Android 12 beta 3 lands with scrollable screenshots

We are getting closer and closer to the stable start of Android 12. Today, Google released the third beta of the software, which includes some notable new features.

The most exciting feature in Android 12 Beta 3 is the new feature for scrollable screenshots. Most users will be used to it as many Android skins offer this functionality. However, users who prefer standard Android or a skin that doesn’t support scrollable screenshots will be happy to see the feature built right into the operating system in the future.

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If you are already using Android 12 Beta 2.1 (or any of the earlier betas) you should see an OTA notification soon to update to Beta 3. If you’d like to join the beta now, you can use a supported Pixel device and follow our instructions. If you don’t own a Pixel, there are some non-Google phones that work with Android 12. However, it may take a little longer for the latest beta to be available.

For most of the people out there, this feature won’t be anything new. To take a scrolling screenshot in Android 12 Beta 3, just launch the screenshot feature by pressing the power button and the volume down button at the same time (or your usual method). Once you do this you will see the first picture above. Then quickly tap the “Record More” button.

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An interface will then appear that looks like the second picture above. This allows you to manually expand the detection area. When you’re done, just click the large “Save” button in the top left corner.

This isn’t really any different from the scrolling screenshot features in Android skins like Samsung’s One UI. It’s also not very different from third-party apps that enable this feature. However, having it built right into Android is certainly a welcome addition.

More new Android 12 features

Another big innovation is the introduction of on-device search, which Google calls AppSearch. This is essentially an on-device search engine that you can use to find data on your phone just like you would on the internet. The kicker here, however, is that apps need to both sign in and customize their apps for this to work. Hence, it may take a while before you really find something on your phone.

In a previous Android 12 beta, we saw the introduction of privacy indicators. This feature will send you an alert (as seen in the picture above) when an app is using your microphone or camera. The problem, however, is that the warning can cover important app controls, especially if you’re using your phone in an immersive mode. In Android 12 Beta 3, Google is adding more information to developers about privacy indicators so they can customize their apps accordingly.

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Finally, the new Android 12 beta introduces face-based auto-rotate. This feature uses facial recognition to judge whether your phone should be in portrait or landscape orientation. This is especially useful for people who use their phone in bed, which could confuse the usual gyro-based system.

Today we are testing Android 12 Beta 3 ourselves and will probably find more interesting innovations. Stay tuned!