Screenshot on iPhone 7: The two-button method
On iPhone 7, you take a screenshot by pressing the Side button (the power button on the right edge) and the Volume Up button at the same time, then release both when ready. You do not need to hold them — a quick simultaneous press is all it takes.
The screenshot saves to your Photos app in a folder called Screenshots. You will see a thumbnail appear briefly in the bottom left corner of your screen. Tap that thumbnail within a few seconds if you want to edit or mark up the image right away — you can draw on it, add text, or crop it before saving.
If you miss the thumbnail, open Photos, tap Albums at the bottom, scroll down to Screenshots, and find your image there. Each screenshot is timestamped, so you can identify which one you just took.
Key Takeaways
- Press the Side button and Volume Up button at the same time to take a screenshot on iPhone 7.
- Screenshots save automatically to your Photos app in the Screenshots album.
- You can edit, mark up, or crop a screenshot when ready after taking it by tapping the thumbnail that appears in the bottom left corner.
- iPhone 7 cannot record your screen — screen recording was added in iOS 11, which iPhone 7 supports, but you must update your phone first.
- If your screenshot button combination is not working, restart your iPhone and try again.
Screen recording on iPhone 7 requires iOS 11 or later
iPhone 7 can record your screen, but only if you are running iOS 11 or a newer version. Screen recording was not built into earlier iOS versions. Check your current iOS version by opening Settings, tapping General, then About — look for the number next to "Software Version."
If you are on iOS 10 or earlier, you need to update. Open Settings, tap General, then Software Update. Your phone will check for the latest version available. If an update is ready, tap read and Install, then follow the prompts. This can take 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed and how much storage is available.
Add screen recording to your Control Center
Once you have iOS 11 or later, screen recording does not appear in Control Center by default — you have to add it yourself. Open Settings, tap Control Center, then Customize Controls. Scroll down until you see "Screen Recording" with a green plus sign next to it. Tap the plus sign to add it.
Now when you swipe up from the bottom of your screen (or swipe down from the top right on newer iPhones), you will see the screen recording button — it looks like a filled circle inside a circle. The button will be red when you are recording.
Start and stop a screen recording
Open Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. Find the Screen Recording button (the circle icon) and tap it once. A three-second countdown will appear, then recording begins. The status bar at the top of your screen will turn red to show recording is active.
To stop recording, tap the red status bar at the top, or open Control Center again and tap the Screen Recording button a second time. Your recording saves to Photos in a folder called Videos. You can trim it, share it, or delete it from there.
Screen recordings include audio from your phone's speakers and microphone by default. If you want to record without audio, press and hold the Screen Recording button in Control Center instead of tapping it once — a menu will appear with a microphone icon. Tap the microphone icon to turn audio off, then tap Start Recording.
What to do if screenshots are not working
If pressing Side button and Volume Up together does nothing, first try restarting your iPhone. Hold down the Side button until the power-off slider appears, drag it to turn off your phone, wait 10 seconds, then hold the Side button again until the Apple logo appears.
If screenshots still do not work after restart, check whether you have Assistive Touch turned on. Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then Touch, then Assistive Touch. If it is on (the toggle is green), turn it off. Assistive Touch can interfere with the screenshot button combination.
If you have a case or screen protector, make sure it is not blocking the buttons. Try the screenshot combination again with firm, simultaneous presses. If it still does not work, your Side button or Volume Up button may need service — contact Apple Support or visit an Apple Store.
Storage and privacy when taking screenshots
Screenshots and screen recordings take up storage space on your phone. A single screenshot is usually 1 to 3 megabytes. A one-minute screen recording can be 50 to 100 megabytes depending on what is on your screen. If your phone is running low on storage, you can delete old screenshots and videos from Photos to free up space.
Screenshots and recordings are stored only on your phone unless you share them. They do not upload to iCloud automatically unless you have iCloud Photos turned on in Settings. If you share a screenshot or recording through Messages, Mail, or another app, that app handles the data according to its own privacy rules — for example, Messages encrypts photos end-to-end, but email does not.
Be aware that screenshots of sensitive information (passwords, financial details, personal messages) are stored in your Photos app like any other image. If someone gains access to your phone, they can see your screenshots. Delete sensitive screenshots after you no longer need them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
No, iPhone 7 screenshots always capture the entire screen. However, after you take a screenshot, you can crop it in Photos by opening the image, tapping Edit, then tapping the crop tool to select only the part you want to keep.
What is the difference between a screenshot and a screen recording?
A screenshot is a still image of what is on your screen at one moment. A screen recording captures video of everything that happens on your screen for as long as you record. Use screenshots for single moments and screen recordings when you need to show a process or sequence of actions.
Will people know I took a screenshot of their message?
No. Taking a screenshot does not notify the other person. However, some apps like Snapchat do send a notification when you screenshot a message or photo — that is a feature of Snapchat itself, not of iOS.
Can I record my screen while using another app?
Yes. Once you start screen recording, you can open any app and use it normally. The recording will capture everything you do. Stop recording by tapping the red status bar or opening Control Center and tapping Screen Recording again.
Where do my screen recordings save?
Screen recordings save to your Photos app in the Videos album, just like videos you record with the camera. You can find them by opening Photos, tapping Albums, and scrolling to Videos. They are timestamped so you can identify which recording is which.