Remember to check your settings and make sure that your Screenshots folder is being backed up to your iCloud account. This can give you extra reassurance that the screenshot is saved.
Taking a screen recording with an iPad or iPhone
- Check your Control Centre settings in your Settings app to make sure the ‘Screen recording’ function is selected as an option.
- Open your Control Centre from the pull-down menu and tap on the grey ‘Record’ icon. This icon looks like a big dot with a thin circle on the outside. Once tapped, a three-second countdown will start.
- Swipe up to exit from the Control Centre and start recording your screen.
- Stop recording your screen by opening the Control Centre from the pull-down menu and tapping on the ‘Record’ icon, which will now be red. You can also tap the red bar with the recording time at the top of your screen to stop recording.
- The recording will be saved in the camera roll in your Photos app.
Note: There may be some apps that won’t allow you to record your screen while using them. You also won’t be able to record your screen if you are using screen mirroring at the same time.
What to do if you have a different device or computer
We also have advice on:
- How to screenshot on a Mac
- How to screenshot on an Android device
- How to screenshot on Windows
If none of these screenshot or screen recording methods work on your device, we suggest you open your web browser and search ‘How do I take a screenshot/screen recording with a (your device type/model)’.
There are also some apps that can be used to take a screenshot or a screen recording. Open the App Store and search ‘screen capture’ or ‘screen recorder’.
How to screenshot on an iPad or iPhone (video)
Read transcript
Audio
To take a screen shot on an iPhone, iPad or iPod, press and hold the power button on the top or side of the device and then press the home button.
The screen will flash indicating that a screen shot has been taken.
Swipe the image to the Left to Save in photos.
It will disappear from the screen but be saved in the Camera and Photos files.
To Save the Screenshot in a different file, or Email it.
Touch the image to open it.
Crop the image if required.
Select the Upload icon.
Select where the image should be sent.
If the Screenshot is in the Photos or Camera file, it can also be shared by Selecting Upload, and choosing the right option.
If you want to capture video of your iPhone or iPad screen, you don't even need to download an app to complete the task. The ability to record activity on your screen is built right in to iOS and iPadOS through a feature called Screen Recording.
With this tool, you can start a recording of your screen and then snap individual screenshots of the video. This makes capturing your iPhone or iPad screen activity much easier than going through a third-party app. Here's how to set up and use the built-in Screen Recording tool.
Customize Control Center
I've been working for PCMag since early 2016 writing tutorials, how-to pieces, and other articles on consumer technology. Beyond PCMag, I've written news stories and tutorials for a variety of other websites and publications, including CNET, ZDNet, TechRepublic, Macworld, Popular Science, Time, Fortune, US News & World Report, and AARP Magazine. I spent seven years writing breaking news for CNET as one of the site’s East Coast reporters. I've also written two books for Wiley & Sons—Windows 8: Five Minutes at a Time and Teach Yourself Visually LinkedIn.