How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone and Android in Canada

A screenshot is the fastest way to save what is on your phone screen. Maybe you want to keep a receipt, share a funny message with a friend, or show a support agent exactly what error you are seeing. Whatever the reason, the button combination takes a second to learn and saves you time every day.

The steps are different on iPhone and Android, and they change slightly depending on the model you own.

Take a screenshot on iPhone

On most recent iPhones, the method is the same. Press the Side button and the Volume Up button at the same time, then release both quickly. The screen flashes white, and a small thumbnail appears in the bottom left corner.

On older iPhones with a Home button, press the Home button and the Side button at the same time, then release both. The result is the same: a flash, a thumbnail, and the image saved to your Photos app.

The thumbnail is more useful than it looks. Tap it right away and you can crop the image, draw on it, add text, or share it without saving a copy first. If you do nothing, the thumbnail slides away after a few seconds and the screenshot is saved to your Photos app, in the Screenshots album under Albums.

There are two shortcuts worth setting up if you take screenshots often. The first is AssistiveTouch, found in Settings under Accessibility, then Touch. Turn it on, and a small floating button appears on your screen. You can set it to take a screenshot with a single tap. The second is Back Tap, also under Accessibility and Touch, which takes a screenshot when you double or triple tap the back of your iPhone, on models running iOS 14 or later.

Take a screenshot on Android

The standard method on Android is just as quick. Press the Power button and the Volume Down button at the same time, then release both. The screen flashes, and a small preview appears at the bottom of the screen with options to share, edit, or scroll.

A few makers add their own shortcuts on top. On Samsung Galaxy phones, you can also swipe the edge of your palm across the screen from one side to the other. Turn this on in Settings, then Advanced features, then Motions and gestures, and look for Palm swipe to capture. On some phones from other brands, a three-finger swipe down the screen takes a screenshot instead.

Some Android phones also put a screenshot button in the quick settings panel. Swipe down from the top of the screen twice to open the full panel, look for a Screenshot tile, and tap it. If the tile is not there, tap the pencil or edit icon to add it.

Capture a full page or a scrolling screenshot

A single screenshot only captures what is on screen right now. For a whole web page, a long chat, or a full document, use a scrolling screenshot instead.

On iPhone, open the page in Safari, take a screenshot as usual, and tap the thumbnail before it disappears. At the top of the editing screen, you will see two tabs: Screen and Full Page. Tap Full Page, and the whole page appears as one long image, which you can crop, mark up, and save as a PDF to the Files app.

On Android, the process depends on your phone. On Pixel phones, take a screenshot, then tap "Capture more" in the preview. Drag the edges to select how much of the page you want, then tap Save. On Samsung phones, take a screenshot, then tap the scrolling capture icon, which looks like two arrows pointing down, in the toolbar at the bottom.

Edit, share and find your screenshots

On iPhone, tap the thumbnail to open the markup screen, where you can crop, rotate, draw with a pen or highlighter, add shapes, or add text. Tap Done to save, or the share button to send the image to a message, an email, or social media.

On Android, tap the preview to open the editor, where you can crop, draw, add text, or blur out parts of the image you would rather not share. The share button sends the screenshot to any app on your phone.

Finding old screenshots is simple on both platforms. On iPhone, open the Photos app, tap Albums, and look for the Screenshots album under Media Types. On Android, screenshots are usually saved in the Pictures folder under Screenshots, and they also appear in Google Photos or your Gallery app.

Screenshots can pile up fast, and they take up storage. It is worth clearing them out now and then, especially the ones you took to show someone something once and never needed again.

When screenshots do not work

Sometimes you press the buttons and nothing happens. The most common cause is timing. Press both buttons at the same moment and release them quickly. If you hold them too long, your iPhone may open Siri or the power menu instead, and your Android phone may open the power menu or restart.

Some apps block screenshots on purpose. Banking apps, streaming services, and apps that show private content often show a black screen or a message saying screenshots are not allowed. This is a security feature, not a fault with your phone, and there is no setting that turns it off.

Low storage can also stop screenshots from saving. If your phone is nearly full, the capture may appear to work but the image never saves. Free up space by deleting old photos, videos, and apps you no longer use, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do screenshots go on iPhone and Android?

On iPhone, screenshots are saved to the Photos app, in the Screenshots album under Media Types. On Android, they are usually saved in the Pictures folder under Screenshots, and they also appear in Google Photos or your Gallery app.

How do I take a screenshot of a whole web page?

On iPhone, take a screenshot in Safari, tap the thumbnail, and choose Full Page, then save it as a PDF. On Android, take a screenshot and tap Capture more on Pixel, or the scrolling capture icon on Samsung, to extend the image.

Why is my screenshot black in some apps?

Some apps block screenshots to protect private content. Banking apps and streaming services often show a black screen instead. This is a security feature built into the app, and it cannot be turned off.