If your iPhone’s Home or Power button is faulty, you can’t take screenshots using the traditional way. However, some of the methods that I’m going to discuss are easier than simultaneously pressing two physical buttons. Let’s take a look.
1Take an iPhone Screenshot Using AssistiveTouch
You need to enable AssistiveTouch on your iPhone if your Home button is faulty. This is an accessibility feature that allows you to access many of your iPhone’s functions from a software menu instead of pressing physical buttons.
To activate this, head to Settings > Accessibility and choose Touch under Physical and Motor. Tap AssistiveTouch and toggle it on in the subsequent menu. This will add a white circular button on top of your screen.
Whenever you tap this AssistiveTouch icon, it opens a menu that provides quick access to various functions. To easily add screenshot functionality to the menu, select Customize Top Level Menu from the AssistiveTouch settings menu.
Here, tap an icon you’d like to replace and choose Screenshot from the list of actions. You can also add another icon by tapping the Plus button and assigning the Screenshot action to it.
If you’re not a fan of tapping through these menus, there’s a faster way to take screenshots using AssistiveTouch. On the AssistiveTouch settings menu, select the Double Tap or Long Press option and set it to Screenshot. Then, quickly tap twice or press and hold the AssistiveTouch button to take a screenshot.
This is even more convenient, as you don’t have to show the full AssistiveTouch menu that takes up screen space. If you find the AssistiveTouch button annoying, lower the Idle Opacity in the settings menu to make it more transparent when you’re not using it. You can drag the button to any corner of the screen you like when you’re not using it.
Now, all you need to do is select Screenshot from the AssistiveTouch menu or perform your assigned tapping shortcut, and your iPhone will take a screenshot. This works just like the usual method of taking an iPhone screenshot with the buttons. When you take a screenshot, the AssistiveTouch button and its menu won’t appear in the image.
2Take a Screenshot on iPhone by Tapping Its Back
For even more convenience, you can use another iPhone accessibility shortcut to take screenshots without the buttons. This feature is called Back Tap and allows you to perform actions simply by tapping the back of your iPhone with your fingers on supported models (iPhone 8 and later).
To configure it, head to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. You can customize two actions that happen when you tap twice and three times on the back of your device.
Select Screenshot to take a fast screenshot with a few taps. If you don’t want to do this for some reason, try combining this shortcut with AssistiveTouch. Choose AssistiveTouch for one of your Back Tap shortcuts, and you’ll be able to toggle the feature on and off by tapping.
This is an extra step, but if you only take screenshots occasionally, it will keep your screen clear of obstruction.
3Ask Siri to Take an iPhone Screenshot
You may not have realized that one of Siri’s lesser-known tricks is taking a screenshot for you. Simply summon Siri by saying “Hey Siri” or pressing and holding the Side button (or the Home button if your iPhone has one). Say, “Take a screenshot,” and after a moment, Siri will acknowledge the request and take a screenshot as normal.
This method comes in handy if your hands are dirty, or when you can’t perform the gesture to take a screenshot for whatever reason.
Now you know how to take a screenshot on your iPhone, even if you can’t use the Home or other buttons. One or more of these methods will suffice for grabbing screenshots while your buttons aren’t working.
Otherwise, consider replacing your iPhone when you can, especially if you have an AppleCare+ warranty plan. Working around a broken Home or Side button gets tiring after a while.