Screen recording lets you capture video of your phone or tablet's display
Screen recording is a built-in tool on iPhones and iPads that records everything happening on your screen — apps, web pages, games, video calls — and saves it as a video file. You control when it starts and stops. The recording includes audio from your device unless you turn that off.
Apple includes screen recording in Control Center, the quick-access menu you open by swiping down from the top-right corner (iPhone X and newer) or up from the bottom (older iPhones and iPads). Once you add it, you can start recording in two taps instead of hunting through Settings.
This guide walks you through adding the screen recording button to Control Center so it's always within reach.
Key Takeaways
- Screen recording is a built-in iOS and iPadOS feature that captures video of your screen along with audio, and you control when it starts and stops.
- You add the screen recording button to Control Center through Settings, not through Control Center itself.
- Once added, you open Control Center, tap the screen recording button, wait three seconds, and the recording begins.
- The recording stops when you tap the red status bar at the top of your screen or return to Control Center and tap the button again.
Open Settings and find Control Center
Start by opening the Settings app on your device — it's the gray icon with gears. Scroll down until you see Control Center and tap it.
You'll see two sections: "Included Controls" (features already in Control Center) and "More Controls" (features you can add). Screen recording is in the "More Controls" section because it's not there by default.
Add screen recording to your Control Center
Look through the "More Controls" list for Screen Recording. It has a circle icon with a dot in the middle. Tap the plus sign next to it.
The button moves to the "Included Controls" section at the top. That's it — screen recording is now in your Control Center. You can close Settings.
If you want to reorder your Control Center buttons so screen recording appears near the top, you can do that in the "Included Controls" section. Tap and hold the three horizontal lines next to any button and drag it up or down.
Start a screen recording from Control Center
Open Control Center by swiping down from the top-right corner of your screen (iPhone X and newer) or swiping up from the bottom (iPhone 8 and older, or iPad). You'll see your screen recording button — the circle with a dot.
Tap it once. A three-second countdown appears on your screen. When it reaches zero, recording starts. Everything you do on your screen is now being captured as video.
If you want to record audio from your device (app sounds, music, video dialogue), leave the microphone on. If you want to record silently, press and hold the screen recording button, then tap the microphone icon to turn it off before the countdown starts.
Stop the recording and find your video
To stop recording, tap the red status bar at the very top of your screen. A message appears asking you to confirm. Tap Stop. The video is automatically saved to your Photos app in the Videos album.
Alternatively, open Control Center again and tap the screen recording button a second time to stop.
Your video file is ready to watch, edit, or share when ready. You can trim it in the Photos app by opening the video, tapping Edit, and dragging the sliders at the bottom to cut the beginning or end.
Troubleshooting if screen recording won't start
If you tap the button and nothing happens, check whether an app is blocking it. Some apps — particularly banking apps and apps with parental controls — prevent screen recording for security reasons. Close that app and try again in a different one.
If screen recording is grayed out or missing from Control Center entirely, restart your device. Power it off completely, wait a few seconds, and power it back on. Then check Control Center again.
If you see a message saying "Screen Recording Not Available", your device may be in a restricted mode. Check Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If it's turned on, you may need to enter a passcode or adjust the restrictions to allow screen recording.
Why you might use screen recording
Screen recording is useful for many situations: creating a tutorial to show someone how to do something on their phone, documenting a bug in an app to send to customer support, recording a video call for your own notes, or capturing a moment from a game or app before it disappears.
The video file takes up storage space, so delete recordings you no longer need. A one-minute screen recording typically uses 15 to 30 megabytes of storage, depending on the complexity of what's on screen.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record just the audio without the video?
No, screen recording always captures video. If you only need audio — like recording a phone call or podcast — use the Voice Memos app instead. Open it, tap the red record button, and tap it again to stop.
Does screen recording include my face or camera?
Only if you're using an app that shows your camera on screen, like FaceTime or a video call. Screen recording captures what's visible on your display. It does not automatically set up your front-facing camera.
Can I record while using another app?
Yes. Once you start screen recording, you can open any app and use it normally. Everything you do appears in the recording. To stop, tap the red status bar or return to Control Center.
What happens if I get a phone call while recording?
An incoming call pauses the recording. When you end the call, the recording does not automatically resume — you have to start it again from Control Center if you want to continue.
Can I edit the video after I record it?
Yes. Open the Photos app, find your recording in the Videos album, tap it, then tap Edit. You can trim the start and end, but you cannot cut out the middle or add text. For more detailed editing, use a video editing app like iMovie.