Screen recording is built into iOS, but you control whether apps can access it

Screen recording on iPhone is a native feature you turn on through Control Center. Once enabled, you can record everything on your screen — apps, websites, video calls — and save it as a video file. The recording includes audio from your device and your microphone if you turn that on.

The privacy piece matters: apps can request permission to use screen recording, just like they request camera or location access. You decide which apps get that permission, and you can revoke it anytime. This matters because screen recording can capture sensitive information — passwords you type, banking details, private messages — so controlling access is worth understanding.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen recording lives in Control Center on all iPhones running iOS 11 or later, and you add it there if it is not already visible.
  • When you record, iOS shows a red status bar at the top of your screen so you know recording is active, and anyone looking at your phone can see it too.
  • Apps that want to record your screen must ask permission first, and you can see which apps have that permission in Settings under Privacy.
  • You can record audio from your device, your microphone, or both — choose what you need before you start recording.
  • Recorded videos save to your Photos app and take up storage space, so delete old recordings if you are running low on space.

Add screen recording to your Control Center

Screen recording does not always appear in Control Center by default. To add it: open Settings, tap Control Center, scroll down to "More Controls," and tap the green plus sign next to "Screen Recording." The icon now appears when you swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older iPhones).

Once it is there, you can start recording when ready by tapping the icon. A three-second countdown appears before recording begins, giving you time to position your phone or navigate to what you want to record.

Choose what audio to record or record silently

When you press and hold the screen recording icon in Control Center, a menu appears with audio options. You can record with microphone audio (so people hear you talking), device audio only (game sounds, video playback, app notifications), or no audio at all. Choose what fits what you are recording.

If you just tap the icon without holding, it uses whatever setting you chose last time. This matters because you might accidentally record your microphone when you meant to record silently, or vice versa. A quick press-and-hold takes two seconds and prevents that mistake.

Understand what appears on screen while you record

iOS shows a red status bar at the very top of your screen while recording is active. This is intentional — it is a visual reminder that everything on your display is being captured. Anyone looking at your phone can see this red bar, so there is no hidden recording.

The red bar also functions as a stop button. Tap it and a menu asks you to confirm you want to stop recording. Once you confirm, the video saves automatically to your Photos app in the Videos album. You can trim it, share it, or delete it from there like any other video.

Control which apps can access screen recording

Apps can request permission to record your screen without you manually starting it. This is how screen-sharing apps, video conferencing tools, and some accessibility apps work. To see which apps have this permission: open Settings, tap Privacy, scroll down to Screen Recording, and look at the list.

If an app appears on that list and you did not give it permission, something went wrong — uninstall the app and reinstall it, or contact the app maker. If an app you trust is on the list but you want to revoke access, tap the toggle next to its name to turn it off. The app will ask for permission again the next time it needs to record your screen.

Know what screen recording captures and what it does not

Screen recording captures everything visible on your display, including text you type, passwords you enter, and sensitive information in apps. It does not capture what is happening on other devices — if you are on a video call, the recording shows your side of the call, not the other person's screen.

Screen recording also does not bypass app-level protections. Some banking apps and password managers detect when you are recording and blur sensitive fields or refuse to display information. This is intentional security design, and it means you cannot record a password manager showing your passwords even if you have screen recording enabled.

Manage storage and delete old recordings

Screen recordings are video files, and video takes up space quickly. A one-minute recording at standard quality uses roughly 50 to 100 megabytes, depending on what is on screen. If you record frequently, your storage can fill up fast. Check your storage in Settings under General, then iPhone Storage to see how much space your recordings are using.

Delete recordings you no longer need by opening Photos, finding the video in the Videos album, tapping Select, choosing the video, and tapping Delete. You can also delete multiple videos at once. If you want to keep a recording but save space, you can share it to cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, iCloud) and then delete the local copy from your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen without the red status bar showing?

No. iOS always displays the red status bar while recording is active. This is a privacy feature — it prevents hidden recording. Anyone looking at your phone will see that recording is happening.

What happens if an app tries to record my screen without permission?

iOS blocks it and shows you a notification that the app requested screen recording access. You can allow it once, allow it always, or deny it. If you deny it, the app cannot record your screen unless you change your mind in Settings.

Can I record a FaceTime call or video call?

Yes, screen recording captures FaceTime and other video calls. However, iOS shows a notification to the other person that you are recording. Some apps like WhatsApp or Zoom may also show their own recording indicator.

Does screen recording work on older iPhones?

Screen recording is available on iPhone 6s and later running iOS 11 or newer. If your iPhone is older than that, you cannot use this feature. Check your iOS version in Settings under General, then About.

Can I edit a screen recording after I save it?

Yes. Open Photos, find your recording in the Videos album, tap Edit, and use the trim tool to cut out the beginning or end. You can also crop the video or adjust colors. Tap Done to save your changes.