Tips for Fast Recording

Before your child can use their iPhone or iPad, they need to open LivingRoom and start the screen recorder. The faster that becomes a habit, the less friction your family experiences — here's how to make it nearly instant.

The fastest way to launch

Once your child knows the routine, opening LivingRoom and tapping the record button takes just a few seconds. Watch the demo below to see the full flow.

Keep LivingRoom in the Dock

The Dock is the row of app icons at the bottom of every Home Screen page. It holds up to four apps and stays visible no matter which page you're on — making it the perfect place for LivingRoom.

1. Touch and hold the LivingRoom app icon until the apps jiggle, then tap Edit Home Screen.
2. If the Dock already has four apps, drag one out to make room.
3. Drag LivingRoom into the Dock at the bottom of the screen.
4. Tap Done (or press the Home or side button).

For more details, see Apple's guide: Move apps and widgets on the iPhone Home Screen.

Increase Display Auto-Lock

Let's say you are waiting in line to board a flight. You started screen recording in order to unlock the app that has your QR boarding pass ready. But after 30 seconds of waiting, your phone screen goes to sleep, recording stops, and now you have to start recording again to show your pass. Give yourself more time in situations like this by increasing Display Auto-Lock to 5 minutes.

1. Go to Settings → Display & Brightness → Auto-Lock.
2. Choose 5 Minutes.

Advanced: open with the Action button or Back Tap

If you want to go further, you can launch LivingRoom without hunting for the app icon at all. Both methods below use a one-time “Open App” shortcut in Apple's Shortcuts app.

Step 1 — Create an “Open App” shortcut

1. Open the Shortcuts app and tap + to create a new shortcut.
2. Tap Add Action, search for Open App, and select it.
3. Tap the App placeholder and choose LivingRoom.
4. Rename the shortcut (e.g. “Open LivingRoom”) and tap Done.

Option A — Action button (iPhone 15 Pro and later)

1. Go to Settings → Action Button.
2. Swipe to the Shortcut screen and tap Choose a Shortcut.
3. Select your Open LivingRoom shortcut.
4. Press and hold the Action button to launch LivingRoom instantly.

Use and customize the Action button on iPhone

Option B — Back Tap (any supported iPhone)

1. Go to Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap.
2. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.
3. Under Shortcuts, select your Open LivingRoom shortcut.
4. Double- or triple-tap the back of the iPhone to launch LivingRoom.

Tap the back of iPhone to perform actions or shortcuts