How to Screen Record On iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (With Sound)

By Jawad Khan.  Last Updated on August 11, 2024

text, "How to Screen Record On iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch (With Sound)" on left, image of iPhone next to iPad on table on right

Over 60% of smartphone users in the United States own an iPhone.

If youโ€™re one of them and want to screen record your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch for content creation, selling online courses, digital products, or any other purpose, this article has all the answers. (Have an Android? Click here for an Android screen recording guide.

Apple devices running on iOS 11 or later have built-in screen recording features which means you donโ€™t need to jailbreak your phone or use an external app to record your iPhone screen.

Looking for desktop screen recording software? Click here.

6 Steps To Screen Recording On iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch

Screen recording on your iPhone or iPad is an excellent way to create engaging and informative content for your online courses. 

Whether youโ€™re demonstrating an app, explaining a concept, or providing a walkthrough, capturing your screen is straightforward.

Here are the simple steps.

Step 1: Customize Control Center

Before you can start screen recording, you need to add the Screen Recording tool to your Control Center.

  • Go to Settings > Control Center.
  • Turn on Access Within Apps to ensure you can access the Control Center while using other apps.
  • Under More Controls, tap the green plus button next to Screen Recording to add it to the Included Controls.
Control Center, Customize menu, red box around Screen Recording option

Step 2: Open the Control Center

To start recording, youโ€™ll need to access the Control Center.

  • On iPhone X or later: Swipe down from the screen’s upper-right corner.
  • On iPhone 8 or earlier: Swipe up from the screen’s bottom edge.

Step 3: Start Screen Recording

Now, youโ€™re ready to begin recording your screen.

  • Tap the circular Screen Recording button. Youโ€™ll see a countdown, and then the recording will start automatically.
Control center of iPhone, red arrow pointing to bottom of screen on record icon (a red circle with another red circle around it)

Step 4: Record Audio (Optional)

If you want to add narration to your screen recording, you can enable the microphone.

  • Long-press the Screen Recording button in the Control Center.
  • Tap the Microphone button to turn on the audio recording.
  • Tap Start Recording to begin recording with audio.
Control center menu with message "Everything on your screen, including notifications will be recorded. Enable Do Not Disturb to prevent unexpected notifications", red arrow pointing at microphone icon

Step 5: Capture Your Content

During the recording, navigate through the app, website, or process you want to capture for your online course. Explain each step clearly, as if youโ€™re guiding your students in real time.

Step 6: Finish Recording

When youโ€™re done, you can easily stop the recording:

  • Tap the red status bar at the top of your screen and confirm Stop.
  • Alternatively, open the Control Center and tap the red Screen Recording button again.
iPhone home screen showing bar on top saying "Screen Recording, time 00:04" and red arrow pointing at record icon.

Using these steps, you can create professional and helpful screen recordings that enhance the learning experience for your students.

Where To Find And Edit Your Screen Recordings in iOS

Your recording will be saved to your Photos app by default, ready for you to review, edit, and include in your online course materials.

The iPhone has built-in video editing tools that make it easy to improve your screen recordings. You can trim the video to cut out unwanted parts, adjust brightness and contrast, add filters for a better look, and crop or rotate the video to focus on the right areas. 

You can also add text and drawings with the Markup tool and control the audio volume or add background music. These features let you create polished and professional videos for your online courses without needing any extra apps.

However, for advanced editing, youโ€™ll need to export your videos to a desktop computer and use professional video editing software.

How To Record The Internal Audio on iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch

iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch screen recordings automatically record system audio as well, including app notifications and alerts.

If you want to disable system audio recording, simply lower your phone volume and mute notifications.

However, if you want to add narration, follow these steps to enable microphone recording.

  • Long-press the Screen Recording button in the Control Center.
  • Tap the Microphone button to turn on the audio recording.
  • Tap Start Recording to begin recording with audio.

Although the iPhoneโ€™s internal mic has pretty decent noise-canceling abilities, Iโ€™d still recommend using an external microphone to maintain voice quality. 

However, if you want to record internal sounds only, keep the microphone audio disabled. 

How To Take A Screenshot On an Apple Smartphone

To capture screenshots during screen recordings or while using any other application. 

Simply press the Side button + Volume Up button (on iPhones without a Home button) or On/Off button + Home button (on devices with a Home button).

Like screen recordings, your screenshots are also saved in the Photos app.

Best Practices For Screen Recording On iPhone

Recording your iPhone screen is straightforward, but to ensure your recordings turn out as intended, follow these best practices:

Close All Unnecessary Apps and Clear Memory

To prevent interruptions and ensure smooth performance during recording, close all background apps and clear memory. Screen recording uses your iPhoneโ€™s resources, and having other apps running can slow down your device or cause crashes.

Adjust Recording Quality

iOS doesnโ€™t allow direct changes to screen recording quality settings, but you can optimize your video by adjusting the resolution and frame rate settings of your recorded videos under Settings > Camera > Record Video.

Check Storage and Battery

Before screen recording, ensure your iPhone has enough storage space to save the video and sufficient battery life to complete the recording. 

Enable Do Not Disturb Mode

To avoid interruptions from calls, messages, and notifications, activate Do Not Disturb mode. This prevents distractions during screen recording and helps you focus on the content youโ€™re capturing.

Verify Screen Orientation

Choose the appropriate screen orientation for your recording. Landscape mode is generally better for video tutorials and games, while portrait mode suits apps designed for vertical use. Lock the orientation if needed to prevent accidental rotation during recording.

Plan Your Content

Outline what you want to present before you begin recording. This preparation ensures a smooth recording process with minimal pauses or errors, helping you convey your message effectively.

5 Ways Online Course Creators Can Use iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch Screen Recordings

iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch screen recordings can drastically enhance your online courses and digital products. Letโ€™s explore how you can leverage this feature.

Create Engaging Course Content

Showcasing actions is more effective than simply explaining them. By incorporating iPhone screen recordings into your courses, you can visually demonstrate concepts, making them easier to understand and retain. This interactive approach can significantly enhance student learning.

Build Trust Through Product Demonstrations

You can use detailed product demonstrations through screen recordings to boost your credibility and help you drive affiliate sales.

For example, you can record a product walkthrough of MailChimp, ActiveCampaign, or any other email marketing tool with an iPhone app, if your audience is interested in learning about different email marketing software.

Generate Excitement for Your Offerings

Give potential students and customers a taste of your premium content by sharing short screen recording snippets. This creates anticipation and highlights the value you provide, encouraging enrollment in your courses or purchase of your products.

Deliver Exceptional Customer Support

Address student questions and concerns by creating screen recordings that walk students through solutions. Visual guides can be more effective than written instructions when answering student questions.

Capture Expert Insights and Testimonials

Record video calls with industry experts or testimonials from satisfied students. These recordings can be valuable additions to your courses, providing additional insights and perspectives on your topic.

Ready To Grow Your Business With iPhone Screen Recordings?

Thereโ€™s nothing complex about screen recording your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. 

By adding screen recordings to your content mix, you can increase your credibility as an expert and retain your audienceโ€™s attention longer.

However, once you have the recordings, you must use them innovatively to make your content more valuable and engaging for your online course participants.

And if you want recommendations for screen recording software for your desktop, check out our top screen recording picks here.

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