How to Screen Record on iPhone: 3 Steps, With Sound, Plus What to Do After

Quick answer: Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center, tap the round Record button and wait three seconds, then do what you want to record. To stop, tap the red pill at the top of the screen (or in the Dynamic Island) and tap Stop. The video saves to Photos. For sound from your voice, long-press the Record button first and turn on Microphone.

Video: "How to Screen Record on iPhone - 2026 update" by Howfinity on YouTube.

Step 1: Make sure the Record button is in Control Center

Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen (on iPhones with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom). Look for a round button with a filled dot inside a ring. That is Record.

If it is not there:

• iOS 18 and later (including iOS 26): In Control Center, tap the + in the top-left corner, tap Add a Control, search "Screen Recording", and tap it. Drag it where you want.
• iOS 17 and earlier: Go to Settings > Control Center, find Screen Recording and tap the green +.

Our full guide on how to add screen record on iPhone covers this in detail, including what to do if the option is greyed out.

Step 2: Start recording

1. Open Control Center.
2. Tap the Record button.
3. Wait for the 3, 2, 1 countdown.
4. Close Control Center by swiping up or tapping an empty area.
5. Do whatever you want to capture.

The time and a red indicator appear at the top of the screen while you record. Notifications will appear in the recording, so turn on Do Not Disturb first if that matters.

Step 3: Stop recording

Any of these work:

• Tap the red pill in the status bar or the Dynamic Island, then tap Stop.
• Open Control Center and tap the red Record button.

A message says "Screen Recording video saved to Photos".

How to screen record on iPhone with sound

There are two kinds of sound, and iPhone treats them differently:

1. Open Control Center.
2. Touch and hold the Record button.
3. Tap Microphone so it turns red and says "Microphone On".
4. Tap Start Recording.

The setting is remembered for next time. Turn it off the same way when you do not want your voice or background noise.

More detail and fixes in does screen recording record audio?

Where do screen recordings go on iPhone?

• Open Photos. The newest recording is at the bottom of Library.
• On recent versions of iOS, scroll to Media Types > Screen Recordings to see all of them.
• To save one to Files, open it, tap Share, then Save to Files.

How to screen record on iPad

The same steps work, but Control Center opens from the top-right corner on every iPad. See how to screen record on iPad for iPad-specific tips like recording with Stage Manager and an Apple Pencil.

Does it differ by iPhone model?

Not really. What changes is the iOS version and where the stop button lives:

• iPhone 14 Pro and later, all iPhone 15, 16 and 17 models: stop from the Dynamic Island.
• iPhones with a notch: stop from the red pill in the top-left.
• iPhones with a Home button (like iPhone SE): Control Center opens from the bottom.

Model-by-model notes, including iPhone 17 and iPhone 15, are in how to screen record on iPhone 17.

Common problems and fixes

The Record button does nothing or is grey. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Screen Recording and choose Allow. School and work phones may block it through device management.

The recording has no sound. For your voice, turn on Microphone. For app sound, check the app's volume and the iPhone volume.

The recording stops by itself. Low storage, an incoming call, starting screen mirroring, or the phone overheating. You cannot screen record and screen mirror at once.

It failed to save. Usually storage. Free up space under Settings > General > iPhone Storage and try again.

Part of the video is black. That app blocks capture (streaming, some banking apps).

What to do after recording

A raw screen recording is rarely ready to share. It starts with the Control Center closing, ends with your thumb reaching for stop, and shows the status bar the whole time.

Quick fixes in Photos:

1. Open the recording and tap Edit.
2. Drag the yellow handles on the timeline to trim the start and end.
3. Tap the crop icon to crop or change the aspect ratio.
4. Tap Done, then choose Save as New Clip if you want to keep the original.

When you need more: For tutorials, app demos and social posts you usually want to zoom in on taps, speed up slow parts, add captions and present the clip in a neat frame. Our guide on how to edit a screen recording on your phone walks through a full workflow.

MobileStudio is a phone screen recorder and video editor built for this step. It turns raw recordings into polished app demos and tutorials with trimming, cropping, canvas sizing, zoom effects, device frames and backgrounds. It is out now on Google Play for Android, and the iPhone app is coming soon. If you are a founder showing off an app, it is built for you.

Get MobileStudio

• Free version (Android): Download MobileStudio free on Google Play
• MobileStudio Pro: Upgrade to Pro inside the app
• iPhone: Join the iOS waitlist to get it first.

Pro tips for better iPhone screen recordings

• Turn on Do Not Disturb so no message pops up mid-recording.
• Charge first. Long recordings use battery and heat.
• Slow down your taps. Viewers need a moment to follow.
• Rotate deliberately. If your app or game is landscape, rotate before you start.
• Turn on "Show Touches"? iPhone has no built-in touch indicator for recordings. If you need visible taps, add zoom effects or highlights while editing.
• Record in short takes. Several short clips are easier to edit than one long one.

Four everyday recordings, done well

Knowing the button is half of it. Here is how to approach the four most common reasons people screen record on iPhone.

1. Showing a family member how to do something

• Turn the Microphone on and talk through each step as you do it.
• Move slowly. Pause on each screen for two seconds.
• Keep it under a minute. If it is longer, make two recordings.
• Trim the start and end in Photos, then send it in Messages.

2. Reporting a bug to an app's support team

• Turn the Microphone off so the recording is just the screen.
• Start a few seconds before the problem so support sees what led to it.
• Show the bug happening at least twice if you can.
• Include your iPhone model and iOS version in the message (Settings > General > About).
• Trim anything personal, like messages or email addresses, before sending.

3. Saving a gaming moment

• Turn Do Not Disturb on so no notification pops up mid-match.
• Leave the Microphone off unless you are commentating, or you will record your breathing and room noise.
• Start recording before the round, then trim to the highlight.
• Rotate the phone to landscape before you start.

4. Recording an app demo

• Use demo data, not your personal account.
• Plan the steps, record in short takes, and pause after each tap.
• Use an editor to zoom into taps, frame the recording in a device mockup, and export in the right shape. Our editing guide has a 10-minute workflow.

Recording your iPhone screen from a Mac

If you have a Mac, you can record your iPhone's screen on the Mac instead:

1. Connect your iPhone to the Mac with a cable and unlock it.
2. Open QuickTime Player and choose File > New Movie Recording.
3. Click the arrow next to the record button and choose your iPhone as the camera and microphone.
4. Click record.

This saves the file straight to the Mac, keeps storage free on your phone, and is handy for long tutorials.

Before you share: a privacy check

Screen recordings capture everything on screen, including things you may not notice:

• Notifications that pop up with message previews.
• Your name, email or phone number in app settings.
• Location in maps or weather apps.
• Other people's messages in a chat.

Play the recording back once before you send it. If something private appears, trim it out or crop it away, or re-record with Do Not Disturb on.

How long should a screen recording be?

Shorter than you think. For most uses, aim for:

• Help for a friend: under 60 seconds.
• Bug report: 10 to 30 seconds around the problem.
• Social media clip: 15 to 45 seconds.
• Tutorial: 2 to 5 minutes per topic.

If a recording runs long, split it into parts. Viewers finish short videos, and short files are easier to send.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I screen record in landscape?

Yes. Rotate the phone before or during recording. The recording follows the screen's orientation.

How do I share a long screen recording?

Trim it first, then share a link from iCloud or Google Drive rather than attaching it to a message, which compresses video.

How do I screen record on my iPhone?

Open Control Center, tap Record, wait three seconds. Tap the red pill at the top and choose Stop when done.

How do I screen record on iPhone with sound?

App sound records automatically. To include your voice, long-press Record and tap Microphone before starting.

Is there a time limit for iPhone screen recording?

No fixed limit. Recording stops when storage runs low, the phone gets too hot, or a call comes in.

Why is the screen record button missing?

It has not been added to Control Center. Tap + in Control Center (iOS 18 and later) or go to Settings > Control Center (older iOS).

Can I screen record FaceTime or phone calls?

FaceTime video, yes, with audio limits. Phone calls do not record call audio. See can you screen record FaceTime.

Can people tell if I screen record?

Most apps cannot tell, and iOS does not notify them. Some apps, like Instagram's disappearing messages, are exceptions.

Related guides

• How to add screen record on iPhone
• Does screen recording record audio?
• How to screen record on iPhone 17 and older models
• How to screen record on iPad
• Best screen recorder for iPhone