How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone (Including iOS 26 and Older Models)
To take a screenshot on iPhone, press the Side and Volume Up buttons together, or Home and Power on older models. You can also capture screenshots using Siri, Back Tap, or AssistiveTouch in Settings.
Don’t worry if your iPhone is still the older model with a Home button, or you’re using the latest iPhone 17 running iOS 26, Apple offers multiple ways to snap, edit, and share screenshots.
Method 1: Using Physical Button
Face ID Models (iPhone 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
For most of the modern iPhones without a Home button, press the Side (Power) and Volume Up buttons at the same time, then release quickly.
A camera shutter sound plays, and the screen flashes which confirms your screenshot.
In iOS 26, the screenshot preview now appears full-screen with instant edit and share tools. That means you can annotate it using Markup, copy it, or send it directly through Messages or AirDrop.
Home Button Models
If you are using an older iPhone model which still has a Home button, the shortcut varies slightly:
- Side Power Button models (iPhone SE 2020, 8, 7): Press Home + Side together, then release.
- Top Power Button models (iPhone 5s and earlier): Press Home + Top simultaneously.
You’ll still hear the same shutter sound, and the screenshot will be saved in Photos → Albums → Screenshots.
Method 2: Accessibility and AssistiveTouch Options
AssistiveTouch Menu
If you want a bit more flare and son’t want to use physical buttons, Turn on AssistiveTouch under
Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch.
Then add the “Screenshot” option to the AssistiveTouch menu.
Click on the floating on-screen button, go to Device → More → Screenshot, and your screen is captured instantly. It’s the perfect hands-free alternative.
Hot Corners (Advanced Accessibility)
In the iOS 26, it takes accessibility even further.
Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch → Dwell Control → Hot Corners
And you can assign a screen corner to take a screenshot. Hover your pointer or use Head Tracking to that corner, and iPhone will capture the screen automatically and like assistive touch, no buttons required.
Method 3: Back Tap Gesture
This method was Introduced in iOS 14, basically Back Tap is a hidden shortcut that turns the back of your iPhone into a quick-action button.
- Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap.
- Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, and set it to Screenshot.
Now, a quick double or triple tap on the back instantly takes a screenshot. To disable it, just set the action to “None.”
Method 4: Using Siri or Shortcuts
Voice Command
If Siri is enabled, you can simply say:
“Hey Siri, take a screenshot.”
Siri will then captures and saves the screen automatically and no need to touch your phone. This is perfect for handsfree and when u r busy.
Shortcuts Automation
For power users, the Shortcuts app lets you automate screenshots.
Create a Shortcut with the “Take Screenshot” action and follow it with save or share steps.
You can even set it up in Shortcuts → Automation to trigger screenshots during specific workflows.
What’s New in iOS 26
Apple has redesigned the screenshot experience in iOS 26:
- Full-Screen Previews: Captures now appear full-screen by default, complete with quick Markup and Share buttons.
- Prefer the old thumbnail preview? Head to Settings → General → Screen Capture → Full-Screen Previews to toggle it off.
- New Options: You’ll also find settings for CarPlay Screenshots and Format (choose HDR/HEIF for vibrant images or SDR/PNG for compatibility).
- Visual Intelligence: Screenshots now integrate with Apple Intelligence. Tap Live Text or Search after capture to copy or translate text, recognize objects, or even ask ChatGPT about what’s on screen.
- Accessibility Gestures: iOS 26 adds support for Face Gestures which you can trigger screenshots by smiling or raising an eyebrow using Head Tracking.
Best Third-Party Screenshot Apps
While Apple’s built-in tools are powerful, third-party apps can take your screenshots further—especially for scrolling or stitched captures.
| App | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Picsew | Auto-stitch hundreds of screenshots; crop, blur, or annotate. |
| Tailor | Automatically joins overlapping screenshots, ideal for chats or webpages. |
| Stitch It! | Lets you remove sensitive content, annotate, and export stitched images. |
| Long Picture / LongShot | Automatically scrolls and captures long pages; free with limits. |
| StitchPics | Offers cropping, editing, and an ad-free paid version. |
| Droplr | Takes screenshots and uploads them to the cloud instantly with shareable links. |
| Jumpshare | Auto-uploads screenshots and provides annotation tools. |
| Screenshot PRO | Auto-organizes screenshots with OCR search, tagging, Face ID lock, and iCloud sync. |
To be honest, ios basic default editing features are more than enough for most users, but if you need more extra editing features and need scrolling screenshots, markup layers, or automatic cloud backups, features that go beyond Apple’s native system, you can consider the above tools.
Combine that with apps like Picsew or Screenshot PRO, and your iPhone becomes a complete screenshot powerhouse, perfect for work, creativity, or just saving that meme before it disappears.