There’s lots of reasons why you might need to record or share your iPhone screen. During training I live-demo accessibility features: VoiceOver, Voice Control, and Dynamic Text. I share issues I’ve found in mobile apps and websites while using these features. I prefer to record scenarios for presentations, I don’t like to tempt the demo gods!

Do you need to record or share your iPhone screen? Here’s a few different methods.

Share over Zoom (Windows client) (no cables)

Zoom uses Screen Mirroring to connect to your device.

Pre-requisite: Your laptop and iPhone must both connect to the same Wi-Fi network.

  1. During the Zoom meeting, select Share Screen
  2. Select iPhone / iPad from the list
  3. Check Share computer sound (bottom-left) then select Share
    Screenshot of Zoom Share Screen panel with iPhone option highlighted
  4. If you haven’t shared an iPhone screen before, Zoom will ask you to download a plugin. Accept this.
  5. On your iPhone, open the Control Centre
    • No home button models: swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen
    • Home button models: swipe up from the bottom of the screen
  6. In Control Centre, select Screen Mirroring
  7. In the Screen Mirroring list, select the Zoom-YourName option
    Screenshot of Screen Mirroring list with Zoom-AllisonRavenhall option shown
    Your iPhone screen should now appear on your laptop. It is also shared to all meeting participants
  8. Tap outside the Screen Mirroring list to dismiss it, then do the same to the Control Centre.

When you want to stop sharing your screen, select Stop Sharing within Zoom. This will disconnect the iPhone from the Zoom session and stop screen mirroring.

Share to your Windows laptop (no cables)

LonelyScreen uses Screen Mirroring to connect to your device.

Pre-requisite: Your laptop and iPhone must both connect to the same Wi-Fi network.

  1. Download and install the free trial version* of LonelyScreen onto your laptop.
  2. Open LonelyScreen. Dismiss the free trial popup.
  3. On your iPhone, open the Control Centre
    • No home button models: swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen
    • Home button models: swipe up from the bottom of the screen
  4. In Control Centre, select Screen Mirroring
  5. In the Screen Mirroring list, select the LonelyScreen option
    Screenshot of Screen Mirroring list with LonelyScreen option shown
    Your iPhone screen should now appear on your laptop.
  6. Tap outside the Screen Mirroring list to dismiss it, then do the same to the Control Centre.

When you want to stop projecting your screen, close LonelyScreen. This will stop screen mirroring.

* I don’t know what limitations the free trial version has, if any, other than having to dismiss a popup upon opening.

Share via a video platform without screen mirroring (e.g. Slack)

  1. Follow the Share to your Windows laptop (no cables) instructions to display your iPhone screen in LonelyScreen.
  2. Share your screen within your video platform and select the LonelyScreen window.
    If there is a setting to share computer sound, be sure to check it.

Share by plugging into a monitor or projector

You’ll need an adapter, most likely Lightning to HDMI. Plug and play.

VoiceOver audio not going to the HDMI device?

Let’s assume the HDMI device has speakers, nothing’s muted, and the volume is up everywhere. Check this VoiceOver switch is on: Settings > Accessibility > VoiceOver > Audio > Send to HDMI.

Record your iPhone screen

Before you begin: Go to Settings > Control Centre > Customise Controls, add Screen Recording to the Include list.

  1. Open the Control Centre
    • No home button models: swipe down from the top-right corner of the screen
    • Home button models: swipe up from the bottom of the screen
  2. Select Screen Recording to start a recording. It looks like a checked radio button.
    Screenshot of Control Centre with Screen Recording button highlighted
    You’ll get a 3-second countdown. When Screen Recording turns red, the recording starts.
  3. Tap outside the Control Centre to dismiss it
    While recording, the clock in the status bar is ringed in red. This is visible in the recording. VoiceOver audio is also recorded.
  4. To stop recording, open the Control Centre and select Screen Recording again.
    The recording is stored in the Photos app.
    Basic editing functions (e.g. crop start/end of clip) are available there.

Use a tool like Camtasia to add captions to your recording to support deaf and hard of hearing watchers. If the audio isn’t self-explanatory, augment it to support blind and low vision listeners. If you publish the recording, provide a transcript. Add subtitles if your audience includes people that speak languages other than yours.

Share over Zoom (iOS app)

Zoom has an iOS app that enables users to share their own screen. I haven’t included those instructions because I don’t know how to share VoiceOver audio along with the screen. Sharing VoiceOver audio is important to me:

  • As a trainer demonstrating screen readers
  • As an auditor explaining VoiceOver-specific issues

If you’ve figured it out, let me know!