Can’t Take Screenshot Due to Security Policy—Try These Fixes

Seeing the “Can’t Take Screenshot Due to Security Policy” message when you attempt to take a picture of your screen can be frustrating. You may have found some valuable information online and want to share it with someone as it’s presented to you. A screenshot may be the perfect way to do just that.

Unfortunately, today’s focus on security and privacy makes screenshotting a little difficult, especially for pages with login options or account information. Moreover, businesses can put security policies in place that prevent screenshots. So, how do you get around the “Can’t Take Screenshot Due to Security Policy” message? Follow along in this article to learn some of the best fixes for this problem.

Common Reasons that Lead to Screenshot Restrictions

In general, the reasons for blocking screenshots of certain screens/pages on your mobile devices include the following:

• For browser-based issues, the screenshot capturing feature can be unavailable when browsing in Incognito Mode via Google Chrome and Firefox.
• For app-based issues, some apps disable screenshot capturing on certain screens, such as login pages.
• For device-based issues, a screenshot capturing restriction may be activated on your device.

Although using another device to take the picture is an option, it’s not ideal. Read on for tips on how to resolve each cause using the same device.

Fixing Blocked Screenshots in Chrome Incognito

Because the purpose of Incognito browsing is to keep sessions private, by default, Chrome and Firefox disable the screenshot capturing feature to keep the sessions private.

To be able to take screenshots in Incognito mode using your Android device, you’ll need to navigate to the Chrome “flags menu.” This is where Chrome’s experimental features reside. This option is only available on certain versions of Chrome.

To enable screenshots for Incognito Mode in Chrome, do the following:

1. Launch “Chrome.”
   
2. Then enter “chrome://flags” without quotes into the address bar.
   
3. On the Chrome flags screen, type “Incognito Screenshot” without quotes into the search box. The “Incognito Screenshot” option now appears in the results.
   
4. Click on the pull-down menu underneath it, then select “Enabled.”
   
5. For these changes to take effect, click on “Relaunch” toward the bottom-right corner.
   

Fixing Blocked Screenshots for Incognito Mode in Firefox

To allow screenshots in Firefox private browsing, do the following:

1. Launch “Firefox” and click on the “vertical ellipsis” (three-dotted menu) in the bottom-right section of the screen.
   
2. Select “Settings.”
   
3. Towards the bottom, choose “Private browsing.”
   
4. Next, toggle on the “Allow screenshots in private browsing” option.
   

Fixing Device Restrictions that Prevent Screenshots

A screenshot capturing restriction may have been put in place by an institution or the phone manufacturer:

• For Android devices supplied by work or school, it may have a device-based or account-based restriction to prevent screenshot capturing for company security policy reasons.
• For privately owned Android devices, the manufacturer may have set a restriction on screenshots or the feature has been disabled since the time of purchase.

Alternatives Fixes

For devices issued by an institution, you can consider getting in touch with the IT department to ask them whether this is an intentional restriction and for their advice on how to take screenshots using the device.

High-Security App Restrictions

Because of the high-security level needed and required by some applications such as financial and money management apps, as well as those storing confidential data, the screenshot feature with these platforms may be disabled.

Also, Facebook and Netflix may disable screenshot capturing due to privacy protection or copyrighted content.

Alternatively, the app or the model of the device you’re using may allow you to disable the restriction preventing you from taking the screenshot. Try going to the app settings to see what options are available.

Additional FAQs

Can I Remove Security Policies from my phone to take restricted Screenshots?

The only possible way to remove certain policies is if you have the Google Device Policy app on your phone, which most people don’t. The app is only for businesses using G Suite.

You can deregister your work gmail account and then add it again using Android Device Policy instead, but it could mean losing your job.

If the phone was given to you or you bought a used business phone and it has Google Device Policy installed, you can remove Google Device Policy but be sure to deregister the associated Google accounts first.

uninstall it using the following instructions:

1. Head to “Settings.” and tap on “Apps” or “Apps & notifications.”

2. Tap on “See all ### apps” to open the app list. Older phones go straight to the list. Click on the “Device Policy” app.

3. Select “Uninstall” or “Disable,” then tap on “OK.”

4. Unregister the accounts associated with the app, and then deactivate and/or uninstall it.

5. Launch “Google Apps Device Policy.”

2. Via the “Status” page, click on “Unregister” for the accounts you have registered with the device.

3. Then, navigate to either of the following:

· Settings > Applications > Manage Applications or

· Settings > Apps.

4. Click on the app.

5. Then select Uninstall or Disable then OK.

Alternately, you can factory reset your device to remove the app. However, we recommend that you make a backup of your device since this will remove all the data, applications, and settings. To factory reset your device:

1. Launch Apps from your home screen.

2. Select Settings > Backup and reset.

3. Select Erase all data (factory reset).

4. Select Reset Device.

5. Click on Erase Everything.

Finally, Free to Capture Your Screens

The screenshot capturing feature is great for saving information to reference later, or to send a screen in its entirety to someone. However, being greeted by the “Can’t take screenshot due to security policy” message instead of the screenshot can burst one’s bubble. Luckily, there are ways around this such as disabling or removing the app or installing a screenshot capturing app.

Now that we’ve shown you ways to resolve this setback, what was the cause, and what did you do to fix it? Let us know in the comment section below.