Screen Recording is already built in — you just need to turn it on

Your iPhone or iPad has a screen recording tool built into the system, but it does not show up in Control Center by default. You have to add it yourself in about two minutes. Once you do, you can record everything happening on your screen — apps, websites, games, video calls — and save it as a video file to your photo library.

The steps are the same whether you have an iPhone or iPad, and the process works on any model running iOS 11 or later. After you add it, the recording button will appear in Control Center every time you swipe down from the top-right corner (or up from the bottom, depending on your device).

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Recording lives in Settings under Control Center, not in a separate app, and you turn it on by adding it to your Control Center customization list.
  • Once added, you start recording by opening Control Center and tapping the red circle icon, then tapping "Microphone On" or "Microphone Off" depending on whether you want to record sound.
  • Your recordings save automatically to your Photos app as video files you can share, edit, or delete like any other video.
  • If you do not see Screen Recording in your Control Center list, your device may be running an older version of iOS — check Settings > General > Software Update.

Open Settings and find Control Center

Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down until you see Control Center — it is usually near the top of the list, below Notifications and Do Not Disturb.

Tap Control Center to open the customization screen. You will see two sections: "Included Controls" at the top (the buttons already in your Control Center) and "More Controls" below (features you can add).

Add Screen Recording to your Control Center

Look through the "More Controls" section for Screen Recording. It has a circle icon with a dot in the middle. Tap the green plus button next to it.

The button will move up into the "Included Controls" section, which means it is now active. You can close Settings — Screen Recording is ready to use. If you want to rearrange where it appears in Control Center, you can hold down the three-line icon next to Screen Recording and drag it up or down the list, but this is optional.

Open Control Center and start recording

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (or swipe up from the bottom if you have an older iPhone). Control Center will slide open and you will see all your active controls, including the new Screen Recording button — a red circle with a dot inside.

Tap the Screen Recording button once. A three-second countdown will appear on your screen, then recording starts. Everything you do on your screen from that moment forward is being captured as video.

Choose whether to record sound or not

When you tap Screen Recording, a menu pops up before the countdown starts. You will see two options: "Microphone On" and "Microphone Off." Tap whichever you prefer.

If you choose "Microphone On," your recording will include all sounds — your voice, app sounds, background noise, anything the microphone picks up. If you choose "Microphone Off," the video will be silent. You can change this choice each time you record, so there is no permanent setting to worry about.

Stop recording and find your video

To stop recording, open Control Center again and tap the red Screen Recording button a second time. The recording stops immediately and saves to your Photos app.

Open Photos and go to the Videos album (or scroll to "Recents" and look for today's date). Your screen recording will be there as a video file with a timestamp. You can play it, share it, edit it, or delete it just like any other video on your phone.

Troubleshooting: Screen Recording does not appear in Control Center

If you added Screen Recording but it is not showing up when you open Control Center, restart your device. Hold the power button until "Slide to Power Off" appears, swipe to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.

If Screen Recording still does not appear in your "More Controls" list, your device may be running an older version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update and check whether an update is available. Screen Recording requires iOS 11 or later, so if you are on an older version, updating will add it to your options.

If you see Screen Recording in your "More Controls" list but tapping the plus button does not seem to work, try closing Settings completely and opening it again. Sometimes the interface needs a refresh to register the change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record just one app instead of my whole screen?

No. Screen Recording captures everything on your display, including the status bar, notifications, and any alerts that pop up. If you need to hide something before recording, close that app or notification first, then start the recording.

How much storage does a screen recording use?

Screen recordings are large files. A one-minute recording typically uses 50 to 100 MB of storage, depending on screen activity and whether you recorded sound. A 10-minute recording could use 500 MB to 1 GB. Check your available storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage before recording long sessions.

Can I edit a screen recording after I save it?

Yes. Open Photos, find your recording, tap Edit, and you can trim the beginning or end, adjust colors, or add filters. You can also open it in the Photos app and share it directly to other apps like Messages, Mail, or social media.

What if I accidentally recorded something private?

Delete it immediately. Open Photos, find the recording, tap the trash icon, and confirm deletion. If you want to permanently remove it, go to Photos > Albums > Recently Deleted, find the file, and tap Delete again.

Does screen recording work during video calls?

It depends on the app. Some apps like FaceTime allow recording, while others like WhatsApp or Zoom block it for privacy reasons. If an app blocks recording, you will see a black screen in the video where the call was happening. Always get permission from other people before recording a call with them.