How to Screen Record on iPhone: The Ultimate 2025 Guide

Ever wanted to show your parents how to use a new app without being there in person? Or maybe you wanted to capture an epic gaming moment to share with friends? Learning how to screen record on iPhone is the perfect solution, turning what’s on your display into a shareable video file. This powerful, built-in feature makes it incredibly easy to create tutorials, save snippets of live videos, or troubleshoot an issue for tech support. If you want to master how to screen record on iPhone, this guide covers everything you need to know for all modern models, including the iPhone SE, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and even the upcoming iPhone 16.

A Simple Guide on How to Screen Record on iPhone (All Models)

Getting started with screen recording is surprisingly simple once you know where to look. Apple built this feature directly into the Control Center, allowing quick access without the need for any third-party apps. The process is nearly identical across all modern iPhones, with the only difference being how you open the Control Center.

Here’s a quick guide to recording your screen on any iPhone:

1. Access the Control Center.
   • On iPhones with Face ID (iPhone X and newer), swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen.
   • On iPhones with a Home button (like the iPhone SE), swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen.
2. Find and tap the Screen Recording button.
   • It looks like a solid circle inside a thin circle.
   • Once tapped, a three-second countdown begins, giving you time to navigate to what you want to record.
3. Start recording.
   • During recording, a red indicator appears — on older models it’s a red bar at the top, and on newer models (with Dynamic Island), it highlights the clock area in red.
4. Stop the recording.
   • Tap the red indicator and confirm to stop.
   • The video will automatically save to your Photos app.

That’s it — a simple, built-in tool that makes it easy to capture tutorials, gameplay, or anything else happening on your screen.

How to Add the Screen Record Button on Your iPhone

If you open your Control Center and don’t see the record button, don’t worry! It’s a common scenario for users who have never used the feature before. By default, the Screen Recording shortcut isn’t always included in the main Control Center view. The good news is that adding it is a simple, one-time setup that takes less than a minute. Once you do this, the button will be there whenever you need it. This simple setup is the first step for anyone trying to figure out how to get screen record on their iPhone.

Follow these quick steps to add the shortcut and get ready to record.

Step 1: Open the Settings App to get screen record on your iPhone

First things first, unlock your iPhone and find the gray gear icon for the Settings app on your home screen. Tap it to open the main settings menu where you can customize virtually every aspect of your device.

Step 2: Navigate to Control Center

In the Settings menu, scroll down a bit until you see the “Control Center” option. It’s usually located a few rows below “General” and “Display & Brightness.” Tap on it to access the customization screen for your Control Center shortcuts.

Step 3: Add the Screen Recording control

Here, you’ll see two lists: “Included Controls” and “More Controls.” The top list shows the shortcuts currently in your Control Center. The bottom list shows all the available shortcuts you can add. Scroll down through the “More Controls” list until you find “Screen Recording.” Tap the green plus icon (+) next to it. This will immediately move the Screen Recording shortcut to your “Included Controls” list, making it instantly available when you swipe to open your Control Center.

How to Turn On and Set Up Screen Record on Your iPhone

Follow these steps to turn on and configure screen recording on your iPhone for the best results:

1. Open the Control Center.
   • Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (on iPhone X or later).
   • On older models, swipe up from the bottom of the screen.
2. Press and hold the Screen Recording button.
   • Don’t just tap it — hold it for a second to access more options.
3. Turn on the Microphone (optional).
   • At the bottom of the menu, tap the Microphone icon.
   • When it turns red and shows “Microphone On,” your voice will be recorded along with screen audio.
   • Leave it off if you only want internal sounds (like app or game audio).
4. Ignore broadcast options if not needed.
   • You may see apps like Messenger or Discord that let you broadcast your screen directly.
   • Skip these if you just want to save your screen recording as a video file.
5. Start recording.
   • Tap “Start Recording” to begin.
   • After a short countdown, everything on your screen will be recorded.
6. Stop the recording when finished.
   • Open Control Center again and tap the Screen Recording button to stop.
   • The video will automatically save to your Photos app.

Mastering How to Screen Record on iPhone With Sound

One of the most common questions users have is how to screen record on iPhone with sound. Capturing audio correctly is what separates a confusing silent clip from a helpful, engaging video. Your iPhone can record two types of audio simultaneously: the internal sound generated by your device and external sound from your microphone. Understanding how to manage both is key.

Internal audio—the sounds coming from the game, app, or video you’re recording—is captured by default. As long as your phone isn’t on silent mode and the media volume is turned up, these sounds will be included in your recording automatically. You don’t need to do anything special to enable this.

The tricky part is adding external audio, like your own voice. To do this, you need to manually enable the microphone before you start recording.

Step-by-Step Guide for How to Screen Record With Sound on iPhone

1. Access Control Center: Swipe down from the top-right (Face ID models) or up from the bottom (Home button models).
2. Long-Press the Record Button: Instead of a quick tap, press and hold the Screen Recording icon (the two concentric circles).
3. Turn on the Microphone: A new window will appear. At the bottom, you’ll see a gray microphone icon labeled “Microphone Off.” Tap this icon. It will turn red and the label will change to “Microphone On.”
4. Start Recording: Tap “Start Recording” from this same window.

Now, your iPhone will capture both the sounds from your screen and your voice from the microphone. For the best results, try to record in a quiet environment to minimize background noise.

The Right Way to Screen Record FaceTime With Sound on iPhone

Recording a FaceTime call can be useful for saving precious memories with loved ones or for documenting important conversations. The process to screen record FaceTime with sound on your iPhone is identical to recording any other app with audio. You simply start the FaceTime call, open Control Center, long-press the Screen Recording button, and ensure the Microphone is turned on. This will capture both your voice and the other person’s voice, along with the video feed.

However, there’s a critical consideration here: privacy and legality. Before you ever record a call, you must get explicit consent from every single person on that call. In many places, including several U.S. states, it is illegal to record a conversation without the consent of all parties involved (known as two-party or all-party consent laws).

Always start the call by saying something like, “Hey, just to let you know, I’d like to record this call. Are you okay with that?” Not only is this a legal requirement in many jurisdictions, but it’s also a matter of basic respect and ethics. Recording someone without their knowledge is a major breach of trust and could have legal consequences. Always prioritize consent before you hit that record button.

Model-Specific Guides: How to Record Your Screen on Any iPhone

While the core functionality of screen recording is part of iOS and remains consistent, the single biggest difference between iPhone models is how you access the Control Center. Here’s a quick breakdown for all the popular models.

How to screen record on iPhone SE

The iPhone SE (all generations) comes with a Home button. To open the Control Center:

1. Swipe up from the very bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the Screen Recording button to start recording.
3. To record with audio, long-press the button and tap the Microphone icon.

You’ll see the timer count down, then your recording begins.

How to screen record on iPhone 11, 12, and 13

These iPhones use Face ID and feature edge-to-edge displays. To begin recording:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner (near the battery icon).
2. Tap the Record button.
3. To include sound, press and hold the button and toggle the Microphone on.

When you’re done, tap the red bar or open Control Center again to stop recording.

How to screen record on iPhone 14 and 15

The iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 series work similarly to the previous Face ID models:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
2. Tap the Screen Record icon.
3. To stop, tap the Dynamic Island, which will display a red dot or pill shape while recording.

The Dynamic Island provides a visual cue that your screen recording is active — a small but handy upgrade from earlier models.

How to screen record on iPhone 16

Although the iPhone 16 hasn’t been released yet, Apple’s interface is expected to remain consistent. The method will likely be:

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
2. Tap the Screen Recording icon to start.

Since Apple typically maintains its UI design and gestures, this method is considered future-proof for upcoming iPhone models.

Easy Steps on How to Find a Screen Record on Your iPhone

You’ve just finished recording your screen—now the question is, where is it saved? Apple makes this part simple. Right after you stop recording, you’ll see a quick notification at the top of your screen confirming that the “Screen Recording video [is] saved to Photos.”

Here’s how to locate it anytime you need.

1. Find Your Screen Recording in the Photos App

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Go to the Recents album — your latest screen recording will appear as the most recent item.

The Photos app icon is the one with the multi-colored flower, usually found on your Home screen.

2. Locate All Your Recordings in One Place

If you have a large photo library and want a faster way to find recordings:

1. Open Photos.
2. Tap the Albums tab at the bottom.
3. Scroll down to the Media Types section.
4. Tap Screen Recordings.

This dedicated album shows every screen recording you’ve ever made, organized neatly and easy to access.

3. Edit or Share Your Screen Recording

From the Screen Recordings album, you can:

• Share the video via AirDrop, Messages, Mail, or social media.
• Watch your recording directly.
• Trim the beginning or end to remove unwanted parts.

Troubleshooting: When Screen Recording on iPhone Won’t Work

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. If you’re having trouble with screen recording, it’s usually due to one of a few common issues. Here are some quick fixes to get you back on track.

1. Screen Recording Button is Missing

If you can’t find the button in your Control Center, it means you haven’t added it yet.
Go back to Section 3 of this guide and follow these steps:
Settings > Control Center > Add Screen Recording

2. Recording Won’t Start or is Grayed Out

This is almost always caused by a restriction setting.
Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
If this is on, tap Content Restrictions, scroll down to the Game Center section, and find Screen Recording.
Make sure it is set to Allow.
This restriction is often enabled on children’s devices or work phones.

3. There’s No Sound in Your Recording

This is the most common problem.
If you recorded a tutorial and can’t hear your voice, you forgot to turn on the microphone.

Steps:

1. Open Control Center
2. Long-press the Record button
3. Tap the Microphone icon to turn it on before you start

If you’re trying to record an app and there’s no internal audio, check that your phone isn’t on silent and that the app’s volume is up.
Note: Some apps (like Netflix) block screen recording with audio due to copyright (DRM) protections.

4. Video Didn’t Save

If you get a notification that the recording failed to save, it’s almost always a storage issue.
Your iPhone is out of space.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage to check what’s taking up the most room.
Free up space by deleting old files, photos, or unused apps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Mastering how to screen record on iPhone is an incredibly valuable skill in today’s digital world. Whether you’re creating a quick tutorial for a family member, saving a highlight from your favorite game, or documenting a bug for a developer, this built-in tool is powerful, free, and easy to use. By adding the button to your Control Center and remembering to toggle the microphone for sound, you can create high-quality video clips in seconds. Now go ahead and start sharing what’s on your screen!

Quick Recap: Screen Recording on iPhone

• Enable the Feature: First, go to Settings > Control Center and add the “Screen Recording” shortcut.
• Start Recording: Open Control Center (swipe down from the top-right or up from the bottom) and tap the record button.
• Add Your Voice: For audio, long-press the record button and tap the Microphone icon to turn it on before you start.
• Stop and Find Your Video: Tap the red indicator on your screen to stop. The video saves automatically to your Photos app in the “Recents” or “Screen Recordings” album.