The fastest way to capture your screen
On most Apple tablets, you take a screenshot by pressing the top button (or side button) and the volume up button at the same time, then releasing both when ready. The screen will flash white, you'll hear a camera shutter sound, and the image saves to your Photos app automatically.
The exact button combination depends on which iPad model you own. Newer iPads use the top button plus volume up. Older iPad models with a home button use the home button plus the top button instead. Either way, the timing is quick—press and release both buttons together in one motion, not one after the other.
Your screenshot appears as a thumbnail in the bottom left corner of your screen for a few seconds. You can tap that thumbnail to edit or mark up the image right away, or ignore it and find the full screenshot later in your Photos app under the Screenshots album.
Key Takeaways
- Press the top (or side) button and volume up button together at the same time to capture your screen on most modern iPads.
- Older iPad models with a home button use the home button and top button instead of volume up.
- Your screenshot saves automatically to the Photos app in a Screenshots album.
- A thumbnail appears in the bottom left corner for a few seconds, letting you edit or mark up the image before it saves.
- You can take as many screenshots as you want—there is no limit.
Which buttons to use on your specific iPad
If your iPad has a home button (a circular button at the bottom of the screen), press the home button and the top button together. This applies to iPad models from around 2017 and earlier, including the original iPad Air and iPad mini with home button.
If your iPad does not have a home button, use the top button (sometimes called the power button or sleep/wake button) and the volume up button. This is the method for iPad Pro, iPad Air 4 and newer, iPad 7th generation and newer, and iPad mini 5th generation and newer.
You can check which model you own by going to Settings > General > About. The model name appears at the top of the screen. If you are unsure whether your iPad has a home button, look at the bottom center of the screen—if there is a physical button there, you have a home button model.
What happens after you take the screenshot
When you press the buttons, your entire screen is captured exactly as it appears at that moment. A white flash and shutter sound confirm the screenshot was taken. The image file saves when ready to your Photos app without any action needed from you.
A small thumbnail of your screenshot appears in the bottom left corner of the screen for about 5 seconds. During this time, you can tap the thumbnail to open an editing window where you can crop, draw, add text, or add a signature to the image. If you do not tap it, the thumbnail disappears and the screenshot stays in your Photos app unchanged.
To find your screenshot later, open the Photos app and tap the Albums tab at the bottom. Scroll down and tap Screenshots. All your screenshots appear in reverse chronological order, with the newest ones first.
Editing and marking up your screenshot
If you tap the thumbnail that appears after taking a screenshot, the Markup tools open automatically. You can use a pen, highlighter, or magnifier to draw on the image, add text boxes, insert your signature, or add shapes like arrows and boxes.
The color and thickness of your pen or highlighter can be adjusted by tapping the pen icon and choosing from the options. When you are done editing, tap Done in the top left corner. The edited version saves to your Photos app, and the original is also kept unless you delete it.
If you miss the thumbnail window and want to edit a screenshot later, open the Photos app, find the screenshot, tap Edit in the top right, then tap the three dots (•••) and select Markup. The same editing tools appear.
Troubleshooting when screenshots do not work
If you press the buttons and nothing happens, check that your iPad is not in a restricted mode. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions and make sure Screenshots is not turned off. If it is, tap the toggle to turn it back on.
If you hear the shutter sound but do not see the image in your Photos app, check that your Photos app has permission to save images. Go to Settings > Photos and make sure your iPad is not in Low Power Mode, which can sometimes delay saving. Restart your iPad by holding the top button until the power-off slider appears, then slide to power off and turn it back on.
If your volume buttons are not working, you can still take a screenshot using AssistiveTouch. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. A floating button appears on your screen. Tap it, then tap Device, then tap More, then tap Screenshot.
Where screenshots save and how to organize them
Every screenshot you take saves to your Photos app in the Screenshots album. This album is created automatically the first time you take a screenshot and collects all future screenshots in one place. You can view, edit, share, or delete screenshots from this album just like any other photo.
If you want to move a screenshot to a different album or folder, open the Photos app, find the screenshot, tap Select, then tap Add To. You can add it to an existing album or create a new one. The original stays in the Screenshots album unless you delete it from there.
Screenshots take up storage space on your iPad just like photos do. If you are running low on storage, you can delete old screenshots by opening the Photos app, tapping the Screenshots album, tapping Select, choosing the images you want to remove, and tapping Delete.
Using screenshots with other apps
Once a screenshot is in your Photos app, you can share it through email, Messages, Notes, or any other app that lets you attach images. Open the Photos app, tap the screenshot, tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up), and choose where to send it.
You can also copy a screenshot and paste it directly into an email, document, or message. Open Photos, tap the screenshot, tap Edit, tap Copy, then open the app where you want to paste it and use the paste command.
Some apps let you take a screenshot directly within the app without using the button combination. For example, Notes has a built-in screenshot tool. Check the app's menu or help section to see if this option is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I take a screenshot of just part of my screen?
The button combination captures your entire screen. However, after you take the screenshot, you can tap the thumbnail and use the crop tool to trim it down to just the part you need. You can also use the Markup tools to draw a box around the area you want to highlight.
Does taking a screenshot notify the person I am talking to?
No. Taking a screenshot does not send any notification to other people, even in messaging apps or FaceTime. The only sound and visual feedback is on your own iPad.
How many screenshots can I take?
You can take as many screenshots as you want. The only limit is the storage space available on your iPad. Each screenshot is a full-size image file, so very old or large numbers of screenshots may eventually use significant storage.
What if my iPad is locked?
You cannot take a screenshot when your iPad is locked. You must unlock it first by entering your passcode, using Face ID, or using Touch ID, depending on your iPad model and settings.
Can I take a screenshot of a video or movie?
Yes. You can take a screenshot while a video is playing, and it will capture a still frame from that moment. The screenshot saves like any other image to your Photos app.