Screen recording on the iPhone 11 is handy, but you might want to turn it off: to keep it out of Control Center, stop a child from recording, or end a recording that started by accident. There are three levels of “disabling” it, from simply stopping a recording to blocking the feature entirely with Screen Time. This guide covers all three.
Quick Answer
To stop a recording, tap the red indicator at the top-left of the screen and tap Stop. To hide the button, remove Screen Recording from Control Center. To block it completely, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions and set Screen Recording to Don’t Allow.
Stop a Screen Recording That’s Running
- Look for the red pill or red time indicator in the top-left corner of the screen.
- Tap it, then tap Stop.
- The video saves to the Photos app. Delete it there if you don’t need it.
You can also open Control Center and tap the red Screen Recording button.
Remove Screen Recording from Control Center
iOS 18 and later
- Swipe down from the top-right corner to open Control Center.
- Press and hold an empty area until the controls start to jiggle (or tap the + at the top-left).
- Tap the minus (−) on the Screen Recording control.
- Tap an empty area to finish.
iOS 14 to iOS 17
- Open Settings > Control Center.
- Under Included Controls, tap the red minus next to Screen Recording, then tap Remove.
This hides the button but doesn’t block recording. Anyone can add it back.
Block Screen Recording with Screen Time
- Open Settings > Screen Time. If Screen Time is off, tap Turn On Screen Time and follow the prompts.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions and turn the switch on.
- Tap Content Restrictions (you may need to enter a Screen Time passcode).
- Scroll to the Game Center section and tap Screen Recording.
- Choose Don’t Allow.
Set a Screen Time passcode (Settings > Screen Time > Lock Screen Time Settings or Use Screen Time Passcode) that’s different from the phone’s unlock code, so the restriction can’t be changed without it. For a child’s iPhone, you can manage this from your own device through Family Sharing.
Turn Screen Recording Back On
Go back to Content Restrictions > Screen Recording and select Allow, then re-add the control in Control Center.
Troubleshooting
- Screen Recording button is gray or does nothing: it’s probably restricted in Screen Time. Check Content Restrictions.
- Some apps show a black screen in recordings: streaming and banking apps block recording on purpose; that’s not a setting you can change.
- No sound in recordings: press and hold the Screen Recording button in Control Center and turn Microphone on if you want your voice included.
- Forgot the Screen Time passcode: tap Forgot Passcode? on the passcode screen and sign in with the Apple Account used to set it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does disabling screen recording block screenshots too?
No. Screenshots use the side and volume buttons and aren’t affected by this restriction.
Can someone tell if I’m recording my screen?
The iPhone shows a red indicator while recording. Some apps can detect recording and hide their content, but most don’t notify anyone.
Do these steps work on other iPhones?
Yes. They’re the same on any iPhone running a recent version of iOS.
Summary
- Tap the red indicator and Stop to end a recording.
- Remove Screen Recording from Control Center to hide it.
- Use Screen Time > Content Restrictions > Screen Recording > Don’t Allow to block it.
- Protect the setting with a Screen Time passcode.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.