How to Take Long Screenshots on iPhone

Developers and users often need to capture more than what fits on a single iPhone screen, such as entire webpages, chat conversations, or app content. However, the default screenshot only captures the visible portion, which can be limiting when you want to save or share extended content.

Long screenshots on iPhone allow you to capture scrolling content in one image. Using the built-in iOS feature called "Full Page" screenshots, you can easily save entire webpages or documents as a single PDF or image, making it a practical tool for developers and everyday users alike.

What is a long screenshot on iPhone?

A long screenshot on iPhone is a capture of content that extends beyond the visible screen, such as a full webpage or a long chat thread. Unlike a regular screenshot that captures only what is currently visible, a long screenshot stitches together multiple screen sections into one continuous image or PDF.

Apple introduced this feature in iOS 13, primarily for Safari and some supported apps. It captures the entire scrollable content, allowing users to save or share the full page without manually stitching images. This is especially useful for developers who want to document UI flows or for users saving articles and conversations.

How do you take a long screenshot on iPhone?

To take a long screenshot on iPhone, you first capture a normal screenshot, then select the "Full Page" tab in the screenshot preview. This option appears only in supported apps like Safari.

Here’s a quick overview:

Press the Side button and Volume Up button simultaneously (on Face ID devices) or the Home button and Side/Top button (on Touch ID devices) to take a screenshot.
Tap the screenshot preview that appears in the bottom-left corner.
In the preview, select the "Full Page" tab at the top.
Scroll through the preview to see the entire captured content.
Tap "Done" and save the screenshot as a PDF to Files or share it.

This method captures the entire scrollable content as a PDF, not a single image. For apps that don’t support "Full Page," you may need third-party tools.

What prerequisites are required for long screenshots on iPhone?

iOS version 13 or later: The "Full Page" screenshot feature is available starting with iOS 13, so your iPhone must be updated accordingly.
Supported apps: Safari and some apps support full-page screenshots. Unsupported apps will only capture the visible screen.
Basic familiarity with iPhone controls: Knowing how to take regular screenshots and navigate the preview interface is essential.
Storage space: Long screenshots saved as PDFs can take more space than regular images, so ensure you have enough free storage.

Step-by-step guide to taking long screenshots on iPhone

Step 1: Capture a regular screenshot

Start by capturing a normal screenshot of the content you want to save. This is the first step before accessing the long screenshot options.

Press Side button + Volume Up (Face ID devices) or Home button + Side/Top button (Touch ID devices)

This command takes a snapshot of your current screen and shows a preview in the bottom-left corner.

Step 2: Open the screenshot preview

Tap the small screenshot thumbnail that appears immediately after capturing. This opens the editing interface where you can access the full-page option.

Tap the screenshot preview thumbnail

Opening the preview allows you to edit, crop, or select the full-page capture if available.

Step 3: Select the "Full Page" tab

At the top of the preview screen, you will see two tabs: "Screen" and "Full Page." Tap "Full Page" to switch to the long screenshot mode.

Tap "Full Page" tab in the screenshot preview

This switches the preview to show the entire scrollable content captured as a PDF.

Step 4: Review and adjust the long screenshot

Scroll through the full-page preview to ensure the entire content is captured. You can use the markup tools to highlight or annotate if needed.

Scroll and use markup tools as desired

This step helps you verify the capture and make any notes or edits before saving or sharing.

Step 5: Save or share the long screenshot

Tap "Done" in the top-left corner, then choose "Save PDF to Files" or share it directly via email, messages, or other apps.

Tap Done > Save PDF to Files or Share

Saving to Files stores the long screenshot as a PDF, preserving the entire scrollable content for later use.

What are common long screenshot errors on iPhone and how do you fix them?

"Full Page" tab not showing: This happens if the app doesn’t support full-page screenshots or your iOS version is below 13. Update iOS or use Safari for full-page captures.
Screenshot preview disappears quickly: Tap the preview immediately after capture. If it disappears, try taking the screenshot again and tap faster.
Long screenshot saved as image instead of PDF: The full-page option saves as PDF. If saved as an image, you likely captured a regular screenshot without selecting "Full Page."
File size too large: Long screenshots saved as PDFs can be large. Compress the PDF using third-party apps or reduce captured content length.
Third-party app crashes or fails: Use trusted apps from the App Store and keep them updated to avoid crashes during long screenshot capture.

What are best practices when using long screenshots on iPhone?

Use Safari for best results: Safari fully supports the "Full Page" feature, ensuring complete webpage captures without missing content.
Keep iOS updated: Regularly update your iPhone to access the latest screenshot features and bug fixes.
Save as PDF for quality: Always save long screenshots as PDFs to preserve quality and enable easy sharing and annotation.
Limit length when possible: Extremely long screenshots can be large and hard to manage; capture only necessary content.
Use markup tools wisely: Annotate or highlight important parts of the long screenshot before saving or sharing for clarity.

How do you take long screenshots in unsupported apps on iPhone?

Some apps do not support the native "Full Page" screenshot feature. In these cases, you can use third-party apps designed to capture scrolling screenshots or stitch multiple screenshots manually.

Apps like Tailor, Picsew, or LongShot can automatically combine multiple screenshots into one long image. These apps usually require you to take overlapping screenshots manually, then they stitch them together.

Alternatively, you can use screen recording to capture scrolling content as a video, then extract frames if needed. However, this is less convenient than a single long screenshot.

How do you share long screenshots taken on iPhone?

Long screenshots on iPhone are saved as PDFs, which can be shared easily via email, messaging apps, or cloud services. You can also upload them to collaboration tools or social media.

To share:

Open the Files app and locate the saved PDF.
Tap the share icon to see sharing options.
Select the app or contact to send the long screenshot.

Sharing PDFs preserves the full content and formatting, unlike images that may crop or lose quality.

What are the limitations of long screenshots on iPhone?

Long screenshots are limited to supported apps like Safari and some document viewers. They save as PDFs, not images, which might not be compatible with all platforms. Extremely long pages may produce large files that are harder to manage.

For unsupported apps, you must rely on third-party tools or manual stitching. Also, interactive content like videos or animations cannot be captured in a static long screenshot.

Conclusion

Long screenshots on iPhone provide a powerful way to capture entire webpages, chat threads, and scrollable content in a single PDF. This feature, introduced in iOS 13, is especially useful for developers documenting UI or users saving extensive information without multiple images.

By following the steps to capture, preview, and save full-page screenshots, you can efficiently manage long content. Remember to use supported apps like Safari, keep your iOS updated, and apply best practices for file size and sharing. Long screenshots enhance your ability to save and share detailed information seamlessly.

FAQ

Can I take long screenshots in any app on iPhone?

Long screenshots using the native "Full Page" feature are limited to supported apps like Safari. For other apps, you may need third-party tools to capture scrolling content.

What file format do long screenshots save as on iPhone?

Long screenshots are saved as PDF files, which preserve the entire scrollable content and allow easy sharing and annotation.

How do I edit or annotate a long screenshot on iPhone?

After capturing a long screenshot, use the markup tools in the preview interface to highlight, draw, or add text before saving or sharing the file.

Why is the "Full Page" option missing when I take a screenshot?

The "Full Page" tab appears only in supported apps and on iOS 13 or later. If missing, ensure your iPhone is updated and you are capturing in a compatible app like Safari.

Are there third-party apps to help with long screenshots?

Yes, apps like Tailor and Picsew can stitch multiple screenshots into one long image, useful for apps that don’t support native full-page screenshots.