Taking screenshots is a quick and rather painless process, depending on the model of your iPhone. For early versions, a Home button is included so you just need to press it and the on/off button at the same time. For iPhone X/XS/XS Max or XR, press the Side and Volume Up buttons together to get a screenshot.
When your iPhone screenshots aren’t working, and the standard methods to capture the contents of your screen don’t work, it may be that one button is stuck or your iPhone has another problem that’s preventing this basic functionality.
All is not lost. We’ve listed some troubleshooting steps below that’ll show you how to snap screenshots on your iPhone again.
What to do when iPhone screenshots are not working
Before you try any of the fixes below, the screenshots feature may be working but you’re not aware of where the images go after you capture them. To check, go to the Photos app and see if they’re in the Photos section of the app. Alternatively, tap Albums and swipe up, check Media Types and tap Screenshots to check for your photos.
Force reboot the iPhone
Force restart your iPhone and then try to capture the screen again once it’s back on. If your iPhone is an older model, press and hold the Home button down and then press and hold Sleep/Wake button. Don’t release the Home button until the screen goes black and the Apple logo is displayed, after which you can let go of all the buttons and wait for the reboot to finish.
Newer iPhones without the Home button use a different process. Press and release the volume up and volume down button, and then press and hold the Side button for ten seconds till the screen is black and maintain it till you see the Apple logo.
Once you force restart the iPhone and it’s back on, try taking screenshots again.
Use AssistiveTouch
This tool helps with accessibility issues so users can control their iPhones through easier navigation methods like gestures, pinches, voice-activated commands and swipes. It also comes in handy if you can’t take screenshots through other older methods. To enable it:
- Tap Settings>General
- Now tap Accessibility and you’ll see a series of options
- Find AssistiveTouch in the Interaction section and select it
- In the new screen, tap the button next to the AssistiveTouch to green or on
- Select Customize Top Level Menu and tap the + button at the lower right side
- Tap the new + icon added to the screen and find the Screenshot feature on the list of options
- Tap Done
Your iPhone will display a grayish round button, which when tapped will open AssistiveTouch interface. To take screenshots, just tap on this button.
Use 3D Touch
This feature is only found in iPhone 6 or later versions. To use it:
- Go back to AssistiveTouch settings
- Select 3D Touch under Custom Actions section
- Find Screenshot option in the list of actions
Take screenshots by tapping and holding the AssistiveTouch button
If none of these fixes work, you can restore your phone to factory settings, or visit an Apple expert or authorized store for help.
Elsie is a tech writer with 8+ years professional experience. For Tech News Watch, she brings rich experience contributing to topics such as Windows, MacOS, Android, and iOS among others. In her spare time, she loves checking out the latest tech trends, gadgets, and news, listening to music and cars.
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