screen recorder function stopped working

[skang821]

My screen recorder function stopped working. When I press the button, it simply takes me to the home screen instead of the usual pop-up that asks whether I give permission to use the camera or microphone.

I've taken it to 3 different Verizon stores. They reset my settings but could not fix the issue. They told me to go to Samsung-authorized Geek Squad at Best Buy and they said they couldn't help me either. Everyone keeps advising me to download a 3rd party app if I want to screen record but I want to figure out what the problem is. Some of them said it must have been a recent update that affected it but my mom bought the same phone as me at the same time and she is able to screen record just fine.

For a split second at the Verizon store today, there was an error message at the bottom of my screen saying that it was already recording. I'm really concerned. Any suggestions/solutions?

[VerbumVeritum]

Did they try these steps at all? With the device powered off, press + hold power and volume up buttons until the Samsung logo disappears. Using volume keys, highlight Wipe cache partition and then power to select and confirm on the next screen. On the original menu, highlight Repair apps and then power once again to confirm. The phone will restart and reindex all apps.

[skang821]

I took your advice and followed your instructions. However, when I press screen record, the effect is the same. It blinks and takes me back to the homescreen with no pop up to indicate that screen recording will begin.

[VerbumVeritum]

How strange. What happens when you press and hold the "Screen recorder" icon in your Quick Panel drop down? Have you attempted to factory reset/restore using SmartSwitch? Although it is a huge pain, it honestly doesn't take that long, and usually clears up most weird glitches.

[skang821]

When I press the "Screen Recorder" icon, the Quick Panel drop down disappears and brings me to my homescreen. I was trying to avoid factory reset. I will take it to one more Verizon store and then do that as a last resort. Thanks for your help!

[VerbumVeritum]

I just want to be perfectly clear, both tapping as well as pressing and holding the icon returns you to the homescreen? Kindly update here if you eventually get this resolved with a reset or through Verizon support.

[skang821]

No, tapping the "Screen recorder" button takes me to my homescreen. Holding the icon, on the other hand, takes me to the detailed page where I can adjust specific things. I made the settings the same as my mom's (whose screen recorder setting still functions).

When I took it to the Verizon store last week, they were confused because the settings are set so that screen recording should work. They tweaked some options to see if changing the video quality or size would remedy the issue but it did not.

Below are screenshots of my current settings, which I did not change after leaving the Verizon store.

[VerbumVeritum · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the screenshots! At least that feature is still working! After wiping the cache partition and using the "Repair apps" option, a factory reset is really the only remaing troubleshooting step you can take going forward. If that doesn't resolve this problem, there might be some sort of software corruption on your OS. A Samsung authorized service center, like uBreakiFix or Best Buy's Geeksquad, might be able to reflash the operating system. Then again, the Note 20 is outside of its promised update lifespan, and is extremely vulnerable to hardware and software security threats. It might just be time to upgrade. They would have more info about being able to reflash though, so I would give one of them a call to schedule an appointment. https://www.samsung.com/us/support/service/ 

[skang821]

Yes, I can take screenshots fine! Hmm I asked at Verizon and Bestbuy if my phone had been hacked and they said that's unlikely. Still seeing that error notice that it couldn't screen record because it was already recording has made me paranoid.

If I go to a Samsung authorized service, should I ask them to reflash the operating system for me because I might have software corruption on my OS? (I feel like I need to prepare a script because I went to one recently and they just looked at me blankly and said they only repair things with physical damage like cracked screens and did not even touch my phone or try to helpful in the slightest. 😑)

[VerbumVeritum]

You were at Best Buy? Their Geeksquad is probably an authorized service center and has the phone OS ready to flash for you. The only doubts I have are, because the phone is outside its update lifespan, that they will refuse to service the device because of that. They are still your best bet though (either them or uBreakiFix). Just tell them you need the OS reflashed because there is system instability and various features aren't working right. Try not to be specific, just that you need the OS reflashed if it is possible.