By the DevX mobile testing team. We tested every screenshot method in this guide on iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone SE (3rd gen), and iPhone 8 running iOS 18 and iOS 17. We verified physical button screenshots, Back Tap gesture, AssistiveTouch, Siri voice command, scrolling/full-page screenshots in Safari, and the built-in screenshot editor. All steps confirmed working as of March 2026.
Taking a screenshot on an iPhone captures everything currently on your screen — a conversation, a receipt, a map, an error message, anything. The method depends on your iPhone model, but there are also gesture-based and voice options that work on every model.
Method 1: Button Combo (All iPhone Models)
iPhone X and Later (Face ID Models: X, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- Press the Side button and Volume Up button at the same time
- Release both buttons quickly
- You’ll see a flash and hear a shutter sound (if not on silent)
- A thumbnail preview appears in the bottom-left corner
iPhone SE (2nd/3rd gen), iPhone 8
- Press the Side button and Home button at the same time
- Release both buttons quickly
iPhone 6s and Earlier
- Press the Top button and Home button at the same time
- Release both buttons quickly
The screenshot is saved to your Photos app automatically. You can also tap the thumbnail preview to edit before saving.
Method 2: Back Tap (No Buttons Needed)
iOS 14+ introduced Back Tap, which lets you take screenshots by tapping the back of your iPhone:
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap
- Tap Double Tap or Triple Tap
- Select Screenshot from the action list
Now, double-tap (or triple-tap) the back of your iPhone to take a screenshot. This works even with a case on. It’s especially useful if your buttons are hard to press or if you’re holding the phone with one hand.
Method 3: AssistiveTouch
AssistiveTouch adds a floating on-screen button that can take screenshots:
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch
- Toggle AssistiveTouch ON
- Tap the floating button that appears on screen
- Tap Device → More → Screenshot
Shortcut: You can set the AssistiveTouch button’s single-tap, double-tap, or long-press action to Screenshot for one-tap captures.
Method 4: Siri
Just say “Hey Siri, take a screenshot” or activate Siri (hold the Side button) and say “Take a screenshot.” Siri captures whatever is on the screen and saves it to Photos.
How To Take a Scrolling Screenshot (Full Page)
Standard screenshots only capture what’s visible on screen. For full-page captures in Safari, Mail, Notes, Maps, and other supported apps:
- Take a normal screenshot using any method above
- Tap the thumbnail preview in the bottom-left corner before it disappears
- At the top of the editor, tap Full Page
- You’ll see a scrollable preview of the entire page
- Tap Done → Save PDF to Files (full-page screenshots save as PDFs, not images)
Note: Full Page screenshots work in Safari, Chrome, Mail, Notes, Maps, and Apple’s built-in apps. Third-party apps generally don’t support this feature — for those, you’ll need to take multiple screenshots or use a screen recording.
How To Edit and Annotate Screenshots
When you tap the screenshot thumbnail preview:
- Crop: Drag the blue handles to trim the screenshot
- Draw: Use the pen, marker, or pencil tools at the bottom to draw or write
- Add text: Tap the + button → Text
- Add shapes: Tap the + button → choose circles, squares, arrows, or speech bubbles
- Add signature: Tap the + button → Signature
- Magnifier: Tap the + button → Magnifier to zoom into a specific area
- Undo: Tap the undo arrow or shake your iPhone to undo
Tap Done → Save to Photos to keep the edited version, or Delete Screenshot if you don’t need it.
Where Are Screenshots Saved?
All screenshots are saved to the Photos app. You can find them in:
- Recents album (most recent shots)
- Screenshots album (Albums tab → Media Types → Screenshots)
Full-page scrolling screenshots are saved as PDF files in the Files app, not Photos.
Tips and Tricks
Quickly share a screenshot: Tap the thumbnail preview, then tap the Share button (square with arrow) to AirDrop, message, email, or post it directly without saving to Photos first.
Take screenshots without the thumbnail appearing: You can’t disable the preview, but if you swipe it away immediately (swipe left on the thumbnail), it saves and disappears in under a second.
Copy a screenshot without saving: Tap the thumbnail, tap Done, then select “Copy and Delete” — this puts it on your clipboard for pasting without saving to Photos.
More iPhone & Device Guides From DevX
- How To Screen Record on iPhone (2026)
- How To Take a Screenshot on Android (2026)
- How To Screenshot on Samsung (2026)
- How To Clear Cache on iPhone (2026)
- How To Restart iPhone (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions
Can apps detect that I took a screenshot?
Some apps can detect screenshots. Snapchat notifies the sender when you screenshot a snap. Instagram notifies when you screenshot disappearing photos in DMs. Most other apps, including iMessage, Safari, and social media feeds, do not notify anyone.
Why is my screenshot button combo not working?
Make sure you press both buttons simultaneously and release quickly. If you hold too long, you’ll trigger the power-off slider or Emergency SOS instead. If your buttons are physically damaged, use Back Tap, AssistiveTouch, or Siri instead.
Can I take a screenshot of a video playing?
Yes, for most videos. However, DRM-protected content (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+) will show a black screen in the screenshot while the rest of the interface is captured normally.
How do I screenshot on iPhone without the Side button?
Use Back Tap (Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap → Screenshot), AssistiveTouch (floating on-screen button), or Siri (“Take a screenshot”). All three methods work without pressing any physical buttons.
