How to prevent screenshots in Android Studio

There are cases where you need to prevent screenshot capture during the Android app development process. For example, you may want to restrict the capture function to protect paid content or prevent personal information leaks.

This article shows you how to prevent screenshot capture in Android Studio using the getWindow().setFlags() method.

1. Using the `FLAG_SECURE` flag

Setting the FLAG_SECURE flag prevents you from capturing or recording the contents of the app screen. The following code shows how to set the FLAG_SECURE flag in the onCreate() method of the Activity class.

Java

@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
    super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
    setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);

    // Prevent capture
    getWindow().setFlags(WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE,
            WindowManager.LayoutParams.FLAG_SECURE);
}

Setting the FLAG_SECURE flag has the following effects:

Screenshot capture: If you take a screenshot, only a black screen will be captured.
Screen recording: If you record the screen, the app screen will not be displayed in the recorded video.

2. Precautions

The FLAG_SECURE flag does not completely block the capture function, but rather prevents the app screen from being displayed in the captured image or video.
To completely block the capture function, you need to use a different method.
The FLAG_SECURE flag is applied to the entire app, so if you want to prevent capture only for a specific screen, you need to use a different method.

3. References

Android Developers: FLAG_SECURE: https://support.google.com/webmasters/thread/176251023/outdated-content-removal-invalid-url?hl=en

4. Usage examples

Apps that offer paid content
Apps that handle personal information
Game apps

5. Additional information

The FLAG_SECURE flag can only be used on Android 4.0 and above.
The FLAG_SECURE flag can affect the permissions of the app, so use it with caution.

6. Conclusion

The FLAG_SECURE flag is a simple way to prevent screenshot capture in Android apps. If you need to restrict the capture function depending on the characteristics of the app, try using this method.

How to prevent screenshots in Android Studio