How to Take an iPhone Screenshot without Pressing the Side Buttons

by Barrett

If you’re wondering if there’s a workaround to this occasionally glitchy iPhone maneuver, you’re in luck. Here’s a trick that involves activating a useful little dot…

A friend asked me the other day if there was an alternate way to take a screenshot on her iPhone XS instead of having to press the volume and power side buttons simultaneously. She was having a bit of a challenge with the ‘simultaneous’ action part. Without a perfect squeeze, her iPhone was more likely to just turn its screen off.
(I’ve done that too.)

Wouldn’t it be great if you could take a screenshot simply by tapping the screen?

Well, you can! You simply have to dig a little bit to activate the ‘AssistiveTouch’ menu…

How to Turn on the AssistiveTouch Menu

  • Tap ‘Settings’
  • Tap ‘General’
  • Tap ‘Accessibility’
  • Slide ‘AssistiveTouch’ to green


That activates a grayish dot in the bottom right corner. It now lives on every screen and tapping it gives you alternate access to a variety of functions on your iPhone.
(You can reposition the AssistiveTouch menu dot to any edge.)

You can now exit ‘Settings,’ and you’re ready to take screenshots via your screen…

How to Take the Screenshot

  • Tap your new friendly dot
  • Tap ‘Device’
  • Tap ‘More’
  • Tap ‘Screenshot’

That does the trick!

How to Get Rid of the Dot
Now, if you don’t like that gray dot staring at you all of the time, you can hide it and then activate it via ‘Accessibility Shortcut’ whenever you need it. You do that by squeezing the side button three times.
(Yes, you’re back to pressing buttons again, but this time it’s only on one side!)

Here’s how you add AssistiveTouch to Accessibility Shortcut…

  • Tap ‘Settings’
  • Tap ‘General’
  • Tap ‘Accessibility’
  • On the very bottom, tap ‘Accessibility Shortcut’
  • Select ‘AssistiveTouch’


Now, when you triple-click the side button, you can toggle the AssistiveTouch dot on and off.

How to Create a Shortcut Icon to Your Favorite Website
Now that you’re feeling good about MacGyvering your iPhone to do your bidding, here’s another iPhone trick to make your day…

If you visit a particular website frequently, you can create a shortcut icon that can live with all of the other apps on your iPhone or iPad. Here’s how…

When you’re viewing your webpage, look at the menu icons on the bottom of the screen….

  • Tap the square down on the bottom center with an arrow pointing straight up
  • Move through your choices on the bottom row of options until you see ‘Add to Home Screen’
  • Tap ‘Add to Home screen’
  • Then name it
  • Tap ‘Add’

Done!
You’ve created your own shortcut that looks like your own little app!

Human OS Update Not Yet Available
You’ve paid quite a lot for your iPhone. It should work hard to make your experience the best it can be. You just need to help it understand your glitchy human needs and mannerisms!