Recording your iPad screen with sound is straightforward using the device's built-in Screen Recording feature, accessible directly from the Control Center. This allows you to capture both the visual actions on your screen and accompanying audio, whether from your device's internal sounds or external narration via the microphone.
Quick Steps to Record Your iPad Screen with Audio
To quickly record your iPad screen with sound, follow these steps:
- Add Screen Recording (if needed): Go to Settings > Control Center > Customize Controls and add "Screen Recording."
- Access Control Center:
- On iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS (e.g., Face ID iPads), swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
- On older iPads (e.g., Home button iPads), swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen.
- Activate Microphone: Press deeply on the double circle record icon (the Screen Recording button) and then tap Microphone to turn it on (it will turn red).
- Start Recording: Tap Start Recording, then wait for the three-second countdown.
- Stop Recording: Tap the red status bar at the top of the screen or re-open Control Center and tap the record icon again.
- Locate Your Recording: Your video will be saved automatically to the Photos app.
Detailed Guide to Screen Recording on iPad
This built-in functionality is perfect for creating tutorials, showcasing app usage, or capturing gameplay.
Step 1: Ensure Screen Recording is in Control Center
Before you can use the feature, you might need to add it to your iPad's Control Center.
- Navigate to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Control Center.
- Tap Customize Controls (or "More Controls" on newer iOS versions).
- Scroll down and look for Screen Recording. If you see a green plus (+) icon next to it, tap it to add it to the "Include" list. If it's already in the "Include" list, you're all set.
Step 2: Access the Control Center
The method to open Control Center varies slightly depending on your iPad model and iOS version:
| iPad Model / iOS Version | Swipe Gesture |
|---|---|
| iPad with iOS 12 or later, or iPadOS (e.g., Face ID iPads like iPad Pro, iPad Air 4/5) | Swipe down from the upper-right corner of the screen. |
| Older iPads (e.g., Home button iPads like iPad Mini 4, iPad 6th Gen) | Swipe up from the bottom edge of any screen. |
Step 3: Activate Your Microphone for External Sound
By default, screen recordings capture only the internal audio from your iPad (e.g., app sounds, music, game audio). To add your voice or external sounds, you need to enable the microphone:
- Once in Control Center, press deeply (using Haptic Touch or 3D Touch, or long-press) on the double circle record icon (the Screen Recording button). This will open additional options.
- Tap Microphone to turn it on. When enabled, the Microphone button will turn red, indicating that external audio will be recorded. You can tap it again to turn it off.
Step 4: Begin Recording Your Screen
With the microphone set up (if desired), you're ready to start:
- Tap Start Recording.
- A three-second countdown will appear, giving you time to switch to the app or screen you wish to record.
- Once the countdown finishes, the screen recording will begin. You'll see a red status bar at the top of your screen (or a red indicator icon around the clock) indicating that recording is active.
Step 5: Stop the Recording
When you're finished recording, you have a few options to stop:
- Tap the red status bar at the top of your screen. A prompt will appear asking if you want to "Stop Screen Recording." Tap Stop.
- Alternatively, re-open the Control Center and tap the Screen Recording icon again.
- Your iPad will notify you that the "Screen recording video saved to Photos."
Step 6: Find and Edit Your Recording
All your screen recordings are automatically saved to your Photos app.
- Open the Photos app.
- Go to the Albums tab and look for the Videos album, or browse your "Recents" to find your latest recording.
- From there, you can play, trim, edit, or share your screen recording just like any other video.
Tips for High-Quality Screen Recordings
- Check Storage: Ensure you have enough free space on your iPad before starting a long recording.
- Enable Do Not Disturb: To avoid interruptions from notifications during your recording, enable Do Not Disturb mode from the Control Center or Settings.
- Test Audio Levels: If narrating, do a quick test recording to ensure your microphone levels are clear and balanced with any internal audio.
- Edit Post-Recording: Use the Photos app's built-in editing tools or a third-party video editing app to trim, crop, or enhance your recording.
