How to Screen Record on iPad (With Sound, Pencil Tips and Fixes)

Quick answer: Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPad to open Control Center, tap the round Record button and wait for the three-second countdown. To stop, tap the red recording indicator at the top-right, then Stop, or reopen Control Center and tap Record again. Your video saves to Photos. To include your voice, long-press Record and tap Microphone before you start.

Video: "How to Screen Record on iPad WITH Sound (iPadOS 17/18/26 Tutorial)" by Quick Tutorials on YouTube.

How to add the Record button on iPad

If you do not see Record in Control Center:

iPadOS 18 and later (including iPadOS 26):

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner.
2. Tap the + in the top-left of Control Center, or touch and hold an empty spot.
3. Tap Add a Control.
4. Search for Screen Recording and tap it.
5. Tap outside to finish.

iPadOS 17 and earlier:

1. Open Settings > Control Center.
2. Tap the green + next to Screen Recording.

The iPhone version of this, with fixes for a greyed-out button, is in how to add screen record on iPhone. The steps are the same on iPad.

How to screen record on iPad, step by step

1. Set up your screen first. Open the app you want to record and arrange windows.
2. Turn on Do Not Disturb in Control Center so notifications stay out of the video.
3. Open Control Center from the top-right corner.
4. Tap Record. A countdown runs from 3.
5. Close Control Center and start your demonstration.
6. Stop by tapping the red indicator at the top of the screen and choosing Stop.
7. Find the video in Photos > Library, or under Media Types > Screen Recordings.

How to screen record on iPad with sound

Full sound troubleshooting is in does screen recording record audio?

iPad-specific tips

Stage Manager and Split View

The recorder captures the entire display, not one window. If you use Stage Manager, close or minimise windows you do not want visible. For a cleaner look, put the app you are demonstrating in full screen.

Apple Pencil tutorials

iPad is great for drawing, note-taking and annotation tutorials:

• Record in landscape so the result fits YouTube and slides.
• Use a thicker pen so strokes stay readable after compression.
• Narrate with the Microphone on while drawing.
• Slow down. What feels slow to you looks normal to viewers.

Teaching and lessons

Teachers use iPad recordings for flipped classrooms and homework help. Keep each recording short (3 to 6 minutes), one idea per video, and trim the start and end so students jump straight in.

External displays

When an iPad is connected to an external display and mirroring, screen recording stops. You cannot screen record and screen mirror at the same time. Extended display mode with Stage Manager behaves differently by model, so test before a live session.

Where iPad screen recordings are saved

• Photos > Library: newest at the bottom.
• Photos > Media Types > Screen Recordings on recent iPadOS.
• To move them to a computer, use AirDrop, iCloud Photos, or Share > Save to Files.

Common problems and fixes

Record button missing. Add it to Control Center as shown above.

Record button greyed out. Check Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Screen Recording is set to Allow. School-managed iPads often block recording, so ask your IT admin.

No sound. Turn on Microphone for voice. For app sound, unmute the app and raise the volume.

Recording stops early. Storage is full, the iPad overheated, or mirroring started.

Black areas in the video. Streaming and some secure apps block capture. See why Netflix screen recordings are black.

File too big. Trim in Photos (Edit, drag the yellow handles). An iPad recording at full resolution can be large.

Editing an iPad screen recording

The Photos app handles basic trimming and cropping: open the video, tap Edit, drag the yellow trim handles, and use the crop tool to change the frame. iMovie on iPad can add titles and combine clips.

For app demos and product videos, you usually want more: zooming in on taps, cropping out the status bar, placing the recording in a device frame and exporting in the right shape for each platform. Our guide to editing screen recordings on your phone covers that workflow step by step.

MobileStudio is a mobile screen recorder and video editor focused on that polish: trim, crop, canvas, zoom effects, device frames and backgrounds. It is available now on Google Play for Android phones, and the Apple version is in progress. If you record on iPad today, you can join the waitlist and get it when it lands.

Get MobileStudio

• Free version (Android): Download free on Google Play
• MobileStudio Pro: Upgrade to Pro in the app
• iPad and iPhone: Join the iOS waitlist

A recording checklist for iPad

1. Record button is in Control Center.
2. Do Not Disturb is on.
3. Microphone setting is what you want.
4. Battery is above 50 percent or plugged in.
5. Storage has a few gigabytes free.
6. Only the windows you want are visible.
7. You did a 10-second test and played it back.

A simple template for recorded lessons

If you use iPad to teach, explain or train, a repeatable structure saves time and makes your videos easier to follow:

1. Title screen (3 seconds). Open a note or slide with the lesson title before you start recording, so the first frame says what this is.
2. The goal (15 seconds). Say what viewers will be able to do by the end.
3. The steps (2 to 5 minutes). One idea at a time. Pause after each step.
4. A recap (15 seconds). Repeat the key steps in one sentence each.
5. What next (5 seconds). Point to the next lesson or the homework.

Keep each video to a single topic. Five short videos are easier to watch, re-record and update than one long one.

Using a keyboard, trackpad or mouse

iPads used with a Magic Keyboard, trackpad or mouse show a round pointer on screen. In screen recordings, that pointer generally appears, which helps viewers follow where you are clicking. A few tips:

• Move the pointer deliberately and let it rest on the thing you are talking about.
• Use keyboard shortcuts sparingly. Viewers cannot see which keys you press, so say them out loud.
• Increase pointer size in Settings > Accessibility > Pointer Control if it looks small in the recording.

Exporting for school platforms and YouTube

Different destinations prefer different files:

Recording with a second camera

Some teachers and creators want their face in the corner while they work on the iPad. The iPad's built-in recorder does not add a camera bubble. Options:

• Use an app that supports picture-in-picture camera overlays.
• Record your face separately with another device and combine the two in an editor.
• Use FaceTime or a meeting app with screen sharing and record that (with the participants' consent).

For most lessons, a clear voice matters more than a face on screen. Start with narration and add a camera later if your audience asks for it.

Recording iPad apps for an App Store or product demo

If you build or market an iPad app, record each feature as a separate short clip in landscape, using demo content. Turn on Do Not Disturb, set the battery above 50 percent (the status bar shows it), and keep the pointer or your finger movements slow. Then edit the clips together, add zooms on key interactions and export at the sizes your store listing or website needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I screen record on iPad with an external display connected?

You cannot record while mirroring. If your iPad uses the external display as an extended screen with Stage Manager, behaviour varies by model, so test first.

Can I screen record on iPad while using Split View?

Yes. The recording captures the whole screen, including both apps.

Can I record my iPad screen from a Mac?

Yes. Connect the iPad by cable, open QuickTime Player, choose File > New Movie Recording, and select the iPad as the camera source.

Why is my iPad recording so large?

iPad screens are high resolution. Trim the recording, or export a smaller version in an editor before sharing.

Does iPad screen recording show the on-screen keyboard?

Yes. Anything visible on screen is recorded, so avoid typing passwords or private details while recording.

How do I screen record on my iPad?

Swipe down from the top-right corner, tap the Record button, wait three seconds. Tap the red indicator and Stop when done.

Why can't I find screen recording on my iPad?

It has not been added to Control Center. Add it with the + button in Control Center on iPadOS 18 and later, or in Settings > Control Center on older versions.

How do I screen record on iPad with my voice?

Long-press the Record button in Control Center and tap Microphone before starting.

Can I screen record on an older iPad?

Yes. Any iPad that runs iOS 11 or later has screen recording, though the Control Center layout differs.

Does iPad screen recording capture the Apple Pencil?

It captures what appears on screen, including strokes. It does not show the Pencil itself.

How long can I record on iPad?

There is no set limit. Storage, battery and heat are the practical limits.

Related guides

• How to screen record on iPhone
• How to add screen record on iPhone
• Does screen recording record audio?
• How to edit a screen recording on your phone