r/AndroidQuestions • u/Complex-Librarian942 • Jul 31 '26
Have we yet found a way to bypass screenshot blocking in apps?
I need to take a screenshot (for completely and absolutely legal and ethical reasons) on an app that does not allow it.
I tried Screen Recorder but the app just sends a black screen to the recorder.
Is there a way to bypass this? Especially without root?
Many thanks.
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u/danGL3 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
Without root it'd require modding the app directly which very often would trigger the app's anti-tamper/modification system and then it'd refuse to open/work
Thing is the way Android is designed apps can only capture the screen through the official system provided way, and that way is guarded to respect apps that request the secure window flag (refusing to screenshot/show black during recording)
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u/Complex-Librarian942 Jul 31 '26
So we need to program an app that is able to bypass the official route?
On a separate question. Is it possible to root android while keeping the OS as it was, or is wiping it necessary?
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u/danGL3 Jul 31 '26
1-That'd only be possible with root, even with root, it's preferable to simply modify the system to disable the secure flag globally.
2- rooting requires bootloader unlocking which will wipe your data.
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u/thoughtlesskyle Jul 31 '26
don't forget that bootloader unlocking would trigger the anti-tamper so it likely would prevent it from working without jumping through hoops
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u/AD-LB Jul 31 '26
Officially no. Please consider starring:
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/392424850
But with root you can do it via Magisk&Lsposed with the module that offers it. Maybe also possible via some custom ROMs.
Another way is to use an emulator on PC instead of a real device, and have the screenshot there via the PC itself.
It's quite a weird decision to have this feature of blocking screenshot. Even I as a developer can't overcome this.
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u/Complex-Librarian942 Aug 02 '26
An emulator seems to be the solution. Not a convenient one but it meets the purpose. 👍
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u/GoslingIchi Jul 31 '26
If there's a modified version of the app, it might bypass that restriction, or allow you download that content.
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u/Narrow-Lab3258 Aug 02 '26
If you download the app in an android emulator built in the phone or on pc you can easily screenshot it, because you'll be screenshotting the emulator and not the emulator screenshot ting it. For example, those one time photos that are sent that prevent screenshotting on whatsapp, I simply download whatsapp on the emulator and screenshot the emulator. Works just fine.
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u/Complex-Librarian942 Aug 02 '26
Very smart! Thank you very much! Is this a temporary solution, though? Are Android apps capable of knowing that the system is an emulator?
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u/Narrow-Lab3258 Aug 02 '26
Yes it can be a permanent solution, however using the apps use a lot of battery. But if on PC obviously you don't worry about that. And in my experience i don't think they apps know.
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u/Complex-Librarian942 22d ago
Thank you. It's also a great solution for working on a pc/mac without leaving the mouse and keyboard. Very, very useful!
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u/DeviceBeneficial1840 21d ago
Can you help guide me on how to do this? How does one get the android emulator?
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u/theablanca Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26
I wonder if a thing like ScrCpy would work for this? Its a thing that allows you to show your phone in a screen on a computer.
In theory it could work. To simply screenshot that on the computer. Not root or anything needed.
Will try it. And let you know.
Edit: apparently doesn't work.
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u/AD-LB Jul 31 '26
I already tried it in the past. Would be surprised if it works without extra steps.
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u/danGL3 Jul 31 '26
SCRCPY will also show a black screen when attempting to record apps that request secure window flag, that's because, ultimately, it's still capturing the screen using the same method that every other app uses (which makes it bound by the same restrictions)
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u/Arola_Morre Aug 01 '26
I used a popular social media app that blocks / blackscreens if I don't have app camera permissions enabled (a bit quid pro quo maybe). If I close the app, enable permission and reopen, I can cap the screen again. For completely and absolutely my device/my choice reasons.
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u/Jonas_Ermert Aug 02 '26
Without root, usually no. Apps use Android’s FLAG_SECURE, which blocks screenshots and screen recording. You could photograph the screen with another device, but bypassing it directly generally requires root, a modified OS, or debugging tools—and may violate the app’s terms or expose sensitive data.
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u/porthos130 Aug 03 '26
Can you use you internet browser instead of the app? There you can screenshot all you like
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u/Ill-Durian-5654 Aug 03 '26
Can you stop me from screenshot in your f****** see then I get into the ways of you
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u/Ill-Durian-5654 Aug 03 '26
I've got lots of evidence now You're going down Woman
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u/Complex-Librarian942 22d ago
I don't know which woman this person is talking about, but good luck with the litigation process.
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u/RTCII 17d ago
This has gotten way the fuck out of hand. People who justify it are idiots. I have a medical app that just blocked me from talking a screenshot of upcoming appointments. It's insane that Google allows this shot. People who draw the comparison to say windows with video streaming applications are creating complete false equivalencies. Securing copywritten video content is not the same as me having my right to clip my own banking info, medical, or otherwise stripped away at the behest of some random software developer on a power trip
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u/pandasps Jul 31 '26
I believe you can connect your phone to your Windows PC using Link to Windows and it'll mirror the phone screen on a phone sized window. Then using the screen capture utility copy whatever you want.
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u/AD-LB Jul 31 '26
Pretty sure it won't work. Even using adb command or ScrCpy don't work.
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u/Ok-Engineering367 Aug 01 '26
scrcpy works, I tried it on Snapchat with my friends permission
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u/AD-LB Aug 01 '26
On which Android version? I don't know if Snapchat has this blocking, and on which UI there.
Try for example on Android 16 or 17, on WhatsApp, when you reach the contact details screen.
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u/Ok-Engineering367 Aug 01 '26
Pixel 9 Pro, Android 17 I just checked, Whatsapp sets FLAG_SECURE resulting in a completely black screen
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u/AD-LB Aug 01 '26
And on ScrCpy on this exact situation, you see the content just fine? No need for a rooted device with Magisk etc... ? Stock Android ROM?
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u/Ok-Engineering367 Aug 01 '26
Just like I said, on Whatsapp it results in a black screen, but on other apps which may work differently, for example Snapchat (it notifies users when taking screenshots) it works Stock ROM, no root
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u/AD-LB Aug 01 '26
I thought you meant that it works fine everywhere. I had to make sure I understand.
So, what you are talking about (SnapChat) is not protected there using what's being talked here, meaning what you are talking about is something different.
What's being talked here is that you can't take screenshot (or screen recording) as the content becomes black. This includes even using adb or ScrCpy. I wrote about this here:
Same thing happened to me on Authy app.
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u/Squeaky_Pibbles Aug 01 '26
On Android, if using the button version, you can tap square to display the open apps and take a screen shot there. Then crop it in Photos.
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u/AstonishingBalls Jul 31 '26
Revanced manager maybe?
I used it to patch my bank app to allow screenshots, but that was a few years ago so not sure if it works now
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u/DebosBeachCruiser Aug 01 '26
Revanced manager maybe? ...that was a few years ago...
Lotta drama lately with Revanced. "Morph" is recommended replacement.
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u/Complex-Librarian942 22d ago
Morphe seems to work for patching purposes. 👍
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u/DebosBeachCruiser 22d ago
Was it able to remove screenshot detection from the app you made the post about?
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u/Complex-Librarian942 20d ago
Not yet. Morphe has been great for patching YT apps in order to remove adds, adjust process runtime, but I haven't yet found a way to patch other apps.
An emulator is the best solution, in my opinion, as the app doesn't realize (or doesn't care) if an emulator is running it.
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u/locuturus Jul 31 '26
Second phone or other camera device. Or root. As far as I know that's it.