How to Take a Screenshot to Show a Tech Problem

When something looks wrong on your phone, a screenshot is the fastest way to show another person what you see. A screenshot is a picture of whatever is on your screen at that moment. Your phone saves it like any other photo. And you can text or email it to a family member, a friend, or a tech support helper. They can look at the picture, read the message or button you are stuck on, and tell you what to do. This saves a lot of guessing on both sides.

Many older adults try to describe a screen out loud over the phone. That can be very hard. Words like "a little blue thing in the corner" or "some message about my iCloud" leave the helper guessing. A screenshot solves the problem in seconds. Your daughter, son, grandchild, or the person at the Apple Store can see the exact wording, the exact buttons, and the exact error.

Every modern smartphone takes screenshots, and the steps are short. On an iPhone with Face ID (no Home button), press the Side button and the Volume Up button at the same time. On an older iPhone with a Home button, press the Home button and the Side button at the same time. On most Android phones, press the Power button and the Volume Down button together. The screen flashes white, and you may hear a soft camera click. The picture is saved to your Photos app.

Once the screenshot is saved, you can share it. Open the Photos app or Gallery app. Tap the latest picture (it appears at the top or end). Tap the share icon, which looks like a small box with an arrow pointing up. Pick Messages or Mail, choose the person, and send. Your helper now sees exactly what you saw.

A few tips: try the button combination once when nothing is wrong so your fingers learn the move. If the screen does not capture, try again and press both buttons at the same instant. If you press one a moment before the other, the phone may turn off or lower the volume instead.