How to screenshot on an iPhone

What is a screenshot?

A screenshot captures an image of whatever is currently being shown on your device’s display. The image is saved to your phone, and can be found in the Photos app. There are several reasons why you may want to take a screenshot, but a few examples are;

Capturing booking or order confirmation details from a website or app
Capturing a notification or message to share with someone else
Capturing a moment in a mobile game
Capturing information to return to later

Some applications block you from taking screenshots for security reasons. Banking apps are one example where you won't be able to take a screenshot.

Method One

For iPhones with Touch ID

Steps for iPhones with a circular home button below the screen (iPhones with Touch ID fingerprint scanner).

This method (which you can see in the image at the top of this page) works with the following iPhone models; iPhone 6 series, iPhone 7 series, iPhone 8 series, iPhone SE series.

Step 1.1: Get setup

Make sure the information you wish to capture in the screenshot is visible on the screen.

Step 1.2: Take the shot

To take a screenshot on the iPhone models above you need to press the power button (on the right of the handset) and the ‘Home’ button (below the screen) at the same time.

Do not hold down the buttons, just click both simultaneously.

Step 1.3: Review the screenshot

A successfully taken screenshot will see the screen flash for a split second and your screenshot image appear briefly in the bottom left-hand corner of the display.

If your iPhone is not on silent mode, you’ll also hear a camera shutter tone. You can view your screenshot by going to the Photos app, where it will appear in your camera roll.

Method Two

For iPhones with Face ID

If your iPhone has Face ID, like the iPhone XR above, there's a different button combination for screenshots. — Image credit: Saga

Steps for iPhones with no home button below the screen (iPhones with Face ID facial recognition feature).

This method works with the following iPhone model families; iPhone X series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 13 series, iPhone 14 series.

Step 2.1: Get setup

Make sure the information you wish to capture in the screenshot is visible on the screen.

Step 2.2: Take the shot

To take a screenshot on the iPhone models above you need to press the power button (on the right of the handset) and the volume up button (on the left).

Do not hold down the buttons, just click both simultaneously.

Step 2.3: Review the screenshot

A successfully taken screenshot will see the screen flash for a split second and your screenshot image appear briefly in the bottom left-hand corner of the display. If your iPhone is not on silent mode, you’ll also hear a camera shutter tone to signal a screenshot has been taken.

You can view your screenshot by going to the Photos app, where it will appear in your camera roll.

Written by: John McCann

John McCann has been a technology journalist for more than a decade, and over the years has built up a vast knowledge of the tech industry. He’s interviewed CEOs from some of the world’s biggest tech firms, visited their HQs and appeared on live TV and radio, including Sky News, BBC News, BBC World News, Al Jazeera, LBC and BBC Radio 4.
During his time in journalism, John has written for TechRadar, T3, What Laptop, Windows 8 magazine and Gizmodo UK, and he’s appeared in the Evening Standard and Metro newspapers.

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