X

Take a screenshot on any iPhone: The button combo for iPhone 13, 12, 11 and earlier

We'll walk you through how to take a screenshot on any iPhone.

Jason Cipriani Contributing Writer, ZDNet
Jason Cipriani is based out of beautiful Colorado and has been covering mobile technology news and reviewing the latest gadgets for the last six years. His work can also be found on sister site CNET in the How To section, as well as across several more online publications.
Jason Cipriani
3 min read
iPhone 13 Pro, Sierra blue

It doesn't matter if you have a new iPhone, like the iPhone 13 shown above, or an older model, taking a screenshot is easy. 

Stephen Shankland/CNET

Whether it's the new iPhone 13, last year's iPhone 12, the iPhone 11, iPhone SE or even the iPhone 6, taking a screenshot is a simple process. All you need to do is press a couple of buttons on your phone, share or save the picture and you're done. That's it. The biggest hurdle is just knowing which buttons to press, since it depends on which iPhone model you have.

The way you capture a screenshot changes based on whether you have an iPhone with Face ID or one with Apple's infamous home button. Either way, though, screenshots are easy to take and you'll master it after your first try. I promise. 

Read more: Make the most of your new iPhone 13. Change these iOS 15 settings now

iPhone 13 Pro Max

Have an iPhone without a home button? No sweat. 

Sarah Tew/CNET

Have an iPhone with Face ID? Here's what to do

If you have an iPhone X-style device -- you know, with a notch at the top of the screen like the iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and iPhone 13-- then here's what you'll need to do. 

Press the volume-up button on the left side of the phone and the sleep/wake button on the right side of the phone, at the same time. You don't have to hold them in at all. It's a very brief press and then release.

Just get your timing right, and you'll see your screen flash followed by a small preview image. If you do press the buttons for too long, your iPhone will give you the option to turn your phone off. If you keep holding, you'll activate the Emergency SOS feature that automatically calls for help. You don't want to do that! So, just a quick press, OK? 

As with iPhones with a home button, you can tap on the preview image of your screenshot to edit and share it. You can also keep taking screenshots even with the preview image in the corner of the screen. iOS doesn't include that in any additional screenshots. 

apple-iphone-se-1378

Apple's iconic home button is the key to taking a screenshot. 

Angela Lang/CNET

Have an iPhone with a home button? Do this

If you have the new iPhone SE, or any iPhone with a home button for that matter, press the home button and the sleep/wake button at the same time. 

Again, you don't need to hold the buttons in for an extended amount of time. In fact, if you do that, nothing will happen. It's a quick press. You'll hear a camera shutter sound from your phone and a thumbnail preview of the screenshot will gently glide to the bottom corner of your screen. 

From there, you can either keep taking screenshots (don't worry, the thumbnail won't show up), or tap on the image to edit and share it. 

If taking a video is more useful to you than a screenshot, that's possible too, and we walk you through recording your screen. Now that you know how to take screenshots, make sure you learn all of the iPhone's hidden features in iOS 15, the best features of iOS 15 and some iPhone 13 settings you should change. If you like to know more, check out everything to know about iOS 15.1 and the iOS 15.2 beta.