iPhones running iOS 11 or later have a built-in screen recording feature that captures both video and audio (including system sounds and microphone input). The recordings are saved as videos in your Photos app. Here's a step-by-step guide based on Apple's official instructions.
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap Control Center.
- Under "More Controls," find Screen Recording and tap the green + icon next to it to add it to your included controls.
- (Optional: Toggle on Access Within Apps if you want quick access while using other apps.)
This ensures the recording button is easily available.
- Swipe down from the top-right corner of your screen (on iPhones with Face ID) or swipe up from the bottom (on iPhones with a Home button) to open Control Center.
- Tap the screen recording icon (it looks like a circle inside another circle).
- A 3-second countdown will begin, and a red status bar (or pill-shaped indicator) will appear at the top of your screen to show it's recording.
- For system audio (e.g., app sounds or video playback): This is captured automatically by default—no extra steps needed.
- For microphone audio (e.g., your voice narration): Before starting, long-press (press and hold) the screen recording icon in Control Center. In the pop-up menu, tap to turn on the Microphone toggle (it will turn red). Then tap Start Recording.
Note: Not all apps allow internal audio capture due to privacy restrictions (e.g., FaceTime calls may block it). In those cases, only microphone audio will work if enabled. If you're in a quiet environment, external mics (like wireless lavalier mics) can improve voice quality.
- Tap the red status bar at the top of the screen and select Stop, or reopen Control Center and tap the screen recording icon again.
- A notification will confirm the video was saved to Photos. Open the Photos app, go to the Albums tab, and look under Recents or Videos to find it.
- From there, you can edit, trim, or share the video.
- Storage Space: Recordings can fill up your iPhone quickly—check available space in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- No Audio in Recording? Double-check the microphone toggle was on before starting. If system audio is missing, try restarting the app or your iPhone.
- Duration Limit: There's no fixed time limit, but it depends on your storage (e.g., a 1-minute 1080p recording uses about 100-200MB).
- Editing Audio/Video: Use the built-in Photos editor to trim clips or add effects. For advanced editing, apps like iMovie (free) work great.
If you're on an older iOS version or encounter issues, update your iPhone via Settings > General > Software Update. For visual demos, search "iPhone screen record tutorial" on YouTube.