Why is there no sound when I screen record on Android?
Screen recording is a useful feature on Android devices that allows users to capture video and audio of their device’s screen. With just a few taps, users can start recording their on-screen activity, from gaming sessions to tutorial videos and more. However, many users encounter an issue where screen recordings have no audio or sound when played back.
This “no sound” problem in Android screen recordings is frustrating but can often be fixed with a few troubleshooting steps. The root causes stem from how Android handles audio sources and recording permissions. Understanding the difference between system audio versus microphone audio is key to getting sound back in screen recordings.
How Screen Recording Works on Android
Android has native screen recording capabilities built into the operating system starting with Android 4.4 KitKat. To access it, open the Quick Settings panel and tap on the Screen Recorder icon which looks like a circle with a dot inside. This will begin recording your screen, including any touches and taps made on the screen (Google Support). The native recorder saves recordings locally as MP4 video files.
However, Android’s native screen recorder does not capture internal system audio by default – only audio from the microphone. To record audio from the device like music or video sound, users need to enable an additional option. Some Android manufacturers like Samsung also include their own built-in screen recording apps with additional capabilities beyond the native recorder.
There are also various third party apps on the Google Play Store that offer screen recording with audio capture and other advanced options. These include apps like AZ Screen Recorder, Mobizen Screen Recorder, and DU Recorder. Third party apps may have differing requirements, settings, and features compared to the native screen recorder.
Why Sound is Often Missing
There are a couple main reasons why Android screen recordings often lack sound:
First, it has to do with technical limitations of how Android handles audio routing and mixing (Source). By default, Android screen recording only captures the system audio like notification sounds, music playback, etc. It does not capture microphone or call audio. This is for privacy reasons as well as due to how Android mixes different audio streams.
Second, Android does not allow third party apps to access certain audio sources like microphone input or calls through the standard screen recording APIs (Source). So if you want to record a video call or your own microphone audio, the stock screen recorder app won’t have access to those sources.
In summary, screen recordings on Android are often missing sound because they only capture system audio by default, and don’t allow access to microphone or call audio streams due to OS limitations.
System Audio vs Microphone Audio
There is an important difference between system audio and microphone audio when screen recording on Android devices. System audio refers to all the sounds that come directly from your phone, such as music, videos, game audio, notification sounds, etc. Microphone audio is the sound captured by the microphone on your phone or any external microphones you have connected.
By default, most built-in Android screen recorders will not capture system audio. They will only record audio coming in through the microphone. This means any apps or media playing audio on your device while screen recording will be silent in the video. Only ambient noises or your voice picked up by the mic will be included.
According to Screencastify, “Microphone audio is the sound that your computer’s built-in microphone (or any external microphone you’re using) captures during the recording.” System audio must be enabled separately to be included in a screen recording on Android.
Enabling System Sounds
One reason screen recordings may not capture audio on Android devices is that system sounds are disabled by default. System sounds refer to UI sounds, ringtones, notifications, media playback, and other audio originating from the operating system. To enable system sounds for screen recordings:
Go to Settings > Accessibility and enable the “Play screen readout” option. This allows Android to play interface sounds for screen interactions. You can also customize additional accessibility settings like mono audio, audio balance, and audio ducking to improve sound capture.
Some third party screen recording apps like AZ Screen Recorder allow you to enable system sounds directly within the app settings. This bypasses the need to change device accessibility options.
Enabling system sounds ensures your screen recordings capture dings, music, videos, and other media playback happening on your device. Just be aware of privacy concerns with recording notifications or calls without consent.
Recording Microphone Audio
To record audio from your microphone during screen recording on Android, you need to grant the screen recording app permission to access the microphone. Here’s how to enable microphone access:
Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > App permissions > Microphone. Here you can see which apps have permission to use the microphone and toggle access on or off.
For most screen recording apps, when you first launch them you’ll get a prompt asking if you want to allow microphone access. You need to select “Allow” to grant microphone permissions.
Some apps like the built-in screen recorder have a microphone toggle you need to enable before recording. Look for a mic icon in the app and make sure it’s enabled.
Also check that your phone’s general microphone/audio settings are properly configured. Go to Settings > Sound to adjust microphone and recording volume.
Once microphone access is enabled, the app will record audio from your mic along with your screen. You can test it out before recording to your gallery.
Just make sure you’re in a quiet environment and speaking loudly and clearly for best audio quality. The recorded sound can pick up any background noise.
Audio Codecs and Compatibility
Android supports a variety of common audio codecs for recording and playback, including MP3, AAC, and more. According to the Android developer documentation, the supported audio formats include:
MP3 – Mono/Stereo 8-320Kbps constant (CBR) or variable bit-rate (VBR) (Source)
AAC – Mono/Stereo 8-320Kbps constant (CBR) or variable bit-rate (VBR)
Compatibility issues can arise when the codec used to encode the audio during recording is not supported by the video editing or playback software. For example, some apps may encode audio using the high quality but less compatible FLAC codec. If the video editor or player does not support FLAC, the audio track will be missing.
Using common codecs like AAC or MP3 provides the best compatibility across most video apps and players. Consulting the documentation for your recording app and intended playback or editing tools can help determine ideal codec choices.
Alternative Recording Methods
If the built-in screen recorder is not capturing audio properly, there are a couple alternative methods you can try:
Rooted Devices
On rooted Android devices, you can install custom screen recording apps that have more control over the audio components. These apps can directly tap into the system audio for recording. However, rooting your device voids the warranty and poses security risks, so only attempt this if you know what you’re doing.
Using a Computer
You can mirror your Android screen to a computer using USB debugging or casting, then use screen recording software on the computer to capture your device’s display and audio. Popular options include OBS Studio, Bandicam, Camtasia, and more. The audio and video quality may be better going through a computer. Just make sure to disable notifications and other disruptions on your device during recording.
Third Party Screen Recorders
Many third party apps are available on the Play Store that can capture both system audio and microphone audio during screen recording on Android. Some popular options include:
AZ Screen Recorder – Allows recording internal audio, microphone audio, or both. Provides additional editing features.
Mobizen – Captures both system sounds and microphone input. User-friendly interface.
These apps require extra permissions but give more control over audio sources compared to built-in screen recording. They utilize audio APIs and codecs to capture the system audio stream. Some may have limitations based on Android version and device model. However, third party apps provide robust options for those needing to record audio with their screen recordings.
Conclusion
In this article we looked at some of the main reasons why screen recordings on Android often lack audio. We learned that Android distinguishes between recording system audio versus microphone audio, and each needs to be enabled separately. System audio includes any sounds from your device like videos, music and game audio. Microphone audio records your voice or nearby sounds.
We discussed how screen recording apps rely on different audio codecs, which can create compatibility issues resulting in missing audio. We also covered some alternative recording methods like using a computer to capture your Android’s screen, or third party apps designed specifically for recording audio.
In summary, capturing high quality audio with your Android screen recordings involves:
- Enabling both system audio and microphone permissions
- Using an app designed for Android screen recording
- Testing different audio codecs if needed
- Connecting an external mic for best voice pickup
With the right setup and settings, you can record perfect audio to match your Android’s on-screen activities.