How to Take a Screenshot on iPad (iPadOS)
Capture your full screen or a selected region using built-in shortcuts.
Last verified: February 21, 2026
iPhone's screenshot system depends on a hardware-button combination that changed when Face ID replaced Touch ID — modern Face ID iPhones use Side Button + Volume Up, while older Touch ID models use Side Button + Home Button. iOS shows a compact thumbnail preview in the bottom-left corner immediately after capture, which you can tap to annotate, crop, or share before it auto-dismisses and saves to Photos > Screenshots. This preview-first workflow makes it easy to mark up or trim the capture before it ever hits your camera roll.
Quick Steps
Follow in order for the fastest result.
- 1Press the Side Button and Volume Up simultaneously. A thumbnail appears bottom-left — tap to preview.
- 2Open the screenshot from the notification bar or Screenshots / Desktop folder to verify it captured correctly.
- 3Rename and move the file to your preferred location.
Still Not Working?
Try these if the steps above didn't help.
- If the shortcut does nothing, open the Snipping Tool, Screenshot app, or Markup tool directly from the app list.
- Ensure no other app has reassigned the screenshot shortcut in its preferences.
- Restart the device and retry if the capture overlay never appears.
Verify the Fix
Confirm everything is fully working before closing this guide.
- Open the saved file and confirm it shows the correct screen content with no corruption.
- Verify the file saves as PNG or JPG with a readable file name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does iPad (iPadOS) have a built-in screenshot tool?
Where do screenshots save on iPad (iPadOS)?
Why is my screenshot shortcut not working on iPad (iPadOS)?
Can I take a screenshot on iPad (iPadOS) without a keyboard?
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