The fastest way depends on your phone's operating system
Most phones have a built-in screenshot tool you can reach in seconds without downloading anything. On Android, you usually hold the power button and volume-down button at the same time for a second or two. On iPhone, you hold the side button and volume-up button together. Both phones save the image to your photo library automatically.
Screen recording — capturing video of what's happening on your screen — works differently. Android and iPhone both include this feature in their settings, but you reach it through different menus. The method you use depends on which phone you have and what you're trying to capture.
Key Takeaways
- Screenshots on Android use the power button plus volume-down; on iPhone, use the side button plus volume-up.
- Both phones save screenshots automatically to your photo library, and you can edit or share them right away.
- Screen recording on Android lives in Quick Settings; on iPhone, add it to Control Center first through Settings.
- Screen recordings include audio by default on both phones, so turn off sound if you're recording something private.
- You can take a screenshot of just part of your screen on both phones by using the editing menu that appears after you capture.
Taking a screenshot on Android
Hold down the power button (usually on the right side of the phone) and the volume-down button at the same time. Keep both pressed for about one second. You'll see a flash or feel a vibration, and a small menu will pop up at the bottom of the screen showing your screenshot.
The image saves to your Photos app automatically in a folder called Screenshots. You can tap the preview that appears to edit it right away — crop it, draw on it, or add text. If you miss the preview, open your Photos app, find the Screenshots folder, and edit from there.
Some Android phones have a different method: swiping down from the top of the screen twice to open Quick Settings, then tapping Screenshot. Try the button method first, since it works on almost all Android phones.
Taking a screenshot on iPhone
Press the side button (on the right edge) and the volume-up button at the same time, then release both. You'll see a thumbnail appear in the bottom-left corner of your screen. Tap it within a few seconds to edit, or let it disappear and the screenshot saves to your Photos app.
If you want to edit right away, tap the thumbnail. You can crop, draw, add text, or magnify parts of the image. You can also take a screenshot of just part of your screen: after you capture, tap the thumbnail, tap Edit, then tap the crop tool and draw a box around the area you want to keep.
On older iPhones (iPhone 8 and earlier), use the top button and home button instead of the side button and volume-up.
Recording your screen on Android
Swipe down from the top of your screen twice to open Quick Settings. Look for a button labeled Screen Recorder or similar (the exact name varies by phone). Tap it, and a menu will appear asking if you want to record audio. Choose whether to include sound, then tap Start or Record.
A countdown will appear, then recording begins. A floating icon or notification will show that recording is active. When you're done, tap the stop button — usually in the notification area or on the floating icon. The video saves to your Photos app as a file you can share or edit.
If you don't see Screen Recorder in Quick Settings, open your Settings app, search for "screen recording," and turn it on. Then try Quick Settings again.
Recording your screen on iPhone
First, add screen recording to your Control Center. Open Settings, tap Control Center, scroll down, and tap the plus sign next to Screen Recording. Now swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or up from the bottom on older models) to open Control Center.
Look for a circle-inside-a-circle icon (the screen recording button). Press and hold it for a second. A menu appears asking if you want to include audio from your microphone. Tap Start Recording or the red button. A countdown appears, then recording begins. A red bar at the top shows recording is active.
To stop, tap the red bar at the top or open Control Center and tap the screen recording button again. The video saves to your Photos app. By default, screen recordings include audio from your phone's speakers and microphone, so turn off microphone audio if you're recording something private.
What to do with your screenshots and recordings after you capture them
Both Android and iPhone let you edit screenshots when ready after you take them. You can crop, draw, add text, or blur sensitive information. This is useful if you captured more than you needed or want to highlight something specific.
To share a screenshot or recording, open your Photos app, find the image or video, and tap Share. You can send it through text, email, social media, or cloud storage. If you're sharing something with personal information, use the editing tools to blur or cover it first.
If you want to delete screenshots or recordings to save space, open Photos, find the file, tap the trash icon, and confirm. Deleted files go to a Recently Deleted folder where they stay for 30 days before disappearing permanently.
Troubleshooting common problems
If the button combination doesn't work, make sure you're holding both buttons at the same time, not one after the other. On Android, try holding for a full second. On iPhone, the timing is quick — press and release together. If your phone vibrates but no screenshot appears, check that your storage isn't full by opening Settings and looking at available space.
If screen recording won't start, close other apps and try again. On iPhone, make sure you added screen recording to Control Center first. On Android, check that you turned it on in Settings. If audio isn't recording, open the recording menu again and make sure the audio toggle is turned on.
If you can't find your screenshots or recordings, they may be in a different folder. On Android, open Photos and look for a Screenshots or Recordings folder. On iPhone, check the Recently Added album or search by date. If a file is missing, it may have been deleted — check the Recently Deleted folder.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
Yes. On both Android and iPhone, take a regular screenshot first, then tap the preview or open it in Photos. Use the crop tool to select only the area you want to keep. Some Android phones also let you select a rectangular or circular area before taking the screenshot — look for a Partial Screenshot option in Quick Settings.
Will my screen recording include audio?
By default, yes — both phones record audio from speakers and your microphone. Before you start recording, check the audio settings in the menu that appears. You can turn off microphone audio if you don't want to record your voice, or turn off all audio if you're recording something private.
How much storage do screen recordings use?
A one-minute screen recording typically uses 50 to 150 megabytes, depending on your phone and screen resolution. Longer recordings use more space. If you're running low on storage, delete old recordings or move them to cloud storage like Google Photos or iCloud.
Can I edit a screenshot after I take it?
Yes. On both phones, tap the preview that appears right after you capture, or open the screenshot in your Photos app and tap Edit. You can crop, draw, add text, blur areas, or add shapes. Changes save automatically when you're done.
What if my phone doesn't have a Quick Settings menu?
Older Android phones may not have Quick Settings. Instead, open your Settings app and look for Screenshot or Screen Recording in the menu. You can also try the button combination — power plus volume-down — which works on most Android phones regardless of age.