My iPhone takes screenshots while it is locked and I am just holding it. I actually had someone get mad at me because she thought I was taking a picture of her behind, and she threatened to call security. It is not the first time it has happened. How do I stop it? There must be a button I can disable.
I am having so much trouble with this new iPhone I'm afraid it will be my last. So many things it does without me knowing.
iPhone 11, iOS 14
Hello Gnarlodious,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! We understand that you have had your iPhone take a screenshot while it is locked and you're holding it.
Based on this information, check and see if Back Tap may be enabled. With Back Tap you can double or triple tap the back of your iPhone to do different tasks, including taking a screenshot. This article will walk you through the step to find that setting and make any necessary changes: Use Back Tap on your iPhone.
Let us know if that helps.
All the best.
Hello Gnarlodious,
Welcome to the Apple Support Communities! We understand that you have had your iPhone take a screenshot while it is locked and you're holding it.
Based on this information, check and see if Back Tap may be enabled. With Back Tap you can double or triple tap the back of your iPhone to do different tasks, including taking a screenshot. This article will walk you through the step to find that setting and make any necessary changes: Use Back Tap on your iPhone.
Let us know if that helps.
All the best.
Well, since you stated above that you have turned off Raise to Wake, the only way to get the phone to light up is to either touch the side button, or touch the screen. It would seem after that you are gripping the two sides of the phone in such a way that you are taking the screenshot. Unfortunately, at this point, there is no way to turn off taking screenshots. You would just need to be more careful in gripping the phone. You can provide feedback to Apple about providing the ability to turn off screenshots for the phone. They already have a control like that on the Apple Watch. Use this link to provide them feedback. Feedback - iPhone - Apple
Hi Gnarlodious,
Even with the screen locked, your iPhone can take screenshots. You may also want to turn off the Raise to Wake feature. This will ensure that your iPhone doesn't "wake up" to show the Lock Screen, unless you want it to. This article will provide you with additional information about the Raise to Wake feature, as well as how you can make changes to the setting on your iPhone: Use Raise to Wake on your iPhone.
Take care!
I do tap the back for screenshots but the buttons somehow take unwanted screenshots. Its very annoying when I am around people and they think I am photographing them surreptitiously, and I didn't even know my phone was on.
The screen is lit when it takes the pictures or dials 911, but it is locked. I don't know what I do to make it happen, except to inadvertently press buttons while I am handling it. I know that there is a red slider to dial 911 which I have to inadvertently slide to dial 911.
I spent some time randomly fiddling with it and discovered the flashlight comes on when I have brought up the Control Center screen. I don't know why or how Control Center is coming up on Locked Screen but I would like to disable it because the flashlight coming on autonomously is pretty irritating and it is harder to turn off than on.
Thanks for the additional information, Garnlodious.
Depending on the model of iPhone you have, you may have the option to turn on the flashlight from the Lock Screen. This applies to any iPhone which has Face ID capability.
You'll find this information from the How to use the flashlight on your iPhone, iPad Pro, or iPod touch article:
"You can also turn on the flashlight from the Lock screen: Press and hold the Flashlight button, in the bottom-left corner."
If you find you have additional question, be sure to check out the information in the iPhone User Guide - Apple Support, or you can contact Apple Support here: Get Support.
With regards.
That was the first thing I did, but it didn't stop the misbehaving.
I'm a little curious. You say that it is taking a screenshot when locked. Is the screen lit when you do this? I just tried with my iPhone 12 Pro to take a screenshot when the screen was dark and the phone locked. While it will take a screenshot when the lock screen is showing and lit, it will not take a screenshot with the volume up and side button if the phone is locked and dark. So to repeat my question, was the screen lit at the time you took this screenshot?
Hello Gnarlodious,
If you're calling 911, it does indeed sound like you're pressing an holding the side button on your iPhone. This article explains how Emergency SOS works, as well as how you can change the settings: Make emergency calls on iPhone.
Based on the information you've provided it does sound as if the buttons are being pressed inadvertently. As ChrisJ4203 mentioned in their post, there is no way to turn off the screenshots feature. You can leave feedback regarding any suggestions you have or changes to the feature you'd like to see: Feedback - iPhone - Apple.
Cheers!
Stop iPhone from taking screenshots while locked
