How to Screen Record on iPhone, iPad and Mac

Screen recording is useful when a screenshot is not enough. You might want to show someone a bug, demonstrate a setting, capture a sequence of steps, or record a short how-to video for a friend, client or family member who insists they “did exactly that” while doing something completely different.

iPhone, iPad and Mac all include built-in screen recording tools. You do not need a sketchy third-party app with eight adverts and a privacy policy written by a raccoon.

How to screen record on iPhone or iPad

On iPhone and iPad, screen recording lives in Control Centre.

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen to open Control Centre.
2. Tap the grey Record button.
3. Wait for the three-second countdown.
4. Leave Control Centre and do whatever you want to record.
5. To stop, tap the red recording indicator at the top of the screen and tap Stop, or return to Control Centre and tap the red Record button.

Your recording is saved in the Photos app.

If you cannot see the Screen Recording button

If the Record button is not already in Control Centre, you need to add it first. Apple has changed how this works slightly depending on the iOS or iPadOS version.

iOS 18 and newer

1. Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Centre.
2. Long-press on an empty space in Control Centre.
3. Tap Add a Control.
4. Search for Screen Recording.
5. Tap it to add it to Control Centre.

iOS 17 and older

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to Control Centre.
3. Tap the green + next to Screen Recording.

How to record your voice as well

If you want to speak over the recording:

1. Open Control Centre.
2. Touch and hold the Screen Recording button.
3. Turn Microphone on.
4. Start recording.

This is useful for explaining what you are doing. It is less useful if the dog starts barking halfway through, but technology can only do so much.

Why some apps will not record properly

Some apps block screen recording or audio recording. Streaming, banking and protected content apps may show a black screen, block sound, or refuse to capture the content. This is usually intentional and not a fault with your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

Apple also notes that you cannot record your screen and use screen mirroring at the same time.

How to screen record on a Mac

On a Mac, the easiest method is the Screenshot toolbar:

1. Press Shift + Command + 5.
2. Choose Record Entire Screen or Record Selected Portion.
3. Click Options if you want to choose a microphone, timer or save location.
4. Click Record.
5. To stop, click the Stop button in the menu bar, or press Command + Control + Esc.

By default, recordings usually save to the Desktop with a name starting “Screen Recording” followed by the date and time.

Recording only part of the Mac screen

After pressing Shift + Command + 5, choose Record Selected Portion. Drag the frame around the area you want to record, then click Record.

This is useful if you want to avoid showing email, private documents, browser tabs, client names or the thirty-seven windows you definitely meant to close earlier.

Using QuickTime Player on Mac

You can also use QuickTime Player:

1. Open QuickTime Player from Applications.
2. Choose File > New Screen Recording.
3. Choose your recording options.
4. Start recording the whole screen or a selected area.
5. Stop from the menu bar when finished.

On many modern Macs, QuickTime hands this job over to the same Screenshot toolbar controls.

Before sending a screen recording

Check the recording before you share it. Make sure it does not show passwords, private messages, bank details, client data, medical information or anything else you would rather not donate to the internet.

Screen recording is powerful, but it records exactly what is on the screen. It has no common sense. That part is still your job, annoyingly.

Need help making a screen recording?

If you need to record a problem on your iPhone, iPad or Mac and send it to support, Apple Mac Man can help you capture the right thing without exposing private information.

Official Apple references: screen recording on iPhone and iPad and screen recording on Mac.