iPhone Screenshots Are Not Working? 6 Ways to Fix That

If the iPhone's screenshot feature stops working, all is not lost

By
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
Writer
    Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified.
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    Updated on August 22, 2024

    Taking a screenshot on your iPhone is usually quick. On earlier versions of the iPhone, it's a matter of simultaneously pressing the Home button and the on/off button. If you have an iPhone X, XS, XS Max, or XR, press Power and Volume up at the same time to capture the contents of your screen. If taking a screenshot doesn't work, follow these troubleshooting steps to fix the issue.

    Instructions in this article apply to iOS 13 and later.

    How to Fix an iPhone Screenshot Not Working

    Follow this guide to walk through the different ways to fix it when the iPhone screenshot function isn't working.

    1. Check the Photos app. It's often the case that the screenshots feature works, but the screenshots are saved somewhere you haven't looked. Open the Photos app and go to the Albums tab, then select Recents to view your recent photos or select Screenshots to view screenshots.

    2. Restart the iPhone. Reboot the device, then take a screenshot once it's powered back on. Sometimes software bugs or glitches that affect the screenshots feature can be remedied with a simple restart.

    3. Use the AssistiveTouch feature to take screenshots. The iPhone AssistiveTouch feature helps users with accessibility issues, allowing them to control their device through easy-to-navigate pinches, gestures, swipes, and voice-activated commands. AssistiveTouch also comes in handy if you have trouble taking screenshots through traditional methods.

    4. Use 3D Touch to take screenshots. This pressure-sensitive functionality allows you to perform routine tasks quickly, but the trick is knowing how to trigger it correctly to meet your needs. You can configure 3D Touch to take screenshots, but AssistiveTouch needs to be enabled first, which can be done by following the previous step.

      3D Touch is only available with iPhone 6s and later.

    5. Restore the iPhone to factory settings. If you tried the above steps, the last resort is to reset the device to its factory settings. This often fixes software problems but wipes the data from your device.

      Back up your iPhone data before performing a factory reset.

    6. Contact Apple support. If you tried all the above and are still unable to take screenshots on your iPhone, take it to an Apple Store Genius Bar for a professional diagnosis.

    Causes of iPhone Screenshot Problems

    Sometimes things don't work as expected, and the standard method for taking a screenshot doesn't do the trick. Perhaps one of the buttons is stuck, or maybe there's a software problem with the device.

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