Screen Capture Source

Overview

The Screen Capture Source allows users to stream or record their entire mobile screen. This is the primary source for mobile gaming and app demonstrations.

It leverages the Android MediaProjection API to capture everything displayed on the device in real-time.

Adding Screen Capture

To start capturing your screen:

Tap the + (plus) icon in LiveLens and select Screen Capture.
A system prompt will appear asking for permission to record or cast your screen.
Tap Start now to grant permission.
The screen feed will be added to your current scene.

Privacy Note: While Screen Capture is active, everything on your screen—including notifications, messages, and passwords—will be visible to your stream or recording. It is recommended to enable Do Not Disturb mode on your device.

Source Characteristics & Limits

Unlike other sources in LiveLens, the Screen Capture source has specific restrictions to ensure stability and performance:

No Settings Panel: There is no dedicated settings popup for this source.
No Rotation: The screen source cannot be rotated on the canvas. It always stays aligned with the device's physical orientation.
No Cropping: The entire screen is always captured; manual cropping is not available for this source type.

Canvas Controls

Despite the lack of a settings panel, you can still manage how the screen capture appears in your layout using standard canvas gestures:

Move: Drag the screen capture to position it anywhere on the canvas.
Resize: Pinch to scale the screen capture up or down.
Double Tap (Fill): Double-tap the source to quickly make it cover the entire canvas. Double-tap again to return to its previous size.
Z-Order: Use the up/down arrows to move the screen capture above or below other overlays (like cameras or alerts).
Lock/Unlock: Use the lock icon to prevent accidental moving or resizing once you've positioned it.

Orientation & Resizing