The iPhone 13 comes with a built-in screen recording feature that allows you to capture videos of your screen without any third-party apps. This is perfect for creating tutorials, saving gameplay, recording app activity, or sharing step-by-step instructions with friends.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to enable, use, and customize the screen recorder on your iPhone 13, along with helpful tips to get the best recordings.

What Is the iPhone Screen Recorder?

The iPhone screen recorder is a native iOS tool that captures:

All on-screen activity
Audio from your device
Optional microphone audio

Screen recordings are saved in the Photos app, making it easy to edit, share, or upload.

Step 1: Add Screen Recording to Control Center

Before you can use the screen recorder, you need to make sure it’s accessible in your Control Center.

Open Settings.
Tap Control Center.
Scroll down to More Controls.
Find Screen Recording and tap the green plus icon (+) to add it.

Now the screen recorder will appear in your Control Center.

Step 2: Start a Screen Recording

Swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone 13 to open Control Center.
Tap the Screen Recording icon (a solid circle inside a circle).
A 3-second countdown begins.
Your iPhone is now recording the screen.

⚡ Tip: A red bar or red clock at the top of the screen indicates an active recording.

Step 3: Record with Microphone Audio

You can record internal audio, microphone audio, or both:

Open Control Center.
Press and hold the Screen Recording icon.
Tap the Microphone Audio icon to turn it On or Off.
Tap Start Recording.

This is useful for narrating tutorials or capturing voice instructions along with the screen.

Step 4: Stop a Screen Recording

There are three ways to stop:

Tap the red bar at the top of the screen → tap Stop.
Open Control Center → tap the Screen Recording icon again.
Lock the iPhone and recording will automatically stop.

The video is automatically saved in Photos → Recents.

Step 5: Edit Your Screen Recording

Once saved, you can:

Open Photos app → tap the screen recording.
Tap Edit at the top-right.
Trim the beginning or end of the video by adjusting the sliders.
Tap Done → Save as New Clip to keep the original.

You can also use iMovie or other video editors for more advanced editing.

Tips for Best Screen Recording on iPhone 13

Enable Do Not Disturb: Prevent notifications from showing up during recording.
Check Storage Space: Screen recordings can take up large amounts of storage, especially in high resolution.
Record in Landscape for Apps: For gaming or full-screen videos.
Use External Audio: For clearer narration, use AirPods or an external microphone.

Common Questions

Q: Can I record audio from apps like Spotify or YouTube?
A: Due to copyright restrictions, some apps block internal audio recording. You may need to enable Microphone Audio to capture sound.

Q: How long can I record?
A: You can record as long as there is enough free storage on your iPhone.

Q: Can I share recordings easily?
A: Yes. Open Photos → select video → tap Share to send via email, AirDrop, Messages, or social media.

Final Thoughts

Using the screen recorder on your iPhone 13 is a simple, powerful way to capture tutorials, gameplay, or app demonstrations. By following the steps above, you can enable, start, stop, and edit recordings efficiently while ensuring your videos are clear and professional.

Regularly checking your storage and using microphone audio will enhance the quality of your screen recordings, making your iPhone 13 a versatile tool for sharing content and documenting activities.