How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone: A Complete Guide (2026)

So, you found something cool to buy online or want to share proof of a funny conversation with someone else. Regardless of the reason, the easiest way to capture the contents of your iPhone screen is by taking a screenshot and in this guide, we'll help you do just that. 

How to Take a Screenshot on an iPhone 

From button combinations to accessibility settings and Siri voice commands, we will go over all the possible ways to take a screenshot on iPhone with step-by-step instructions. 

Capture Screenshot on iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X or Newer) 

This is the most common way to take a screenshot on newer models like the iPhone X, all the way up to iPhone 17 and iPhone Air.

1. Quickly press and release the Side + Volume Up buttons at the same time.

2. You’ll see a flash and a preview of the screenshot in the bottom-left corner.
3. Tap on the preview to edit or share it right away.

Take Screenshots on iPhones with Touch ID (iPhone SE 2020 or Older)

People who are still holding on to their iPhones with a Home button, like the iPhone SE 2022 and older models, can use this method to grab a screenshot. 

1. Press the Side + Home buttons together and release them to take a screenshot.

2. Its preview will now appear at the bottom left.
3. You can tap on this preview to edit, save or share the captured image.

Use Head Tracking on iPhone 17 to Take a Screenshot 

If you own an iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air, you can use a new accessibility feature called 'Head Tracking' to take a screenshot. This feature allows you to capture your screen using facial gestures, such as blinking or sticking out your tongue. It is very cool, and you must try it out. 

1. Head over to Settings > Accessibility > Head Tracking.

2. Turn on the Head Tracking toggle at the top.
3. Now, choose a preferred facial gesture to assign an action. Here, I selected Eye Blink.
4. Next, scroll down and tap on Screenshot.

That's it! Now whenever you blink your eyes, your iPhone will take a quick screenshot. 

Taking a Long Screenshot on iPhone

Not many people know about this trick, but you can take a full page-long screenshot on your iPhone, too. It mostly works with web browsers like Safari and Chrome. But some apps might not support it. 

1. First, take a screenshot with any of the methods above.
2. Then tap on the Screenshot preview at the bottom left corner.
3. Here, select Full Page from the top.

4. Now, you can tap on the Crop icon to edit only the portion you need.
5. Once you are done, tap on the checkmark at the top right and select Save to Photos.

Ask Siri to Take a Screenshot

Another easier way to take quick screenshots is by using Siri. Apple's native voice assistant is well-equipped to perform basic system-level actions, and you can easily prompt it to capture screenshots in your natural language. Here's how you can do it:

1. Go to the screen you want to capture and long-press the Side button to activate Siri. You can also trigger it by saying "Hey, Siri" if you have Talk to Siri enabled inside iOS settings.
2. When the Siri bubble or overlay appears, say "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot this".

Siri will now take a screenshot of your current screen and show a thumbnail or preview of it. These screenshots will be accessible in the Photos app's Library or inside Collections > Screenshots. 

Use AssistiveTouch to Take a Screenshot

If you wish to take multiple screenshots at once, you can use AssistiveTouch. It's an accessibility feature that lets you quickly access multiple actions with different gestures. You can configure AssistiveTouch to trigger screenshots in a way that you can simply tap on its on-screen shortcut to capture the contents of your screen. 

Here's how you can configure and use AssistiveTouch for taking screenshots on your iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app and head over to Accessibility > Touch.

2. Now, tap on AssistiveTouch and turn on the AssistiveTouch toggle at the top.

3. Tap on Single-Tap under "Custom Actions".
4. From the subsequent menu, select Screenshot.

5. You can now go to any screen you wish to capture and tap on the AssistiveTouch circle to capture it.

Additionally, you can set up AssistiveTouch to enable with a triple-press of the Side button. You can do so by going to Settings > Accessibility > Accessibility Shortcut and selecting AssistiveTouch from the menu. You'll now be able to activate or deactivate the AssistiveTouch circle on your screen by pressing the Side button thrice. 

Since AssistiveTouch is intended to be used for multiple screenshots, we recommend turning off full-screen screenshot previews on your iPhone. Screenshot previews let you look up contents inside these images using Apple's Visual Intelligence. While useful, it may be intrusive for some, as it takes up the whole screen, making it difficult to take multiple screenshots. 

Set up iPhone to Take Screenshots with Back Tap

iPhones come with a hidden physical switch that you use to do certain actions, like taking screenshots. Yes, we're talking about the Back Tap feature. When you configure it properly, you can take screenshots by simply tapping on the back of your iPhone twice or thrice. However, it is only limited to iPhone 12 and newer models. Here's how to set it up:

1. Launch Settings and go to Accessibility > Touch.

2. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and tap on Back Tap.
3. Select Double Tap or Triple Tap. We recommend the former, as triggering it will be easier if you plan to use it for taking screenshots.

4. Here, select Screenshot under "System".
5. Now, you can take a screenshot by tapping the back of your iPhone twice in quick succession. If your iPhone is covered in a case, you might need to tap it harder.

When you use BackTap to take screenshots, you'll see a banner that reads, "BackTap Detected". You can repeat step 5 whenever you wish to take screenshots using Back Tap. Keep in mind that this feature isn't foolproof, as your iPhone may detect false taps at the back and trigger screenshots unnecessarily. If you find this method troublesome, we recommend disabling it. 

Where Can You Find Your Screenshots on iPhone? 

When you take a screenshot on an iPhone, it gets automatically saved in the Photos app. You can find them inside Collections > Screenshots. They also appear in the Library tab along with your recently captured images. 

In case you want to save your iPhone screenshots to another folder, then tap on the screenshot preview when you click a screengrab. Then tap on the tick sign and select Save to Files. You can also pick between Save to Quick Notes, Copy and Delete if you don't want them to clutter your gallery. 

Unable to Take Screenshots on iPhone? Try These Tips to Fix It

If you can't take a screenshot on your iPhone, check out these troubleshooting tips. These might be able to help solve the issue. 

• Use the correct button combo: Make sure that you are not pressing the wrong buttons while taking a screenshot. For iPhones with Face ID: press Side + Volume Up buttons, and for iPhones with Touch ID: press Side + Home buttons.
• Try removing the case: Your iPhone case might also prevent you from fully pressing the buttons to take a screenshot. Try removing the case and see if that helps.
• Use AssistiveTouch: In case there is an issue with the physical buttons of your iPhone, then use AssistiveTouch to take a screenshot. Simply, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch > ON, then use the Screenshot option.
• Check storage space: If your iPhone is running low on storage, then that might prevent the device from saving new screenshots. Clear some space and try again.
• Restart your iPhone: Restarting your iPhone often helps clear up any temporary bugs and glitches with the software.
• Update iOS: An outdated iOS version could also cause your iPhone to malfunction, preventing it from taking a screenshot. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest update.
• Test outside restricted apps: Some apps block screenshots for security reasons. Try on different apps to see if they work.

And that's how you can take a screenshot on an iPhone. I bet you get to learn about some new methods that you previously didn't know about. As iPhones evolve, even basic things like capturing the screen also adapt to it, and it can be difficult to keep track of it if you don't switch to a new phone every two years. I hope this guide was able to help you find the solution you were looking for.