To take a screenshot on an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, press the Side button (on the right edge) and the Home button at the same time, then quickly let go. The screen flashes white, you’ll hear a camera shutter sound if your ringer is on, and a thumbnail appears in the bottom-left corner. Tap it to edit or share, or swipe it away to save the screenshot to the Photos app.
How to take a screenshot on iPhone 7
- Open the screen you want to capture.
- Press and release the Side button and the Home button at the same time.
- Tap the thumbnail in the lower-left corner to crop, draw, or add text with Markup, then tap Done. Or swipe the thumbnail left to save it right away.
Press both buttons quickly. Holding them too long can turn on Siri (Home button) or show the power-off slider (Side button). On iPhone 7, the Home button is a solid-state button that clicks with a vibration, so it still works for screenshots.
Where to find your screenshots
Open the Photos app and tap Albums > Screenshots (under Media Types). Screenshots also appear in your main photo library.
Take a screenshot without the buttons (AssistiveTouch)
If a button is broken, or you find it hard to press both at once, use AssistiveTouch:
- Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and turn it on. (On iOS 12, it’s under Settings > General > Accessibility.)
- Tap Customize Top Level Menu and add Screenshot, or set Double-Tap under Custom Actions to Screenshot.
- Tap the floating AssistiveTouch button, then Screenshot.
The AssistiveTouch button won’t appear in the screenshot.
Take a screenshot of a whole web page
In Safari on iOS 13 or later, take a screenshot, tap the thumbnail, and choose Full Page at the top. Tap Done and Save PDF to Files to keep the entire page as a PDF.
Screenshot not working?
- Press at exactly the same time. Pressing one button slightly first triggers that button’s function instead.
- Check storage. If your iPhone is full, screenshots may fail. Check Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
- Restart your iPhone by holding the Side button and Volume Down until the Apple logo appears (the iPhone 7 forced-restart shortcut).
- Some apps block screenshots, like certain banking or streaming apps. You’ll get a black image or nothing at all.
Frequently asked questions
Does Back Tap work on iPhone 7?
No. Back Tap, which lets you tap the back of the phone to take a screenshot, needs an iPhone 8 or later.
How do I turn off the screenshot sound?
Flip the Ring/Silent switch on the left side of the iPhone to silent (orange showing).
Is it the same on iPhone 7 Plus?
Yes. The iPhone 7 Plus uses the same Side button and Home button combination.
How do I screenshot on newer iPhones without a Home button?
Press the Side button and Volume Up at the same time.
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.