Knuckle screenshots and Record screen fail on my HUAWEI phone/tablet

Applicable products： Tablet，Smartphone
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Knuckle screenshots and Record screen fail on my HUAWEI phone/tablet

Your phone/tablet may not support knuckle gestures, the operation was performed incorrectly, or certain system files have been deleted by mistake. To resolve the issue, perform the following:

1. Check whether your phone/device supports Knuckle screenshots/Record screen

Open Settings and search for Knuckle screenshots/Record screen. If no results are found, it means that your device does not support knuckle gestures.

2. Make sure that you are doing knuckle gestures correctly

Pay attention to the following when doing knuckle gestures:

  • To ensure that knuckle gestures work properly, do not use magnetic attachments or metal protective cases, which may affect gesture recognition.
  • To take a screenshot, knock twice with one knuckle. To record the screen, knock twice with two knuckles and make sure that they tap the screen at the same time.
  • Knock on the screen vertically with your knuckle using proper strength, similar to how you knock on a door.
  • Make sure to knock twice quickly (with the interval not exceeding 0.25 seconds) and hold the device firmly.
  • When using a leather case, hold your device firmly with one hand while knocking on the screen with the other hand, to avoid affecting gesture recognition.
  • It is recommended that you wait for 2 seconds after the thumbnail of the previous screenshot disappears, to ensure that the background has enough time to complete image processing.
  • When taking a partial screenshot, knock on the screen with a knuckle and hold until a blue dot appears, then draw an enclosed shape around the part of the screen you wish to capture.
  • When music or videos are being played, the device may vibrate, which may affect gesture recognition. It is recommended that you knock on the screen a bit firmer to ensure that the knuckle gesture is properly responded.

3. Check whether the success rate is low in the following positions

  • The lower part of the screen: The internal structure of the screen restricts the sensitivity of this area. You can apply more force when knocking in this area. The upper part of the screen is more sensitive, so it is recommended that you use knuckle gestures in this area.

  • The top and bottom of the screen: The top and bottom of the screen support a wide range of gesture operations, for example, swiping down to display Notification Panel and swiping up to display the home screen. To reduce mistouch due to knuckle gestures, the sensitivity of knuckle gestures is reduced in this area. It is recommended that you use knuckle gestures in the upper part of the screen.

4. Other cases

  • If some system files are deleted by mistake, knuckle recognition may not work properly. It is recommended that you update your phone/tablet to its latest system version and try again. Updating the system may restore the files that are deleted by mistake.
  • Check whether a game screen is displayed. Disable knuckle gestures is enabled by default on certain models, to prevent your knuckle from accidentally triggering a screenshot or screen recording during gameplay.
    • HarmonyOS 5 or later: Hold down on the Celia navigation bar at the bottom of the screen () to access the Celia chat screen and check whether Disable knuckle gestures is enabled. If it is enabled, knuckle gestures will not work. In this case, you can tap the Screenshot/Screen Recorder button on the screen to take a screenshot or record the screen.

  • A thick protective film may affect knuckle recognition. In this case, it is recommended that you apply more force when knocking on the screen, or temporarily remove the protective film.
  • If the issue persists, back up your data and take your device and proof of purchase to an authorised Huawei Customer Service Centre for assistance.
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