How to secretly Record a Video With Screen Off on Android

You may want to record a video with the screen off sometimes. Examples where you may need to record discreetly include security, document misconduct, or capture footage while biking. But the native Camera app on your Android phone doesn’t allow you to record videos with the screen off. Fortunately, many third-party apps can fill this gap.

However, most of these apps lock essential features like unlimited recording or high-quality video behind a premium subscription or are filled with way too many ads. After testing several background video recording apps, I found some options for recording video with the screen off.

FadCam is an open-source app. Since background recording requires several permissions, it’s safer to use a service that is transparent and open. Plus, it’s completely free with no premium subscriptions or ads. However, as aFOSS(Free and Open Source Software) app, it’s not available on the Play Store and needs to be sideloaded from GitHub. Here’s how to install and use it for background recording:

Note: Do not remove FadCam from the recent apps list while recording. Doing so will stop the app from running in the background and halt recording. However, any video recorded up to that point will still be saved. Unlike many background video recording apps, FadCam does not come with an app lock feature or its own password protection.

2. Background Video Recorder App

If you want to use a Play Store app, try the Background Video Recorder app (previously known as Easy Video Recorder). While it does have ads, they are far less intrusive than many others, with only occasional full-page ads instead of pop-ups throughout the UI. The feature list includes cloud sync, app lock, ignoringbattery optimization, zoom control, video quality adjustments, and audio source selection. It even offers facial detection, which triggers video recording when a face is detected. Overall, this is the most feature-rich app I’ve tested.

The best part is that it continues recording even if removed from the recent apps list. You can open the app later and stop the recording; everything will be captured until you do. However, this app is not open-source and includes ads. You can remove all ads with a one-time subscription of $3.99.

Ravi Teja KNTS

Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.

How to secretly Record a Video With Screen Off on Android