How to Take and Manage Screenshots on Apple Watch

Capturing a screenshot on your Apple Watch allows you to document fitness activity awards, save workout metrics, record health telemetry, or capture app glitches for technical troubleshooting. However, by default, Apple disables the screenshot shortcut on new Apple Watches to prevent accidental image captures when bending your wrist or wearing tight sports apparel.

Once enabled through watchOS settings or your paired iPhone, capturing your Apple Watch screen requires only a simple two-button gesture, with images automatically synchronising to your iPhone photo library.

Enabling Screenshots on Apple Watch

You can activate screenshot functionality directly from the watch display:

1. Press the Digital Crown to view your installed apps, then tap the Settings app (gear icon).
2. Scroll down and tap General.
3. Scroll down and tap Screenshots.
4. Toggle the switch labelled Enable Screenshots to the On position.

Enabling Screenshots Using Your Paired iPhone

Alternatively, configure the setting from the larger screen of your iPhone:

1. Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab in the bottom-left corner.
3. Tap General.
4. Scroll down and toggle Enable Screenshots to the active position.

How to Take a Screenshot on Apple Watch

Once enabled, you can capture any active watchOS interface:

1. Navigate to the watch face, app view, notification, or workout screen you wish to capture.
2. Using two fingers, press the Digital Crown and the Side button simultaneously.
3. The Apple Watch screen will flash white and play a subtle camera shutter sound (or emit a haptic pulse if silent mode is engaged).

Viewing and Managing Saved Screenshots on iPhone

Because the Apple Watch does not maintain a dedicated local camera roll, captured screenshots transfer automatically to your paired iPhone:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Albums tab along the bottom.
3. Scroll down to the Media Types section and tap Screenshots.
4. Your Apple Watch captures appear alongside standard iPhone screenshots, formatted in native watchOS resolution ready for editing, sharing, or cloud backup.