Screen recording on iPad captures everything on your display — apps, websites, games, video calls — as a video file you can save, edit, or share

iPad has a built-in screen recorder that works on any model running iPadOS 11 or newer. You do not need to read anything or pay for an app. The recorder captures video and audio at the same time, and the file saves directly to your Photos app where you can trim it, share it, or move it to another device.

The recorder is hidden in your Control Center by default, so the first step is adding it there. After that, turning it on takes one tap. Most people use screen recording to capture gameplay, show someone how to do something on their iPad, or record a video call to watch later.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen recording is built into every iPad and requires no app read — you just need to add it to Control Center first.
  • Once added, you start recording by opening Control Center and tapping the red circle icon, then stop by tapping it again or using the red timer bar at the top.
  • Your video saves automatically to the Photos app, where you can trim the beginning or end before sharing.
  • If you want to record audio from apps or games, you must turn on microphone audio in Control Center before you start recording.

Adding Screen Record to Your Control Center

Control Center is the menu that slides up from the bottom of your screen (or down from the top right on newer iPads). Screen Record is not there by default, so you have to add it yourself. Open the Settings app, then tap Control Center. You will see a list of apps and features you can add.

Scroll down until you find Screen Recording. It has a red circle icon next to it. Tap the green plus sign to the left of Screen Recording. The plus sign turns into a minus sign, which means it is now added. Close Settings. The next time you open Control Center, Screen Recording will be there.

Starting and Stopping a Recording

Open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your screen (or swiping down from the top right corner if you have a newer iPad without a home button). Look for the red circle icon labeled Screen Recording. Tap it once. A three-second countdown appears, then recording starts. The red circle icon changes to show that recording is active.

To stop recording, tap the red circle icon again, or tap the red timer bar that appears at the top of your screen and select Stop. Your video saves to the Photos app automatically. You can also press the home button or swipe to another app — recording continues in the background until you stop it.

Recording Audio from Apps and Games

By default, screen recording captures only what you see on the screen, not the sound from apps or games. If you want to record audio — like game sounds, music, or dialogue from a video call — you have to turn on the microphone before you start recording.

Open Control Center and press and hold (or long-press) the red Screen Recording icon. A menu appears with a Microphone Audio option. Tap it to turn it on. The icon next to Microphone Audio changes to show it is active. Now when you tap Screen Recording to start, both video and audio will be captured. If you record with the microphone on, you will also hear yourself if you speak during the recording.

Finding and Trimming Your Recording

After you stop recording, the video appears in your Photos app within a few seconds. Open Photos, tap the Albums tab at the bottom, then tap Recents. Your screen recording will be at the top of the list with today's date.

To trim the video (cut off the beginning or end), tap the recording to open it, then tap Edit in the top right corner. Drag the sliders at the bottom left and right to remove unwanted parts. Tap Done, then Save to Video to keep the trimmed version. The original recording is replaced with the trimmed one.

Sharing Your Recording to Other Devices

Once your recording is in Photos, you can share it in several ways. Tap the recording, then tap the Share button (a box with an arrow pointing up). You can send it via Messages, Mail, AirDrop to another Apple device, or save it to cloud storage like iCloud Drive or Google Drive.

If you want to move the video to a computer, AirDrop is the fastest method if you have a Mac. On Windows, you can email it to yourself or upload it to Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox. The file size depends on how long you recorded — a five-minute recording is usually between 50 and 150 megabytes.

Troubleshooting Common Recording Problems

If Screen Recording does not appear in Control Center after you add it, restart your iPad. Swipe up from the bottom (or down from the top right) to close all apps, wait a few seconds, then turn the iPad off and back on. After restart, open Control Center again and Screen Recording should be there.

If your recording stops unexpectedly, check your storage. If your iPad is almost full, the recorder stops to prevent the drive from running out of space. Delete old photos or videos, or move files to cloud storage. If audio is not recording even though you turned on the microphone, restart the iPad and try again. Some apps (like FaceTime) may not allow microphone recording for privacy reasons.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record my screen while using FaceTime or another video call app?

Yes, you can record the video call, but the other person will see a notification that you are recording. Some apps like FaceTime show a banner at the top of the screen during the call to alert the other person. Always let the other person know before you record.

What happens if I record a video with subtitles or captions?

Subtitles and captions appear in your recording just as they appear on your screen. If you are recording a movie or show with captions, the captions will be part of the video file. You cannot remove them after recording without editing software.

How long can I record before my iPad runs out of storage?

That depends on how much free space you have and the resolution of your iPad. A one-hour recording uses roughly 600 megabytes to 1.5 gigabytes. Check your storage in Settings under General, then iPad Storage. If you are running low, delete old photos or videos before recording.

Can I record my screen and edit it on the iPad, or do I need a computer?

You can do basic editing on the iPad itself. The Photos app lets you trim the start and end. For more advanced editing like adding text, music, or cutting out the middle, you would need an app like iMovie (free from the App Store) or a computer with video editing software.

Does screen recording drain my battery faster?

Yes, recording uses more processing power and battery than normal use. A long recording session will drain your battery faster than scrolling or watching video. If you plan to record for more than 30 minutes, plug your iPad into power first.