The short answer
On an iPhone with Face ID, press the side button and volume up button together, then let go. On an iPhone with a Home button, press the side (or top) button and the Home button together. To record your screen, add Screen Recording to Control Center, then tap it and wait for the countdown.
Screenshots are handy for saving a receipt, sharing an error message or showing someone what you see. Screen recordings go one step further and capture video, with or without sound.
Take a screenshot
iPhone with Face ID (no Home button)
- Press the side button and volume up button at the same time.
- Quickly release both.
iPhone with a Home button
- Press the side button (or top button on older models) and the Home button at the same time.
- Quickly release both.
A thumbnail appears briefly in the bottom-left corner. Tap it to crop, mark up or share. Swipe it away to save it straight to Photos.
Capture a full web page
In Safari, take a screenshot, tap the thumbnail, then tap Full Page at the top. You can save the whole page as a PDF to the Files app.
Record your screen
Add Screen Recording to Control Center
On recent versions of iOS:
- Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom on iPhones with a Home button).
- Touch and hold an empty area, or tap the + in the top-left, then tap Add a Control.
- Find and add Screen Recording.
On older versions, go to Settings › Control Center and tap the green + next to Screen Recording.
Start and stop a recording
- Open Control Center and tap the Screen Recording button (a filled circle inside a ring).
- Wait for the three-second countdown.
- To stop, tap the red indicator at the top of the screen and tap Stop, or tap the Screen Recording button again in Control Center.
The video is saved to the Photos app.
Record with sound
Touch and hold the Screen Recording button in Control Center, then tap Microphone so it turns on before you start.
Tips
- Hide notifications before recording by turning on a Focus mode, so private messages don’t appear in the video.
- Some apps block recording, such as streaming video apps, so the recording may show a black screen.
- Edit afterwards in the Photos app to trim the start and end.
Related guides
Screenshots and recordings fill up space quickly. See how to free up iPhone storage. On other devices: Android, Windows and Mac.
The bottom line
Side button plus volume up (or side plus Home) takes a screenshot. For video, add Screen Recording to Control Center once, and it’s always a swipe away. Running low on space from all those captures? See how to free up storage on your iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Where do my screenshots go?
Screenshots are saved to the Photos app. You can find them quickly under Media Types › Screenshots.
Can I take a screenshot without pressing buttons?
Yes. Turn on AssistiveTouch in Settings › Accessibility › Touch › AssistiveTouch, and set one of its actions to Screenshot. You can also set Back Tap to take a screenshot when you double-tap the back of your iPhone.
Why is there no sound in my screen recording?
Microphone audio is off by default. Touch and hold the Screen Recording button in Control Center and tap Microphone to turn it on before you start recording.
Why you can trust this guide
- Based on official sources. The steps here are checked against the 2 official sources listed below, such as the help pages of the companies involved.
- Checked and dated. Last checked on November 10, 2026. We update guides when software or advice changes.
- Independent. No company paid for or reviewed this guide. We don't sell products, and ads never influence our advice.
- Open to corrections. Spotted an error? Tell us and we'll fix it. Read how we research.
Sources
- Apple Support — Take a screenshot on your iPhone
- Apple Support — Record the screen on your iPhone or iPad
This guide is general information. Menus and features can change with software updates, and steps may differ on your device or version. Back up important data before making big changes. Read our disclaimer.
