Taking a screenshot might seem like a small thing, but it’s a powerful tool in your daily iPhone experience. Whether you’re saving a funny text conversation, preserving a receipt, capturing a bug to report, or keeping a copy of something important, the ability to quickly snap your screen is one of the most useful features built into your iPhone.
In 2025, iPhones come with more options than ever to take, edit, and share screenshots—whether you’re using Face ID, Touch ID, or AssistiveTouch. No matter which model you have, you’ll find all the information you need right here.
In this detailed, easy-to-follow guide, we’ll cover how to screenshot on every type of iPhone, how to edit and share those screenshots, and some clever tips and tricks to make the most out of this built-in feature.
📸 What Is a Screenshot?
A screenshot is a digital image of whatever is currently on your screen. It could be a conversation, a webpage, a settings screen, or anything else visible. Once captured, it can be edited, shared, saved, or deleted—just like any other image on your phone.
🤔 Why Take a Screenshot?
Here are a few real-life reasons you might want to take a screenshot:
- Save digital receipts or payment confirmations
- Share funny or interesting messages
- Report app bugs or errors
- Keep copies of boarding passes or tickets
- Save information from apps that don’t let you copy text
- Capture high scores or game achievements
- Record settings, Wi-Fi passwords, or instructions
Once you know how to take screenshots, it becomes second nature—and you’ll find more uses for it than you expected.
📱 Part 1: How to Screenshot on iPhones with Face ID
This applies to iPhones without a physical Home button, such as:
- iPhone 15 series
- iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11
- iPhone X, XS, XR
- iPhone SE (3rd gen, if Face ID is used)
✅ Steps to Take a Screenshot:
- Locate the Right Buttons:
- Press the Side Button (on the right) and the Volume Up button (on the left) at the same time.
- Quickly release both buttons.
- Watch the screen flash white.
- You’ll hear a shutter sound (if your sound is on).
- A preview thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner.
- Tap it to edit or swipe it left to dismiss.
That’s it! You’ve captured your screen.
🖐️ Part 2: How to Screenshot on iPhones with Touch ID
This applies to iPhones with a physical Home button, such as:
- iPhone SE (2nd gen)
- iPhone 8, 7, 6s, 6
- Older models like iPhone 5s
✅ Steps to Take a Screenshot:
- Press the Home Button (bottom front) and the Side Button (or Top Button) at the same time.
- Quickly release both buttons.
- Screen flashes and you hear a shutter sound.
- Thumbnail appears for preview, edit, or dismiss.
🧰 Part 3: How to Screenshot Using AssistiveTouch (No Buttons Needed)
If one of your physical buttons isn’t working—or you prefer touch-only navigation—you can use AssistiveTouch to take screenshots.
✅ To Enable AssistiveTouch:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch.
- Toggle AssistiveTouch ON.
- A floating button appears on your screen.
✅ To Take a Screenshot:
- Tap the floating AssistiveTouch button.
- Go to Device > More > Screenshot.
- Your iPhone takes a screenshot instantly.
You can also customize the AssistiveTouch menu to include Screenshot directly.
✍️ Part 4: Editing and Annotating Screenshots
After you take a screenshot, a small preview appears in the bottom-left corner. Tap on it before it disappears (usually within 5 seconds) to enter Edit Mode.
In Edit Mode, You Can:
- Crop the image
- Add text, shapes, or your signature
- Highlight areas
- Use a pen, pencil, highlighter, or eraser
- Undo/redo edits
- Rotate or delete pages (for multiple screenshots)
Once you’re done, tap Done to:
- Save to Photos
- Save to Files
- Delete Screenshot
- Copy and paste it elsewhere
- Share it right away
✏️ This is especially useful for filling out forms, marking up maps, or highlighting sections in screenshots.
📂 Part 5: Where Are Screenshots Saved?
Screenshots are automatically saved to the Photos app.
To find them:
- Open the Photos app.
- Tap Albums at the bottom.
- Scroll down to Media Types and tap Screenshots.
You’ll see all your captured images in one organized place.
📤 Part 6: How to Share Screenshots
You can share screenshots just like any photo or file.
Ways to Share:
- AirDrop to another Apple device
- Message or Mail
- Save to Files or iCloud Drive
- Print directly
- Upload to apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, or Notes
To share:
- Open the screenshot in Photos.
- Tap the Share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up).
- Choose your sharing method.
🧹 Part 7: How to Delete Screenshots
Don’t want to keep every screenshot?
To delete one screenshot:
- Open it in the Photos app.
- Tap the Trash icon.
- Confirm delete.
To delete multiple screenshots:
- Go to Photos > Albums > Screenshots.
- Tap Select in the top-right corner.
- Choose the screenshots to delete.
- Tap Trash, then confirm.
🔒 Deleted images go to the Recently Deleted folder for 30 days unless permanently removed.
📖 Part 8: Take a Full-Page Screenshot (Safari and More)
Want to capture an entire webpage or long document?
This is possible with apps that support Full Page Screenshots (like Safari, Mail, or Notes).
✅ Steps:
- Open Safari and navigate to the page you want.
- Take a screenshot as usual.
- Tap the thumbnail preview.
- At the top, choose Full Page.
- You’ll now see the entire scrollable page in one long screenshot.
- Tap Done > Save PDF to Files (full-page shots save as PDFs, not images).
This is incredibly useful for storing entire articles, receipts, or email threads.
🕹 Part 9: Bonus Tips and Tricks
✔️ Quick Save Without Editing
If you don’t want to annotate or edit your screenshot, simply swipe the preview thumbnail left. It saves automatically.
✔️ Take a Screenshot During Video Playback
Pause the video at the frame you want, then screenshot it.
✔️ Combine Screenshots Into One (Using Shortcuts or Third-Party Apps)
If you’re capturing multiple parts of a conversation or a long list, you can stitch screenshots together using third-party apps or automation tools.
⚙️ Common Screenshot Problems and Fixes
❌ Screenshot Not Working?
- Check for low storage. If your phone is full, screenshots might not save.
- Try restarting your device.
- Make sure buttons are functioning. If not, use AssistiveTouch.
❌ Can’t Find the Screenshot?
- Open Photos > Albums > Screenshots.
- Use Search in the Photos app and type “screenshot.”
📋 Summary Table: Screenshot Methods by iPhone Type
| iPhone Type | Method |
|---|---|
| iPhones with Face ID | Side Button + Volume Up |
| iPhones with Touch ID | Home Button + Side/Top Button |
| All iPhones | AssistiveTouch > Device > More > Screenshot |
| All iPhones | Control Center > Screen Recording (for screen videos) |
📱 Final Thoughts
Taking screenshots on your iPhone is one of those small features that becomes incredibly useful once you master it. Whether you’re snapping funny texts, saving receipts, capturing content from the web, or sharing information with friends, screenshots give you a fast, secure, and reliable way to document anything that appears on your screen.
Best of all, Apple keeps improving this feature with every iOS update—offering more ways to edit, store, and share your screenshots easily. Once you get used to it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
So go ahead—tap, snap, and share. Your iPhone is already equipped with all the tools you need.
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