Taking a screenshot on your iPhone 13 is a daily task, whether you're saving a confirmation email or sharing a funny meme. While the classic button combo is the go-to method, there are several other ways to do it that can be easier on your hands or more convenient. I'd start with the button method, but it's worth knowing the alternatives, especially if you find the button press awkward.
Use the Button Combo
The standard way to screenshot on an iPhone 13 is to press the Side button and the Volume Up button at the same time, then release them quickly. You'll see a quick flash and hear a camera shutter sound if your ringer is on. A small preview thumbnail will pop up in the bottom-left corner of your screen.
You can tap that thumbnail to immediately edit, crop, or mark up the screenshot. If you just swipe it away, the image will save automatically to your Photos app in the Screenshots album.
Use AssistiveTouch
If the physical buttons feel stiff or you're concerned about wear on the Side button, AssistiveTouch is a great software alternative. First, you need to enable it by going to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > AssistiveTouch and toggling it on. A small, movable gray button will appear on your screen.
Tap that floating button, then navigate to Device > More > Screenshot. Your iPhone 13 will capture the screen instantly. For even faster access, you can customize the button so a double-tap or a long press takes a screenshot directly, skipping the menu.
Use Back Tap
This is one of the handiest hidden features in iOS. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap. Here, you can assign the screenshot action to either a Double Tap or a Triple Tap on the back of your iPhone.
Once it's set up, you can take a screenshot by simply tapping the back of your phone case two or three times. It works reliably through most cases and becomes second nature once you remember it's there.
Ask Siri
When your hands are dirty or full, you can use your voice. Just say, "Hey Siri, take a screenshot." Your iPhone 13 will capture whatever is on the display at that moment and save it directly to your Photos. This works even if Siri is set to only show text responses on screen.
Capture a Full-Page Screenshot
Web pages, long text threads, and documents often don't fit on one screen. To capture everything, first take a regular screenshot using any method. Then, tap the preview thumbnail that appears.
At the top of the markup screen, you'll see two options: Screen and Full Page. Tap Full Page to capture the entire scrollable content. The iPhone 13 saves this as a PDF file, which you can then share or store in your Files app.
Edit and Share Right Away
The instant preview is your gateway to quick edits. Tap it to open a suite of tools where you can crop, draw with a pen or highlighter, add text, or even sign the image. A share button is right there, too, letting you send the screenshot via AirDrop, Messages, or any other app without ever opening your Photos.
All your screenshots are collected in the Photos app under the Screenshots album. This makes it easy to find, manage, or delete them later if you need to free up space, which can help with overall storage management on your device.
Adjust a Few Settings
The shutter sound for screenshots is tied to your ring/silent switch. Flick the physical switch on the left side of your iPhone 13 to silent mode, and your screenshots will be completely quiet. This is perfect for meetings or quiet environments.
For full-page screenshots, the default save location is within the screenshot's share options. When you tap "Done" after capturing a full page, you can choose to save the PDF to Files, saving it directly to a folder in iCloud Drive for better organization across your devices.
