How to Capture a Full-Screen Screenshot on iPhone
Learn the button shortcuts for every iPhone, capture an entire webpage, save it as an image or PDF, and fix common screenshot problems.
Face ID iPhone: press and quickly release the side button and Volume Up together. iPhone with a Home button: press and quickly release the side button and Home together.
For a webpage that continues below the visible screen, tap the screenshot thumbnail, choose Full Page, then save it to Photos as an image or to Files as a PDF. Apple describes this as capturing “a full page beyond the edge of the screen.”
1. Choose the type of full-screen capture you need
| Goal | What to use | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Capture everything currently visible | Normal screenshot | One screen-sized image |
| Capture an entire webpage | Screenshot editor → Full Page | Long page preview; save as image or PDF |
| Save a document for printing or sharing | Full Page → Save PDF to Files | PDF in the Files app |
| Capture only part of the display | Screenshot editor → Crop | Cropped image |
Apple’s iPhone screenshot guide covers normal and full-page captures, editing, and saving.
2. Take a normal screenshot
iPhone models with Face ID
- Open the screen you want to capture.
- Press the side button and Volume Up at the same time.
- Quickly release both buttons.
- Tap the thumbnail that appears to edit, share, crop, or mark up the screenshot. If you do nothing, it is saved automatically.
iPhone models with a Home button
- Open the screen you want to capture.
- Press the side button and Home at the same time.
- Quickly release both buttons.
- Tap the thumbnail to edit or share, or wait for it to disappear and find the saved image in Photos.
On current iOS versions the screenshot may open with quick tools immediately; on older versions a temporary thumbnail appears in the lower-left corner.
3. Capture an entire webpage with Full Page
- Open the webpage in Safari.
- Take a screenshot using the button combination for your iPhone.
- Tap the screenshot thumbnail before it disappears.
- At the top of the editor, tap Full Page.
- Drag the preview on the right to inspect the content below the first screen.
- Use Crop if you want to remove the header, footer, or other sections.
The Full Page tab is intended for content that extends below the display, especially a complete Safari webpage. It may not appear for every app or screen; the app must provide content that iOS can assemble into a full-page capture.
4. Save the result as an image or PDF
Save an image to Photos
- In the Full Page editor, tap the save control.
- Choose Save to Photos.
- Open Photos to view, edit, or share the image.
Save a scrolling screenshot as a PDF
- In the Full Page editor, tap the save control.
- Choose Save PDF to Files.
- Select a folder in iCloud Drive or On My iPhone.
- Tap Save.
A PDF is usually the better choice for a long article, receipt, or reference document because it preserves the page as a document in Files. Use an image when you need to place the capture in Photos, a design, or a message.
5. Edit, annotate, share, or delete a screenshot
- Markup: draw, add shapes, insert text, or use the magnifier.
- Crop: trim unwanted margins or page sections.
- Share: send the image or PDF through the Share sheet.
- Delete: discard the capture from the editor if you do not want to keep it.
After saving, screenshots are stored in Photos. To find them, open Photos → Collections → Media Types → Screenshots.
6. Use an alternative trigger when buttons are difficult
iOS also supports screenshot triggers through Siri, AssistiveTouch, and Back Tap. These options help when pressing two physical buttons is uncomfortable or unreliable.
Siri
Say a Siri screenshot command, then open the resulting capture in the editor. The exact wording and available Siri settings can vary by iOS version and language.
AssistiveTouch
Turn it on in Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch, then assign Screenshot to a menu item or a custom action.
Back Tap
Open Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap, choose Double Tap or Triple Tap, and assign Screenshot.
7. Configure screenshot behavior
Open Settings → General → Screen Capture. Depending on your iOS version, controls include:
- Full-screen previews versus temporary thumbnails.
- Automatic Visual Look Up.
- CarPlay screenshots.
- SDR or HDR capture formats.
SDR screenshots use PNG. HDR screenshots use HEIF and require an HDR display to show the full HDR quality. If compatibility with older apps or websites matters, SDR is the safer format.
8. Troubleshooting common screenshot problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing happens when pressing buttons | The buttons were held too long, pressed out of sequence, or one button is not registering. | Press and release both buttons quickly and simultaneously. Test each button separately and use AssistiveTouch, Siri, or Back Tap if needed. |
| The power-off screen appears | The side button was held instead of quickly released. | Press both buttons briefly, then release immediately. |
| Only the visible screen was captured | Full Page was not selected, or the app does not support a full-page capture. | Tap the screenshot thumbnail and look for Full Page. Try the same content in Safari. |
| Full Page is missing in Safari | The screenshot editor was closed, the page has no additional scrollable content, or iOS cannot assemble that view. | Retake the screenshot, open the thumbnail immediately, wait for the page to finish loading, and confirm that the page scrolls normally. |
| The bottom of the webpage is missing | Lazy-loaded content had not loaded or the page changed while capturing. | Scroll through the page once so images load, wait for network activity to finish, then retake the capture. |
| The screenshot is not in Photos | It may have been saved to Files as a PDF or deleted from the editor. | Check Photos → Collections → Media Types → Screenshots and the Files app’s Recents and Downloads locations. |
| The image looks different from the display | HDR capture was used on a non-HDR screen or app. | Choose SDR in Settings → General → Screen Capture for broader compatibility. |
| A protected video is black | Some apps prevent screenshots of protected content. | Use the app’s built-in export or sharing feature where available. iOS does not provide a setting that bypasses content protection. |
9. Quality, performance, and storage considerations
- Wait for content: let fonts, images, and lazy-loaded sections finish loading before capturing.
- Use PDF for long pages: a full-page image can be large and harder to navigate.
- Check the endpoint: verify the last section of a long capture before sharing it.
- Manage storage: long images and PDFs consume more space than a normal screenshot; remove duplicates after exporting.
- Keep sensitive data out: screenshots include everything visible, including account details, notifications, and private messages.
10. Or skip the browser setup
If you need repeatable screenshots of webpages from a script or backend, ScreenshotNeo provides a screenshot API and MCP server. It captures PNG, JPEG, WebP, or PDF from one GET request.
Install the HTTP client for your language, add your API key, and replace the example URL. Full API options are documented at ScreenshotNeo’s docs.
cURL
curl -G "https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot" -d access_key=YOUR_API_KEY --data-urlencode url=https://stripe.com -o shot.webpPython
import requests
r = requests.get("https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot", params={"access_key": "YOUR_API_KEY", "url": "https://stripe.com"}, timeout=90)
open("shot.webp", "wb").write(r.content)Node.js
const q = new URLSearchParams({ access_key: 'YOUR_API_KEY', url: 'https://stripe.com' });
const res = await fetch(`https://api.screenshotneo.com/v1/shot?${q}`);ScreenshotNeo removes cookie and consent banners, newsletter popups, and chat widgets before capture. Bot checks, blank pages, failed loads, timeouts, and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and billing status. Its MCP server lets Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients take screenshots. The Free plan includes 1,000 screenshots per month without a card; paid plans start at $5 for 3,000.
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11. FAQ
Can I take a full-page screenshot of any iPhone app?
No. Full Page is primarily available for supported scrollable content such as webpages in Safari. For unsupported apps, take multiple normal screenshots or use the app’s export feature.
Where is the screenshot thumbnail?
It usually appears near the lower-left corner, although newer iOS versions can show a full-screen preview. Open it quickly to access editing tools.
Is a full-page screenshot saved as one very long photo?
It can be saved as an image in Photos, or as a PDF in Files. Choose the format based on whether you need a shareable picture or a document.
How do I screenshot without pressing buttons?
Use Siri, AssistiveTouch, or Back Tap, all available as alternative screenshot triggers in iOS.
Why should I use a PDF instead of an image?
PDF is easier to file, print, and review for long documents. An image is more convenient for visual sharing and photo-based workflows.
