How to Take a Screenshot on Your iPhone

Have you ever gotten a confirmation number on a screen and thought, "I'd like to hold onto that"? Or seen a recipe your daughter texted you and wished you could tuck it away like a clipping from the newspaper? That's exactly what a screenshot does. It takes a picture of whatever is on your screen and saves it in your Photos, right alongside the pictures of the grandkids.

It's one of the handiest little tricks your phone can do, and once you've done it a few times, it becomes second nature.

What a Screenshot Is, in Plain Terms

Think of a screenshot as a photocopy of your phone's screen. Whatever you can see — a text message, a plane ticket, a map, a doctor's phone number on a website — gets copied and saved as a picture.

You're not taking a picture of the room around you. You're taking a picture of the screen itself, without needing a camera.

The Two Buttons to Press

Newer iPhones (any iPhone made in the last several years) use two buttons pressed together at the same time:

• The side button on the right edge of the phone (the one you press to lock the screen).
• The volume up button on the left edge (the top one of the two volume buttons).

Press both at the exact same moment, then let go right away. Don't hold them down — that will bring up a different menu. Just a quick tap, together.

If you have an older iPhone with a round Home button at the bottom of the screen, it's a little different: press the Home button and the side button at the same time.

You'll hear a soft camera-shutter click, and the screen will flash white for a split second. That's your signal it worked.

Where Your Screenshot Goes

After you take the shot, a small version of the picture — called a thumbnail — appears in the bottom-left corner of your screen for a few seconds. You can tap it right then to look at it or draw on it. Or you can just ignore it, and it will tuck itself away on its own.

Either way, your screenshot is saved in the Photos app, the same place all your regular pictures live. Open Photos, and it'll be right there at the bottom of your recent photos, in order of when you took it.

From there, you can do anything you'd do with a normal photo: text it to someone, email it, or just keep it for your records.

When You Might Actually Use This

Here are a few times a screenshot really earns its keep:

• Your granddaughter sends you her new address in a long text — screenshot it so you can find it easily.
• You buy something online and see a confirmation number — screenshot it in case the email doesn't arrive.
• A friend recommends a book on a webpage — screenshot the cover so you remember the title at the library.
• Your bank shows a balance you want to remember — screenshot it as a quick record.

It's like snipping something out of a magazine, except the magazine is your phone and the scissors are two buttons.

Try It Right Now

Pull up something on your phone — the weather, a text from a friend, anything at all. Press the side button and the volume up button together for just a moment. Listen for the click.

Then open your Photos app and see it sitting there, waiting. That's all there is to it.

Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.