Smartwatch guide
How to take a screenshot on a smartwatch
Both Apple Watch and Wear OS watches let you take screenshots, but the feature may be off by default. You’ll need to enable it in settings first.
Works on Apple Watch (watchOS) and most Wear OS models like Galaxy Watch, Pixel Watch, Fossil, Mobvoi TicWatch, and others.
Apple Watch
Step 1 — Turn on screenshots
- On your iPhone: open the Watch app.
- Go to My Watch → General.
- Toggle on Enable Screenshots.
Step 2 — Take the screenshot
- On your Apple Watch, press the Side Button + Digital Crown at the same time.
- The screen will flash white.
Wear OS watches
Wear OS doesn’t have a direct button combo. Instead, you take screenshots through your paired phone:
- Open the Wear OS app on your Android phone.
- Tap the three-dot menu → Take screenshot of watch.
- You’ll get a notification on your phone to save or share the screenshot.
On Pixel Watch and some Samsung Galaxy Watch models, you can also press Crown + Side button at the same time if enabled in developer options.
Where your screenshots are saved
- Apple Watch: Saved to the paired iPhone’s Photos app → Screenshots album.
- Wear OS: Saved to your Android phone’s Photos/Gallery app once you accept the notification.
FAQ
Why can’t I take screenshots on my Apple Watch?
The feature is off by default. Enable it in the iPhone Watch app under General → Enable Screenshots.
Can I take screenshots directly on Wear OS without my phone?
Normally no, but some watches like Pixel Watch allow it with button combos if developer options are enabled.
Where do smartwatch screenshots go?
Apple Watch → iPhone Photos app. Wear OS → your Android phone’s gallery via the Wear OS app.