How To Screen Record on iPhone: Top Tips

Screen recording on your iPhone is a great way to demonstrate steps or share visual tutorials with others. 

The process captures video footage of each exact maneuver you make on your device. . However, it’s more than just a fun feature — it’s also a great way for creators to share content with followers. Whether you’re filming a step-by-step tutorial or creating a tech review, recording speeds up the process significantly.

In this guide, we’ll cover how to screen record on iPhones and share a few troubleshooting tips. Read on to discover how to make the most of this handy tool.

What’s Screen Recording on an iPhone?

Screen recording refers to taping activities on your iPhone as you swipe, tap, and scroll through your apps. This feature is available for devices on iOS 11 or later, and you can use it for the following purposes:

• Film tutorials — Show friends or followers how to complete a task on your phone. For instance, photographers can share their editing process using their favorite photo app.
• Create gaming videos — If you’re a mobile gamer, this feature is a great way to record yourself playing with apps like “Pokémon GO” or “Among Us.”
• Make tech or app reviews — When testing new apps or devices, use screen recording to show how they work.
• Send lengthy content — Instead of multiple screenshots, you can take a screen recording of a long conversation or list. 
• Save posts — Some videos don’t have downloading options, so you can save them to your personal device using screen recording.‍
• Record meetings — If you use your iPhone as a webcam during important meetings, you can record the whole thing and send it to absent team members or reference it later.

How To Set Up Screen Recording on iPhones

Before setting up screen recording, you’ll want to make sure everything is in order on your device. Here’s how:

1. Check your system — Check that your iPhone is running on iOS 11 or higher. If it’s operating on an older version, you’ll have to update before continuing. 
2. Add the controls — Swipe down from the top of your screen to open the Control Center. Choose “Add a Control” and tap the screen recording button. It will now appear in your Control Center.
3. Turn off sleep mode — If your phone has auto-lock engaged, your iPhone may go into sleep mode automatically if you’re not touching your device. This will end your recording, so turn it off before capturing your screen. Go to your settings, and under “Display and brightness,” go to “Auto-lock” and select “Never.” 

How To Start Screen Recording on iPhones

When you’re ready to start filming, head back to the Control Center. Tap the record icon (a gray circle with a smaller circle inside), and a countdown will begin. After three seconds, the phone will start recording your screen. 

A smaller red record icon will appear at the top left of your iPhone screen to show that the screen capture is active. Or, you’ll see a red banner displaying the video's recording time.

How To Screen Record With Audio

If you want to capture music, sound effects, and audio from the phone, there are no additional steps — the platform does this automatically. However, if you’re trying to add a voiceover while recording, you’ll need to turn on the microphone, since it’s not on by default. 

To adjust this setting, press the "Record" button and hold it for several seconds. A microphone icon will appear on the screen, and you’ll click it to capture external audio.

‍Pro tip: Set up soundproofing foam in your home studio to improve audio quality. If your recording ends up with any background noise, remove it with Captions.

How To Stop and Find the Screen Recording

When you want to stop the recording, follow these steps:

1. End the recording — Tap the "Record" button at the top of your screen. 
2. Confirm — Click the “Stop” button.
3. Swipe down — Alternatively, open the Control Center and click the “Record” button.

Your phone will automatically save the video in your Photos app.

Why Is the Screen Recording Feature Not Working?

If you’re having issues capturing your screen, it may be due to the app you’re using. Certain streaming services or banking apps will disable the feature for security reasons. When you try to record, the screen will appear blank. It’s also impossible to screen record while using the screen mirroring feature. 

Sometimes, visuals may be working, but the recording lacks sound. If you’re experiencing this, remember that phone and FaceTime calls will be muted due to privacy and legal concerns. Difficulty recording external audio may also point to a problem with your phone’s microphone. In that case, you can clean the microphone to remove any lint or debris. However, if that doesn’t work, take the phone in for repairs and replace the microphone.

Make Your Screen Recordings Stand Out With Captions

Learning how to enable screen recording is just the first step in creating quality short-form videos. After filming, you need the support of a powerful editing tool to create viral-worthy posts.

That’s where Captions comes in. Captions AI platform simplifies the entire content creation process. With AI Edit, you can quickly refine your recordings by automatically adding transitions, B-roll, and music. If you forgot to record a voiceover, Captions can take care of that, too — you can even clone your own voice for future use. Plus, our tools generate captions automatically, so your content is accessible to any viewer. 

Let Captions handle the details so you can focus on creating.

FAQs

Why Is Screen Recording Restricted on iPhones?

Several apps won’t allow you to record them, and there are a few reasons for that: 

• Copyright laws — Apps like Netflix and Hulu disable this feature so people won’t copy and distribute protected content.
• User privacy — Banks and finance apps don’t allow screen recording to prevent data leaks.
• Legal concerns — In many regions, people aren’t allowed to record phone calls unless they get permission from everyone in the conversation. So, iPhones automatically mute sound if you try recording discussions.

Aside from legal and privacy issues, this feature may not work for a couple of reasons. The first is mirroring: if you’re casting to another device, you can’t tape your screen. Another possibility is parental controls — parents can disable screen recording features if they wish.

How Do I Add Screen Recording to My iPhone Home Screen?

It’s not possible to add the screen recording button directly to your home page. However, you can add it to your Control Center for easy swipe-down access:

1. Open the Control Center — Swipe down from the top of the phone.
2. Look for screen recording — Tap “Add a Control” at the bottom of the menu.
3. Add the button — Scroll through the gallery to find the screen recording button, then click to add it to the panel.

Can Any iPhone Screen Record?

Yes — as long as your device supports iOS 11 or higher, it has this ability. If you’re wondering how to turn on screen recording on your iPhone, follow the steps above to add the feature to your Control Center.