Apple has made significant changes to screen capture in iOS 26 to accommodate Visual Intelligence and the Liquid Glass design. While the screen capture method still relies on simultaneously pressing the power button and the volume up button, the user interface has been completely redesigned, with another change that may slow down your workflow if you're used to the fluid style of iOS 18 and earlier.
Why would you want to go back to the previous situation?
In previous versions, such as iOS 18, screenshots appeared as a thumbnail in the lower-left corner, which you could quickly tap to edit, save, or discard. This approach allowed you to continue using your device without interruption, while still retaining the option to add comments or share the image when needed.
In iOS 26, the default mode is full-screen preview, displaying the snap directly across the entire screen, with editing tools and visual intelligence options at the bottom. While this gives you immediate access to cropping tools, adding tags, and AI-powered features, it can feel more complex and cluttered compared to the simpler approach of iOS 18.
How to stop full screen preview
When you take your first screenshot after updating to iOS 26, you'll see an on-screen notification asking if you want to "switch to thumbnail view." If you miss this message or tap "Not Now," you can return to the old mode using new settings added to the system:
◉ Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
◉ Tap General.
◉ Choose Screen Capture.
◉ Turn off the full screen preview option.
After disabling this option, screenshots will revert to the familiar iOS 18 style, temporarily appearing as thumbnails in the lower-left corner. You can tap this thumbnail to access editing tools when needed, or review the images later in the Photos app.
Additional options for screenshots
◉ While in the screen capture settings, you will find new options, including:
◉ HDR screenshots, saved in high-quality HEIF format.
◉ CarPlay screenshot option, to enable capture when your device is connected to CarPlay.
◉ Visual Lookup, available only for iPhone 15 Pro and later, allows you to recognize and analyze elements within an image.
The changes in iOS 26 reflect Apple's move toward integrating artificial intelligence into the user experience, but that doesn't mean all users will find the new mode practical or convenient. If you prefer speed and minimal disruption, returning to the thumbnail view may be the best option. Ultimately, the new settings give you greater flexibility to customize your screen capture to suit your needs.
Source:
7 comment