The Two Ways to Capture Your iPad Screen
You can take a still screenshot on iPad using either the physical buttons or the Apple Pencil, depending on which model you own. The button method works on all iPads. The Apple Pencil method is faster if you already have one in your hand, but it only works on iPad Pro and iPad Air models from 2022 onward.
Both methods save the image to your Photos app when ready. You do not need to do anything else — the screenshot is already stored and ready to mark up, share, or delete.
Key Takeaways
- Press the top button and volume-up button at the same time to capture your screen on any iPad model.
- On newer iPad Pro and iPad Air models, you can tap the top-right corner with your Apple Pencil instead of using buttons.
- Your screenshot appears in the Photos app within seconds and shows a thumbnail in the bottom-left corner while you can still edit it.
- You can mark up, crop, or delete a screenshot when ready after taking it by tapping the thumbnail that appears.
- Screenshots are saved to your Photos app under the Screenshots album, not in a separate folder.
Taking a Screenshot with the Top Button and Volume Button
This method works on every iPad model. Locate the top button on your iPad — this is the power button on most models, or the home button on older iPads with a home button at the bottom. Find the volume-up button on the right edge of your iPad.
Press both buttons at the same time and hold them for about one second. You will hear a camera shutter sound and see a white flash across the screen. A thumbnail of your screenshot appears in the bottom-left corner of the screen for a few seconds, then disappears.
If you do not hear the shutter sound, your iPad may be in silent mode. Check the mute switch on the left edge of your iPad — if it is in the down position, your iPad is silent. You can toggle it up to turn sound back on, or straightforward ignore the missing sound; the screenshot was still taken.
Taking a Screenshot with Your Apple Pencil
This method only works on iPad Pro (6th generation and later) and iPad Air (5th generation and later). If you have an older model, use the button method instead.
Hold your Apple Pencil and tap the top-right corner of your iPad screen with the pencil tip. You will see the same white flash and hear the shutter sound. A thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner just as it does with the button method.
This approach is useful if you are already holding your Apple Pencil and do not want to set it down. It is faster than reaching for two buttons at once.
What Happens Right After You Take a Screenshot
A thumbnail of your screenshot appears in the bottom-left corner of your screen for about five seconds. Tap this thumbnail to open a markup screen where you can draw, add text, or make other changes to the image before saving it.
If you do nothing and wait five seconds, the thumbnail disappears and your screenshot is saved as-is to your Photos app. You can still find it later and edit it then if you change your mind.
If you tap the thumbnail and then decide you do not want to make changes, tap "Done" in the top-left corner, then tap "Save to Photos" to keep the original unedited version.
Finding Your Screenshots in the Photos App
Open the Photos app on your iPad. Tap the "Albums" tab at the bottom of the screen. Scroll down until you see the "Screenshots" album and tap it. All your screenshots appear here in the order you took them, newest first.
You can also find screenshots by tapping "Library" at the bottom and scrolling through all your photos by date. Screenshots are mixed in with other photos in the library view, but the Screenshots album keeps them separate if you want to find them quickly.
Editing or Deleting a Screenshot
To edit a screenshot after you have taken it, open the Photos app, find the screenshot, and tap it to open it. Tap "Edit" in the top-right corner. You can now crop the image, adjust colors, add filters, or use the markup tools to draw or add text.
To delete a screenshot, open it in the Photos app, tap "Delete" in the bottom-right corner, and confirm. The screenshot moves to your Recently Deleted album and stays there for 30 days before being permanently removed. If you change your mind within those 30 days, you can recover it from the Recently Deleted album.
Troubleshooting Screenshots That Do Not Appear
If you pressed the buttons but did not see a flash or hear a sound, check that you pressed both buttons at exactly the same time. Pressing them a split second apart will not work. Try again, holding both buttons down for a full second.
If you still do not see a screenshot, check your storage. If your iPad is almost full, it may not have room to save new photos. Go to Settings, tap General, then tap iPad Storage to see how much space you have left. Delete old photos or videos if you are running low on space.
If you are using the Apple Pencil method and it is not working, make sure you are tapping the very top-right corner of the screen, not the middle or bottom. The tap zone is small and must be precise.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
The screenshot button captures your entire screen. However, after taking a screenshot, you can open it in the Photos app and use the crop tool to remove the parts you do not need. Tap Edit, then tap the crop icon to select just the area you want to keep.
Where do my screenshots go if I do not see them in Photos?
Check the Screenshots album in the Photos app by tapping Albums at the bottom, then scrolling to Screenshots. If they are not there, check your Recently Deleted album — you may have accidentally deleted them. They stay in Recently Deleted for 30 days before being permanently removed.
Can I take a screenshot without the shutter sound?
The shutter sound plays unless your iPad is in silent mode. Toggle the mute switch on the left edge of your iPad to the down position to silence it. The screenshot will still be taken even if you do not hear the sound.
What is the difference between a screenshot and a screen recording?
A screenshot captures a single still image of what is on your screen at one moment. A screen recording captures video of everything that happens on your screen over a period of time. Use screenshots for single moments and screen recordings when you need to show movement or a sequence of actions.
Can I screenshot something that is not supposed to be screenshotted?
Most apps allow screenshots, but some apps like banking apps or streaming services block them for security reasons. If you try to screenshot a protected screen, the screenshot will be taken but the protected content will appear blank or black in the image.