I was attempting to capture a photo of the screen using my Samsung Galaxy Note8 Android phone this morning and was greeted with a message that told me “Can’t take screenshot due to security policy“. What could be causing this issue?
Reason 1 – Chrome Incognito Mode
The Android OS now prevents screenshots from being taken while in Incognito Mode in the Chrome browser. There is currently no way to disable this “feature”. You can install Firefox and take a screenshot in Incognito mode there, but if you are taking a screenshot in Google Chrome, you must not be using Incognito Mode to do it.
Reason 2 – Policy set on Phone
If your Android device was issued to you by a school or company, they may have enforced policies that prevent screenshots. The policy can also be enforced if you have added a company account to your phone.
You will either need to talk to the IT department, or remove the account associated with the policy from “Accounts” in “Settings“.
Reason 3 – Policy set in App
Some apps have a policy that prevents screenshots from being taken. Financial apps such as investing and banking commonly have screenshots disabled for security purposes. It prevents malicious code from being able to run in the background of your device and send a copy of your screen to a hacker.
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Star says
This was happening to me on my Android when I tried to capture an image on the Bing app. Today I went to the Bing app., then to settings, and shut off the Screen Recording Protection. Now I can screenshot on Bing.
Jay says
If you use Google Assistant, you can hold the home key until Assistant pops up and use the “share a screenshot” option. This will get around any screenshot blocking I’ve found.
Bala says
Hi,
I have configured in MobileIron my app should not allow to take screen shots from any android device. After the configuration i have installed my app through MobileIron in Samsung, Pixel and One plus devices. Now am not able to take the screen shot from app in Samsung and Pixel devices. But in One plus devices am able to take the screen shots from my App.
If there is mistake in configuration of Mobile Iron then its should allow take screen shot from all the devices. But its not working only in One plus devices. Kindly give suggestion on this.
Dan Brian says
Take a photo of your phone with another phone. the analog hole!
Mitch Bartlett says
There appears to be a few social apps that have implemented the blocking of screenshots. I haven’t posted a solution because there really is no solution. If the app developer has placed this block in the software, there is no way to undo it.
Steve Ma says
This is absurd. I was trying to take a screenshot of a conversation in a Facebook group. So I copied the link to the conversation and pasted it in my browser, then displayed the same page, and took a screenshot there.
Brenda says
Currently having the same problem. One minute I can take a screen shot off of fact next I can’t I get that message.. But at the same time I can take screen shots of other pictures on other apps etc. How do I get thelis to stop?
T says
I wonder if this is part of a recent update to our phones?? I just had this pop up in FB and it looks like all these comments are recent.
Lily says
The same thing is happening to me.
Galaxy S7.
Exclusively on Facebook.
None of the offered solutions helped.
Penny Filler says
My friends all think I’m crazy, mine started on my Note 9 after an update earlier this week. Some things i can, some I can’t, but only in Facebook.
Miracle says
The security policy thing came up on my FB app using my S8. However, when I went to the original poster’s page, I was able to take the screenshot.
Vickie says
Same for me too! Is there a way around it, or a simple fix for it? I take screenshots of a ton of things on FB daily. I’m lost without it!
Orion6661 says
I thought I was going crazy but I see there are others with this issue. Specifically in the Facebook app. Works for a while after closing the app and then comes back up again.
Can’t find any information backing it up anywhere.
Jennifer says
I’ve been having the same issue…only on Facebook. I have an S8. Super frustrating!!
Jonathan says
Mine was due to Instagram running. I closed it out and can take screenshots of anything in Facebook now
Ayden says
Same for me on fb for my s10. Works briefly after restarting my phone then back to not allowed after a few minutes.
john says
is there a way around this ?
Courtney Frost says
Just happened to me too. Just trying to take a picture of a list of ingredients and got that message too.
Tanise says
This started happening to me yesterday. I don’t think I’m in incognito mode? Frustrating.
Valerie says
Ive just changed my handset to a galaxy s10+ and having this issue but dont have it when using my note 8
L says
I’m having the same issue with FB. It’s not allowing me to take screenshots 😩
Renee says
Can’t screenshot fb suddenly either
Michellbabiee says
Im having the same issue
Austin says
This just started happening on my S7. I can’t take screenshots of Facebook, but i can on everything else.
Jacqueline Graham says
The new GDPR is most likely responsible for this, it’s a higher level of the data protection rules and regulations
kat says
Same issue
Stefani says
Same here. Just started.
Holly says
I was having the same issue. I rebooted my phone and it works again.
John says
I’m having the same issue
Brandi says
This is happening with my S8+ on fb. I can’t take screenshots in fb anymore, not even of my own post. Is this something they are controlling? Nothing has changed about my phone settings.