The two built-in ways to capture what's on your iPad screen

iPad has two separate tools built in: Screenshots capture a still image of what you see right now, and Screen Recording captures video of everything you do for as long as you let it run. Both are free and require no apps. Which one you use depends on whether you need a single frozen moment or a video of actions happening over time.

Screenshots work the same way across all iPad models, but the button combination changes depending on whether your iPad has a home button. Screen Recording lives in Control Center on every model. Both tools save to your Photos app by default, where you can edit, share, or delete them.

Key Takeaways

  • iPads with a home button use the top buttons plus home button for screenshots; newer iPads without a home button use two side buttons instead.
  • Screen Recording is turned on through Control Center and keeps recording until you stop it, capturing everything including audio from your device or microphone.
  • Both screenshots and recordings save automatically to Photos, where you can trim, annotate, or share them when ready.
  • You can take a screenshot of just part of your screen by using the floating thumbnail that appears after you capture, then tapping Edit.

Taking a screenshot on iPad with a home button

If your iPad has a home button at the bottom of the screen, press the top right button and the home button at the same time. Hold them for a moment until you see a white flash and hear a camera shutter sound. The screenshot appears as a small thumbnail in the bottom left corner of your screen.

That thumbnail stays there for a few seconds. Tap it to open the screenshot when ready and make changes — you can crop it, draw on it, add text, or magnify parts of it. If you do nothing, it saves to Photos automatically. You can also swipe the thumbnail away if you want to discard it without saving.

Taking a screenshot on iPad without a home button

Newer iPad models (iPad Air, iPad Pro, and newer iPad) have no home button. Instead, press the top right button and the top left button at the same time. You'll see the same white flash and camera sound, and the thumbnail appears in the bottom left corner.

The editing and saving process is identical — tap the thumbnail to edit, or let it disappear to save automatically to Photos. This two-button method is the same one used on newer iPhones, so if you own both devices, the motion is the same.

Recording your screen with audio

Open Control Center by swiping down from the top right corner of your screen (or swiping up from the bottom if you have an older iPad). Look for the Screen Recording icon — it looks like a circle inside a circle. Tap it once to start recording.

A three-second countdown appears, then recording begins. Everything you do on screen is captured as video. The status bar at the top turns red to remind you that recording is active. When you're done, tap the red status bar or open Control Center again and tap Screen Recording to stop.

By default, Screen Recording captures sound from your device (music playing, notification sounds, video audio). If you want to record your voice over the video — for example, narrating a tutorial — press and hold the Screen Recording icon in Control Center instead of just tapping it. A menu appears where you can turn on the microphone before you start.

Finding and editing your screenshots and recordings

Both screenshots and screen recordings save to your Photos app in the Recents album. Open Photos, tap the Recents tab at the bottom, and scroll to find what you just captured. Tap it to view it full-screen.

For screenshots, tap Edit to crop, rotate, draw on it, add text, or magnify sections. For screen recordings, tap Edit to trim the beginning or end — useful if you recorded a few seconds too long. Both types can be marked up with the Markup tools (pen, highlighter, shapes, text, magnifying glass, signature). When you're done editing, tap Done to save your changes.

Sharing screenshots and recordings from your iPad

After you capture something, the thumbnail in the corner has a share button. Tap the thumbnail, then tap the share icon (arrow pointing out of a box) to send it via email, Messages, AirDrop, or any other app you have installed. You can also open Photos, find the screenshot or recording, tap it, and use the share button there.

If you want to share a screen recording as a file rather than playing it in a message, use the Files app or email — both preserve the video format. Messages and some social apps may compress the video, which reduces quality. For the highest quality, use AirDrop to another Apple device or email it to yourself.

Troubleshooting common screenshot and recording problems

If you press the buttons and nothing happens, make sure you're holding them at the same time, not one after the other. The timing needs to be simultaneous. Also check that your iPad is not in Silent mode — the mute switch on the side of the device silences the camera shutter sound, though the screenshot still saves even if you don't hear it.

If Screen Recording doesn't appear in Control Center, you may need to add it. Open Settings, tap Control Center, scroll down to More Controls, and tap the plus button next to Screen Recording. If your recordings are saving but appear corrupted or won't play, restart your iPad and try again — this usually fixes temporary software glitches.

If you're recording and the audio sounds muffled or missing, check that you enabled the microphone before you started (if you wanted voice narration), and make sure your iPad's volume is turned up. Device audio records at whatever volume level your iPad is set to.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?

Yes. After you take a full screenshot, tap the thumbnail and then tap Edit. Use your finger to draw a rectangle around the part you want to keep, and the rest will be cropped away. You can also use the Markup tools to zoom in on a specific area.

Does screen recording capture my passwords or private information?

Yes — it records everything visible on your screen, including passwords, messages, and personal data. Be careful what you record and who you share it with. If you record something sensitive by accident, delete it from Photos when ready.

How long can I record my screen?

As long as your iPad has storage space available. A one-minute screen recording uses roughly 40 to 100 MB depending on what's on screen and whether audio is included. Check your available storage in Settings under General, then About.

Can I record my screen while using another app?

Yes. Start Screen Recording, then open any app you want to record. The recording continues in the background. You can switch between apps, open websites, play games, or do anything else — all of it is captured.

What's the difference between recording device audio and microphone audio?

Device audio is everything your iPad plays — music, videos, notification sounds, app sounds. Microphone audio is your voice or sounds in the room around you. You can record both at the same time by enabling the microphone before you start recording.