm the toggle is on.

Method 3: Scroll Capture for Long Screenshots (Galaxy A5 2017)

The Galaxy A5 (2017) supports Scroll Capture, which stitches multiple screens together into one tall image. This is ideal for capturing entire web articles, long text conversations, or product listings.

Steps:

  1. Open the page or conversation you want to capture fully.
  2. Take a regular screenshot using the hardware button method (Power + Home).
  3. Immediately after the screenshot is taken, tap the Scroll capture icon that appears in the bottom toolbar of the screenshot preview. It looks like a downward arrow inside a box.
  4. The screen will automatically scroll down and capture additional content. Keep tapping Scroll capture to extend the image further down the page.
  5. Stop tapping when you’ve captured everything you need. The final image is automatically saved to your Gallery.

Note: Scroll Capture only works in apps that support it, such as Chrome, Samsung Browser, and most messaging apps. Some apps restrict scrolling screenshots for privacy reasons (banking apps, for example, often block this feature entirely).

Method 4: Google Assistant Screenshot (All Models with Google Assistant)

If your Galaxy A5 has Google Assistant installed and active, you can take a screenshot using just your voice.

  1. Say “Hey Google” or long-press the Home button to open Google Assistant.
  2. Say “Take a screenshot.”
  3. Google Assistant captures the current screen and offers to share or save it.

This method works on all three model years as long as Google Assistant is set up and microphone permissions are granted.

Where to Find Your Screenshots

All screenshots are saved automatically. To locate them:

  • Samsung Gallery app: Open Gallery → Albums → Screenshots.
  • Google Photos: Open Photos → Library → Screenshots (if you have Photos set as your default gallery).
  • File Manager: Navigate to Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots to find the raw image files.

Screenshot filenames follow the format: Screenshot_YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.png

Troubleshooting: Screenshot Not Working on Galaxy A5

Button Combination Isn’t Registering

Make sure you press both Power and Home at exactly the same time. A common mistake is pressing Home first, which wakes the display but doesn’t trigger the screenshot. Practice the motion until both buttons depress simultaneously.

“Can’t Take Screenshot” Error Message

This error appears in specific situations:

  • DRM-protected content: Streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, and banking apps block screenshots at the OS level. This is a security restriction you cannot override.
  • Screen overlay active: Some apps (like Facebook Messenger’s chat heads) create overlays that prevent screenshots. Close any floating windows and try again.
  • Low internal storage: If your phone has less than 100 MB free, it may refuse to save screenshot files. Go to Settings → Device Maintenance → Storage and clear some space.

Palm Swipe Not Responding

If Palm Swipe is enabled but still not triggering:

  • Clean the screen — oils and smudges can reduce touch sensitivity.
  • Try the swipe without a screen protector temporarily to rule out protector interference.
  • Restart the phone to clear any temporary software glitches.

Screenshots Saving as Blank or Black Images

This happens when the phone captures a protected screen (such as the recent apps switcher in certain configurations) or when a rendering glitch occurs.

  • Fix: Restart your Galaxy A5 and try again.
  • If screenshots are consistently blank in one specific app, that app is blocking screen capture for security purposes.

Physical Home Button Not Working

If your Home button feels sticky or unresponsive:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode (hold Power → long-press Power off → tap Safe Mode). If screenshots work in Safe Mode, a third-party app is interfering.
  2. Check for software updates: Settings → Software update → Download and install.
  3. If the button is physically damaged, Samsung service centers can replace the button module. As of 2026, the Galaxy A5 line is out of Samsung’s official support window, but third-party repair shops routinely service these models.

Protect Your Galaxy A5 Screen

Since you’re taking screenshots, you’re clearly using your phone actively. Keeping the screen scratch-free ensures your screenshots look sharp. Here are reliable screen protectors for the Galaxy A5:

For Galaxy A5 (2016):

For Galaxy A5 (2017):

Note: Always verify the exact model compatibility (2016 vs. 2017) before purchasing — the screen dimensions differ between model years.

Quick Reference: Screenshot Methods by Model

Method Galaxy A5 (2015) Galaxy A5 (2016) Galaxy A5 (2017)
Power + Home buttons ✓ ✓ ✓
Palm Swipe gesture ✗ ✓ ✓
Scroll Capture ✗ ✗ ✓
Google Assistant voice ✓* ✓* ✓*

*Requires Google Assistant setup and an active internet connection.

Samsung’s Galaxy A5 line may not receive the latest software updates as of 2026, but all three models still take screenshots reliably. The hardware button method works every time — the palm swipe and scroll capture options just make it faster once you’re comfortable with them.

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