Apple has leveled up the screenshots game on its latest iPhone software update, iOS 26. Alongside the updated Photos app, Compact mode in Safari, and new wallpapers, iOS 26 comes with a redesigned screenshot editor, featuring the controversial Liquid Glass system design.
The iOS 26 update brings new features and changes that let you customize your screenshot experience in a better way. For starters, it displays the captured screenshot with rounded corners, shifting away from the rectangle on iOS 18.
Turn on HDR screenshots on iOS 26
A highlight of the updated screenshots features on iOS 26 is that you can take screenshots in HDR (High Dynamic Range). Apple has added a new Screen Capture page in the Settings app that lets you do that. You can follow these steps to enable HDR screenshots on iOS 26:
- Open the Settings app on iOS 26.
- Go to General > Screen Capture.
- Now, select the HDR option under the Format section.
- Press the Home + Volume Up button combination to take a screenshot.
Next time you take a screenshot on your iPhone, it will be captured with full dynamic range and stored in HEIF format. In other words, if you take a screenshot of a photo and video available in HDR, the feature will preserve those details.
On the other hand, the SDR quality saves screenshots in PNG format and offers more compatibility. As shown in the image below, you can check whether a screenshot is captured in HDR or not by swiping up on a screenshot in the Photos app to open its details.
Record your iPhone screen in HDR on iOS 26
Not just screenshots, the HDR option also works for screen recordings. Such files are saved in HEVC HDR10 format, whereas screen recordings taken in SDR mode are saved in HEVC. After switching to the HDR options using the steps above, you can use the same old steps to screen record your iPhone; the option is available in the Control Center.
That said, you can do a lot more to improve your screenshot experience on iOS 26. The Screen Capture page in the Settings app lets you customize your screenshot experience in multiple ways. Here's how use can use the different features Apple has added in iOS 26.
Turn on full-screen previews by default
When you turn on the "Full-Screen Previews" toggle button on the Screen Capture page, iOS 26 will display screenshots in full view instead of showing a small thumbnail in the bottom left corner that vanishes after a few seconds.
The full-blown UI allows you to quickly edit or annotate a screenshot and share it with your friends across various apps. Alternatively, you can disable the toggle option and trigger this UI by tapping on the temporary thumbnail that shows up after taking the screenshot.
Prevent CarPlay screenshots from flooding your device
Apple has also changed (fixed) how screenshots work on CarPlay. Until now, screenshots on CarPlay have been an "it's a feature, not a bug" experience for the users. If your iPhone is connected to your car, an extra screenshot of the CarPlay interface is automatically captured when you press the buttons to take a screenshot on your phone.
This functionality has been a pain point for many users, who have raised their voice on Apple's support forums. It seems the company heard them, and iOS 26 update brings a new toggle button in the picture, allowing you to have a manual way to enable or disable CarPlay screenshots.
Use Visual Intelligence on screenshots
iPhone's screenshot tool also supports the improved Visual Intelligence feature (works on iPhone 15 Pro or later). You can select objects in a screenshot and search for matching content in apps that offer integration with Visual Intelligence.
These screenshot updates for iOS 26 are currently available for testing through the developer beta program on supported iPhone models. Apple is expected to release the first public beta of iOS 26 next month. If you plan to install the developer beta on your device, note that early builds may be unstable, and ensure that you back up your data in advance.
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