To take a screenshot on iPhone 15, quickly press and release the side button and the volume up button at the same time. The screen flashes, and the screenshot opens in a preview where you can mark it up, crop it, or share it. Swipe up to save it to Photos.
Applies to: iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with iOS 26 or later. Checked against Apple’s iPhone User Guide on October 9, 2026. The same steps work on every iPhone with Face ID.
- Open the screen you want to capture.
- Press the side button on the right and the volume up button on the left at the same time.
- Release both buttons right away. Holding them too long opens the power-off and Emergency SOS sliders instead.
- The screenshot appears as a full-screen preview. Swipe up to save it, or use the tools at the bottom to mark it up first.
If your iPhone shows a small thumbnail in the lower-left corner instead, tap it to edit, or ignore it and the screenshot saves on its own after a few seconds.
Choose a full-screen preview or a thumbnail
Starting with iOS 26, screenshots open in full screen by default. If you prefer the older thumbnail that slides away by itself:
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then tap Screen Capture.
- Turn off Full-Screen Previews.
The same screen lets you choose whether screenshots are saved in SDR or HDR format and turn on Visual Look Up for screenshots on supported models.
Use Visual Intelligence on a screenshot (iPhone 15 Pro)
On iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max with Apple Intelligence turned on, the full-screen preview also offers Visual Intelligence. You can ask about what’s on the screen, search for a similar image, or add a date shown in the screenshot to Calendar. iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus don’t support Apple Intelligence, so these options don’t appear there; the regular editing tools still work.
Capture a whole webpage
- Open the page in Safari and take a screenshot.
- In the preview, tap Full Page.
- Drag the strip on the right to check the whole page, and crop it if needed.
- Save it. Depending on the app and your iOS version, a full-page capture is saved as a PDF in Files or as an image.
These are handy if a button is broken or you want one hand free.
- Back Tap: go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, and select Screenshot. Then tap the back of the iPhone to take one.
- AssistiveTouch: go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. Set Double-Tap or Long Press to Screenshot, or add Screenshot to the top-level menu.
- Siri: say “Siri, take a screenshot.”
- Action button (iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max): create a shortcut with the Take Screenshot action in the Shortcuts app, then assign it in Settings > Action Button > Shortcut.
- Open Photos, tap Collections, scroll to Media Types, and tap Screenshots.
- To edit one later, open it and tap Edit to crop, or the Markup button to draw and add text.
- To share, tap the Share button and choose an app or contact.
- To capture something that moves, use a screen recording instead. See how to screen record on iPhone.
If screenshots don’t work
- Nothing happens: press both buttons at exactly the same time and let go quickly. Pressing one slightly first changes the volume or locks the screen.
- The power-off slider appears: you held the buttons too long. Tap Cancel and try a quicker press.
- The screenshot is black: some streaming and banking apps block screenshots of protected content. That’s done by the app, not a fault with your iPhone.
- Screenshots don’t save: your iPhone may be out of storage. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- A button is broken: use Back Tap, AssistiveTouch or Siri until it’s repaired.
- It still doesn’t work: restart your iPhone and try again.
Frequently asked questions
Does taking a screenshot make a sound?
Yes, there’s a camera shutter sound unless your iPhone is in Silent mode.
Can I take a screenshot of just part of the screen?
Take a normal screenshot, then drag the corner handles in the preview to crop it before you save.
Can I take a screenshot of the Lock Screen?
Yes. Press the same two buttons while the Lock Screen is showing. The screenshot is saved to Photos, which you can open after unlocking your iPhone. This is a quick way to capture a notification before you open it.
Does the other person know I took a screenshot?
Not in iMessage or most apps. Some apps, like Snapchat, can tell the other person.
Are screenshots backed up to iCloud?
Yes, if iCloud Photos is turned on in Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos. Screenshots then appear on your other Apple devices too.
Can I take a screenshot while using CarPlay?
Yes. Turn on the CarPlay option in Settings > General > Screen Capture, then take a screenshot on your iPhone while CarPlay is connected to capture both screens.
How do I delete a screenshot right after taking it?
In the preview, tap the Trash button or choose Delete Screenshot.
Related: how to set up Face ID on iPhone 15.
Related: how to set the camera timer on iPhone 15.
Related: how to delete a wallpaper on iPhone 14.
Related: how to delete apps on iPhone 15.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.