Screen recording turns your iPhone into a tool for saving app tutorials, capturing a video call moment, reporting a bug, or showing a family member exactly how to do something. The feature is built into every modern iPhone, so you don’t need an app. This guide covers how to screen record on iPhone in iOS 26, how to capture sound (both your microphone and the audio playing on screen), where the files go, how to edit them, and how to fix the most common problems.
Quick answer: To screen record on iPhone, go to Settings > Control Center and add Screen Recording. Then open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right corner), tap the record button (a solid circle inside a ring), wait for the 3-second countdown, and record. To stop, tap the red clock in the status bar and choose Stop. Your video saves automatically to the Photos app.
Step 1: Add Screen Recording to Control Center
Apple keeps the screen-record button in Control Center, but it isn’t always there by default. To add it once:
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Control Center.
- Scroll to More Controls and find Screen Recording.
- Tap the green + next to it to move it into Included Controls.
You only have to do this once. From now on the button lives in Control Center, ready whenever you need it.
Step 2: Start and Stop a Screen Recording
Once the button is in Control Center, recording takes seconds:
- Open Control Center. On Face ID iPhones, swipe down from the top-right corner. On older Touch ID iPhones, swipe up from the bottom edge.
- Tap the record button — the solid circle inside a thin ring.
- A 3-second countdown begins, then the button turns red and recording starts.
- Swipe Control Center away and do whatever you want to capture.
- To stop: tap the red clock or red pill in the top status bar, then tap Stop. You can also reopen Control Center and tap the record button again.
A banner confirms “Screen Recording video saved to Photos.” That’s it — the clip is in your camera roll.
Step 3: How to Screen Record With Sound
This is the part that trips most people up, because there are two different kinds of sound and they behave differently.
| Type of sound | What it captures | How to enable it |
|---|---|---|
| Internal (app) audio | Game sounds, video audio, music playing in the app | Recorded automatically, as long as your ringer/silent switch is not muting the app and volume is up |
| Microphone audio | Your voice and room sound (for narration) | Press and hold the record button, then tap Microphone to turn it On before you record |
To narrate a screen recording, long-press (press and hold) the record button in Control Center. A panel opens with a Microphone toggle at the bottom. Tap it so it reads Microphone On (it glows red), then tap Start Recording. The microphone setting stays the way you left it for next time, so check it before each session.
Tip: If you only want the app’s sound and not your room, keep the Microphone Off. If you want narration only and no app noise, mute the app or turn its volume down before recording.
Where Screen Recordings Are Saved
Every screen recording saves to the Photos app, in your main library and in the Screen Recordings album. They are standard .MOV / .MP4 video files, so you can share them by text, email, AirDrop, or upload them anywhere you’d upload a normal video. To find them fast, open Photos, tap Albums, and look under Media Types > Screen Recordings.
How to Trim and Edit a Screen Recording
Recordings almost always start and end with you fumbling for the button. Trim that out in seconds:
- Open the recording in Photos.
- Tap Edit.
- Drag the yellow handles at each end of the timeline to cut the dead space.
- Tap Done, then choose Save Video (overwrites) or Save as New Clip (keeps the original).
For anything fancier — captions, zooming, cutting the middle — use the free iMovie app or a third-party editor.
Recording Specific Apps: FaceTime, Games, and Streaming
Screen recording captures whatever is on your display, but a few apps have rules worth knowing:
- FaceTime: You can record the call, and with the microphone on you’ll capture your side. Note that the other person is not notified, so always ask permission first.
- Games: Internal audio and on-screen action record perfectly. Turn the microphone on for commentary.
- Netflix, Disney+, and other DRM streaming: These usually record a black screen with audio only, because of copy protection. This is expected behavior, not a bug.
- Snapchat and some banking apps: May detect recording or blank sensitive screens.
Troubleshooting: Screen Recording Not Working
If the button is missing, greyed out, or your recording has no sound, this table covers the fixes:
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No record button in Control Center | Control not added | Settings > Control Center > add Screen Recording |
| Button is greyed out | Screen recording restricted | Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Screen Recording > Allow |
| Recording has no app sound | Silent mode or low volume | Turn the ringer on and raise volume before recording |
| Recording has no voice | Microphone was off | Long-press the record button and turn Microphone On |
| Streaming app records black screen | DRM copy protection | Expected — cannot be bypassed |
| Recording stops on its own | Storage full | Free up space in Settings > General > iPhone Storage |
Screen Recording on Older iPhones and iOS Versions
The steps above match iOS 26, but built-in screen recording has worked the same way since iOS 11. If you’re on an older iPhone, the only differences are how you open Control Center (swipe up from the bottom on iPhones with a Home button) and slightly older menu wording. The record button, the countdown, and the microphone long-press all behave identically.
New to Apple’s ecosystem? Start with our beginner’s guide to using an iPhone, and if you’re capturing calls, see how to video call family and friends. Shopping for a new device? Check the current iPhone price list for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I screen record on iPhone with sound?
App (internal) sound records automatically as long as your volume is up and the phone isn’t muting the app. To also record your voice, press and hold the record button in Control Center and turn Microphone On before you start.
Why is my iPhone screen recording black?
A black screen almost always means you’re recording a streaming app like Netflix or Disney+ that uses DRM copy protection. The audio records but the video is intentionally blanked. There is no workaround.
Where do iPhone screen recordings go?
They save automatically to the Photos app. Find them under Albums > Media Types > Screen Recordings.
How long can you screen record on iPhone?
There’s no fixed time limit — recording continues until you stop it or your iPhone runs out of storage. A minute of recording uses roughly 40–100 MB depending on resolution.
Does the other person know if I screen record a FaceTime call?
No, FaceTime does not notify the other person that you’re screen recording. Because of that, you should always ask for consent before recording any call.
Can I screen record with the screen off or in the background?
No. Screen recording captures what’s on the display, so the screen must stay on. It will, however, keep recording while you move between apps.
