On PS5, recording gameplay and taking screenshots both start with one button: Create on the DualSense controller. The console also records your gameplay continuously in the background, so you can save a great moment after the fact, up to an hour back. Below are all three capture methods, the shortcut and format settings, trophy captures, 8K screenshots on PS5 Pro and how to get your captures onto your phone via PlayStation App. Everything follows Sony’s support pages, accurate as of 20 October 2026.
The Create button and three ways to capture
Pressing the Create button on the DualSense opens the create menu. It offers three ways to capture your gameplay:
- Take Screenshot saves a screenshot of the current game screen.
- Start New Recording starts recording your gameplay from now on.
- Save Recent Gameplay saves a section the console has already recorded in the background.
Screenshot
- Press the Create button.
- Select Take Screenshot.
New recording
- Press the Create button.
- Select Start New Recording.
- When you want to finish, press Create again and select Stop Recording.
A single recording can last up to 1 hour.
Save Recent Gameplay
The console automatically and continuously records your gameplay as video. When something happens that you want to keep, you do not need to have started anything beforehand:
- Press the Create button.
- Select Save Recent Gameplay.
- Choose the length. You can save anything from the last 15 seconds up to the last hour of play.
Be aware that not everything can be captured. According to Sony, some scenes in games are blocked and will not appear in your video clips.
What else is in the create menu
- Recently created shows up to 15 of your latest screenshots and video clips.
- Capture Options changes the format and resolution of screenshots and video clips. You can include your mic audio and voice chat audio, and with a compatible display you can turn on 4K recording.
- Broadcast starts a live stream to Twitch or YouTube. Our guide to streaming from PS5 shows how.
- Share Screen streams your gameplay to members of your party.
Capture settings
The more detailed options are in Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Captures:
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Shortcuts for Create Button | Changes what the Create button does. You can choose Standard, Easy Screenshots or Easy Video Clips. |
| Screenshot Format | Turns on HDR and changes the file type screenshots are saved as. HDR only works with a compatible display. |
| Video Clip Format | Changes the file type and resolution of recorded video. This is also where you choose whether to include microphone or voice chat audio. |
If you include voice chat audio, make sure the other people in the chat are fine with their voices being recorded. Sony specifically reminds you of this.
4K recording and HDR screenshots need a display that supports them. How to set up your PS5 on a TV is covered in our PS5 TV settings guide.
Automatic trophy captures
PS5 can automatically save a screenshot or video when you earn a trophy. You set this up in Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Auto-Captures > Trophies, where you switch trophy screenshots and trophy videos on or off and set the trophy video duration. How trophies and trophy levels work is explained in PlayStation trophies explained.
8K screenshots on PS5 Pro
PS5 Pro owners can save screenshots in 8K. All three conditions must be met:
- You are playing a game in 8K on PS5 Pro.
- The console is connected to a compatible 8K screen.
- Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Captures > 8K Resolution Screenshot is turned on.
8K screenshots are uploaded to the Cloud Media Gallery at a lower resolution.
How to get captures onto your phone with PlayStation App
The easiest route to your phone is PlayStation App. The console uploads your captures to the cloud by itself, and in the app you can download them or share them. The feature is available in countries and regions where PS App is available. The full process is in Sony’s guide.
Before you start, two things must be in place: your PS5 is linked to PlayStation App, and Stay Connected to the Internet is turned on for rest mode.
- In PlayStation App, open Library.
- Go to Captures and select Enable.
- On the console, turn on Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Captures > Auto-Upload.
What gets uploaded and for how long
- Video clips shorter than 3 minutes that are not in 4K.
- Screenshots taken from the create menu or with Create button shortcuts.
- Captures stay in the app for 14 days after you create them on the console. Download anything you want to keep in time.
To upload a capture manually, go to Media Gallery on the console, highlight it, press Options and select Upload to PlayStation App. In the app, select Download to save a capture to your phone or Share to send it on.
Screenshots and videos take up space on the console. When it starts to run low, see our guide to freeing up space.
Join our Discord to show off your clips and see what others have captured: GamersTogether Discord.
FAQ
A new recording lasts up to 1 hour. From the background recording you can save anything from the last 15 seconds up to the last hour of play.
Press the Create button on the DualSense and select Take Screenshot. You can change what the button does in Settings > Captures and Broadcasts > Captures.
Some scenes cannot be captured. Sony says they are blocked and will not be included in your video clips.
Through PlayStation App. Enable Captures in the app and Auto-Upload on the console. Clips under 3 minutes that are not in 4K are uploaded and stay in the app for 14 days, so download them before then.
Only PS5 Pro, when the game runs in 8K, the console is connected to an 8K screen and 8K Resolution Screenshot is turned on.
Information verified on 20 October 2026. More guides are in our PlayStation section.