Ready to capture what’s on your iPhone 15 screen? It’s surprisingly simple. All you need to do is press and quickly release two buttons at the same time: the side button on the right and the volume up button on the left. Your screen will flash, and a small preview of your screenshot will pop up in the corner, ready for you to edit, save, or share. That’s it. You’ve just captured your screen.
Tutorial – How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone 15
This quick tutorial will walk you through the physical button combination needed to capture your screen. Follow these simple steps, and you’ll be taking screenshots like a pro in no time.
Step 1: Locate the side button on your iPhone.
First, find the single, long button located on the right side of your iPhone 15.
This is the button you typically use to wake up your phone or put it to sleep. It’s also the button you hold down to activate Siri or power off your device. Get your finger ready to press it.
Step 2: Find the volume up button.
Now, look at the left side of your phone where you will see two separate buttons for volume control.
You want to focus on the top button, which is the volume up button. It’s the one closer to the top of the phone.
Step 3: Press both buttons at the same time.
Finally, press the side button and the volume up button simultaneously and then release them quickly.
Think of it like taking a quick photo. You don’t need to hold the buttons down for a long time. A quick, simultaneous press is all it takes. If you hold them down too long, you might accidentally activate the power off screen or the emergency SOS feature, so a fast click is key.
Once you press the buttons, you will see a quick white flash on your screen, and you’ll hear a camera shutter sound, if your phone isn’t on silent. A small thumbnail of the screenshot will then appear in the bottom-left corner of your screen for a few seconds before disappearing.
Tips for Taking a Screenshot on iPhone 15
- Edit on the Fly: Don’t let that little thumbnail in the corner just disappear. Tap on it immediately after you take a screenshot. This opens up an editing screen where you can crop, draw, add text, or use the markup tools before you even save it.
- Capture the Whole Page: When you’re in Safari and screenshot a webpage, tap the thumbnail and look for a “Full Page” option at the top of the editing screen. This lets you save the entire scrollable webpage as a single PDF, which is perfect for articles or receipts.
- Use the Action Button (Pro Models): If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, you can customize the new Action button to take a screenshot. Just go to Settings > Action Button and assign it to the screenshot function. Now, a simple press and hold of that button will capture your screen.
- Try Back Tap: Did you know you can tap the back of your iPhone to take a screenshot? Head to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. You can set a double or triple tap to trigger a screenshot. It feels a bit like a magic trick.
- Quick Share and Delete: After you tap the thumbnail to edit, you don’t have to save the screenshot to your camera roll. You can tap the share icon to send it directly to a friend or an app. There’s also a trash icon, so you can delete it right away if you just needed it for a moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do my screenshots go?
By default, all of your screenshots are automatically saved to your Photos app. They will appear in your main library, but for easier access, your iPhone also creates a dedicated “Screenshots” album under the “Media Types” section in the Albums tab.
Can I take a screenshot while recording a video?
Yes, you can. Taking a screenshot while a video is playing or recording on your screen will simply capture a still image of whatever is displayed at that exact moment. The video playback or recording will not be interrupted.
How do I take a scrolling screenshot?
This feature, known as “Full Page” screenshot, primarily works in Apple’s native apps like Safari, Mail, and Notes. After taking a regular screenshot, tap the thumbnail preview. If the content is scrollable, you’ll see a “Full Page” tab at the top of the screen. Tap it to capture everything, which you can then save as a PDF.
What if my buttons are broken?
If you’re having trouble with your physical buttons, you can use a built-in accessibility feature called AssistiveTouch. To enable it, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. A floating button will appear on your screen. You can customize it to include a screenshot option, allowing you to capture your screen with just a few taps.
Is the screenshot method on the iPhone 15 different from older models?
For iPhones with Face ID, like the iPhone X and newer, the method is exactly the same. However, it is different from older models that had a Home button, like the iPhone 8 or SE. On those devices, you would press the Home button and the side button at the same time.
Summary
- Locate the side button on the right.
- Locate the volume up button on the left.
- Press and release both buttons at the same time.
Conclusion
Mastering the art of the screenshot is like learning a fundamental skill for your digital life. It seems so simple, yet it’s a tool we use constantly to save, share, and communicate. Whether you’re saving a funny text message, capturing an important confirmation number, or grabbing a frame from a video, knowing how to do it quickly is essential. The standard method of pressing the side and volume up buttons on your iPhone 15 is reliable and fast, becoming second nature after just a few tries.
But the journey doesn’t have to end there. Apple has woven in some incredibly useful features that elevate the simple screenshot into a powerful tool. Exploring options like the “Full Page” capture in Safari can be a game-changer for saving long articles or documents without stitching multiple images together. For those with an iPhone 15 Pro, customizing the Action button is a fantastic way to make your most-used functions, like taking a screenshot, even more accessible. And let’s not forget about Back Tap, a clever accessibility feature that makes taking a screenshot feel effortless and futuristic.
I encourage you to play around with these features. Tap on that thumbnail next time and see what the editing tools can do. Try setting up Back Tap and see if it fits your workflow. The more comfortable you become with these little tricks, the more you’ll feel in command of your device. Learning how to take a screenshot on iPhone 15 is just the first step. The real magic happens when you start using it to its full potential, making your daily interactions with technology smoother and more efficient. So go ahead, start capturing and sharing your world, one screen at a time.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.