Screenshots have always been a sore subject for HTC EVO users. We look over to our iDevice-touting friends and watch them seamlessly take a snapshot with two button presses. What about us?
Well, if you have the EVO View 4G, native screenshot capturing is built-in. EVO 3D folks just received an OTA update that adds this feature. But EVO 4G users are left behind. Yes, there are many choices for rooted OG EVO users, but if you are running a Sense-based Gingerbread ROM, and you want to take a screenshot, you probably have a copy of ShootMe (or PicMe).
Could there be an easier way? Well, thanks to EVO 3D user freeza, developers were given all the tools to port native screenshots into their ROMs. And guess what. This works on OG EVO ROMs as well!
To gain this native screenshot feature, the process is actually quite simple. You only need to add two files and modify one. One file added is an app called MySketcher, which appears to be a port from the EVO View 4G. The other is a lib file called libScreenshotUtil.so.
But adding these two files will not enable native screenshots alone. You must also modify your build.prop file. Every ROM has a different build.prop (and each new version of a ROM will have a new build.prop from the previous version). So, this isn't the easiest part to tinker with.
To edit this file, use a root file explorer to navigate to the system folder of your EVO's internal memory. You will find the build.prop file sitting in there. After transferring this file to your computer (make a backup for safekeeping), use Notepad++ to add one line of code:
ro.htc.framework.screencapture = true
freeza recommends adding this towards the end of the build.prop file to not hurt your ROM. Then you will need to use ADB to push the file back to the system folder:
adb push build.prop /system
If you don't know how to use ADB, then you probably shouldn't be using this procedure. If you are cool enough to complete this procedure, freeza's original flashable .zip can now be flashed to enable native screenshots.
For those beginners out there, I have taken the liberty of modifying some build.props for you and adding them to freeza's flashable .zip, thus allowing you to add native screenshots to the Sense-based Gingerbread ROM you are running. Make sure you make a Nandroid backup!
Warning: This is not for people running AOSP-based ROMs or Sense-based Froyo ROMs.
Downloads (for a tutorial on how to flash a .zip go here):
- MikG v2.5 (this is a link to the ROM, it has this feature built-in)
- Smooth N Sexy v1.4.1
- Sprint Lovers 4.24
- Swagged Out|Stock v0.9.9.7 (Swag = OFF|Swag = ON)
- Synergy RLS 1 (NOT WORKING – DO NOT DOWNLOAD)
- xHausx's Stock 4.24 ROM
- Virus's Stock 4.53 ROM (this is a link to the ROM, it has this feature built-in)
- Team Nocturnal 4.53 ROM (this is a link to the ROM, it has this feature built-in)
Now, just hold power and hit the home button. Your screenshots will be saved in the DCIM folder on your SD card.
If you would like to request another for your ROM, head over to the forums.
Update: The files have been fixed, sorry about the inconvenience!



















What do you mean when you say, MikG v2.5 (this is a link to the ROM, it has this feature built-in), it has this feature built-in? Does that mean the screen shot feature? If so, how do i use it?(i’m running MikG v2.5) Or do you mean it just has the code and i still have to flash the .zip? Thanks for the help!!
It has the native screenshot feature built-in. Try it out.
Hold down the power button and then tap the home button.
Thanks guys! It’s not working on mine, as well as other features, i think clockworkmod recovery might be why, i’m gonna install amon-ra recovery and try again! lol!
doesn’t work on mine. i have amonRA, 2.5 ROM and all it does is shut the screen off the second I touch the power button.
I’m running the latest Sprint Lovers, is it built in? How do I actually make it take a screen cap? If holding down the power button and then tapping the home button, where does it put the screen caps?
Gotta flash the zip for SL.
I keep getting an error when flashing this for Swagged Out (Swag On).
Says found 3 of something when looking for 4. And “status 7″.
Could it be because I flashed the new HDMwIn kernel for GingerSense?
The kernel shouldn’t be conflicting. The feature will be built into the next version of SOS.
Which ROM are you using? 2.5? That doesn’t make sense lol
You may need a full wipe of the latest MikG for this to work. Oh and btw, the pix are stored in the DCIM folder of your SD card. You’ll know if you are taking a snapshot, though.
Hi Sam. I’ve been running MikG 2.5 (and all the prior iterations) since it dropped on the 24th, installed with a double full wipe and I don’t see the feature working via the power button/home button method mentioned above. Also, there’s no mention of it in the dev notes and very quick search of the thread for “screenshot” didn’t bring back any mention of the feature. Did a shoemaker’s elf come and fix your phone for you? Or is the combination something other than those two buttons? Thanks!
Well shoot, I could be wrong! The only reason I said it was built-in was because the ROM has all of the files necessary to make this work. Let me do some more testing! Ill let you know!
Weird. Guess I’ll just have to wait until then.
Btw, love this rom. Even with HDMwIn’s kernel, it is the best running Sense rom I’ve tried.
(The only feature I miss from the previous rom I was using, Synergy, is Panorama.)
Ill see what I can do
your the only one who knew, this works on my eve 3d thanks.
Correct sir, all my installs have came up with nothing.
Nope.
I’m not sure why MikG 2.5 is mentioned to have it built-in. This is definitely not true as of now, and the flashable will not work either. It is being looked into though. Hopefully this clears things up.
tried removing the spaces in the zip file (synergy) but installing via SD card in ROm manager is not workign
something about expected 4 args, found 3 etc…
any ideas? TIA
How is it possible to use this method on Synergy RLS1 for the OG Evo 4?
As far as I can tell Android 2.3.4 is required for this to work.
Did you test the flashable zip you made for Synergy RLS1 on an actual phone running that ROM? If it is not possible to get this to work on that ROM, you should remove that link and update your article accordingly.
As an update to the MikG situation, aamikam (the dev) has just put out a patch which updates the ROM to version 2.52 and includes native screenshot capabilities. Same link as above.
Dont work on Synergy
All right, I borked something when compiling these files, I’m going to fix it as soon as possible! Sorry guys!
It looks like the original post was updated as if the installer zips had been changed, but I just tested the Synergy RLS1 zip again and it does not work.
But I think we may be missing the point of this exercise:
It *can* not work.
Synergy RLS1 is Android 2.3.3
There is no HTC screenshot framework in that version of android. (It was not baked in to HTC ROMs until Android 2.3.4)
Attempting to enable a non-existent framework by adding a line in build.prop is not going to have any effect.
Hey devo4g,
I don’t want to say you’re wrong, but I’m currently using a 2.3.3 ROM and can use this method.
To everybody, all the files have been tested and work EXCEPT for Synergy. I’m gonna keep workin on it. I’ll let you guys know when I (or the ROM’s developers) find a solution.
Ok, I guess anything’s possible then. Love to see a Synergy zip that works- that would be a welcome feature for many users.
Hi…
Interesting info thanks. I have a stock Evo 4g View (Power(hold)+Home) screenshots just fine. Trying to invoke this feature from an App I am writing from code. (doesnt work yet) If anyone has any insights into the ‘intent’ to call inside of (com.htc.mysketcher) to call to ‘fake’ the button press, please let me know. I will update my stack overflow code ? with any info.
Many thanks. //GregHudd
Where or how do I get the mysketcher.apk and libScreenshotUtil.so files?