Best Screen Recording Apps to Sideload on iPhone

ByScarlet iOS Team Updated on

iOS has a built-in screen recorder, but it has significant limitations. You cannot record internal audio from apps that block it (like Netflix or Apple Music), it does not capture phone call audio, you have limited editing options after recording, and you cannot set custom resolution or frame rate. Third-party recorders add editing, camera overlays, streaming and quality settings, but they record through the same iOS system, so protected audio stays blocked. Using Scarlet iOS, you can install screen recording tools with features the native recorder lacks.

Limitations of the Native iOS Screen Recorder

Understanding what the built-in screen recorder cannot do helps clarify why sideloaded alternatives are worth exploring:

  • Internal audio blocking: Streaming apps such as Netflix and Apple Music protect their content, so it is muted (and video may go black) in screen recordings. iOS’s native recorder respects these restrictions.
  • No call audio: The screen recorder does not capture phone call audio (on iOS 18.1 and later, you can record calls in the Phone app instead).
  • No scheduled recording: There is no way to set a future recording start time natively.
  • Limited editing: The Photos app offers only basic edits such as trimming, cropping and filters.
  • Fixed quality settings: You cannot change resolution, frame rate, or bitrate in the native recorder.
  • No internal audio mixing: You cannot independently control system audio and microphone audio levels.

Best Screen Recording Apps Available to Sideload

Record It! Pro Unlocked

Record It! Pro is available on the App Store in a limited free version, but the sideloaded unlocked version removes all paywalls. It adds video editing tools including trimming, cropping, adding reactions and annotations, speed adjustment (0.25x to 4x), and the ability to overlay your front camera video in a picture-in-picture window while recording. The editing suite within the app is surprisingly capable: you can add text, draw on recordings, and export in multiple formats including GIF.

Record It! is free on the App Store with optional paid features. An unlocked version removes the watermark from exports and unlocks all premium reaction overlays and annotation tools. For content creators making tutorial or gameplay videos, this is an excellent choice.

DU Recorder for iOS

DU Recorder is best known on Android. Its iOS availability has changed over the years, so check where any DU Recorder IPA comes from before installing it, and expect it to record through the same iOS system as other apps. Features listed for it include:

  • Screen recording with simultaneous front camera recording
  • Live streaming directly to YouTube, Facebook, or Twitch while recording
  • A built-in video editor with trimming, merging, and filter application
  • GIF creation from any portion of a recording
  • Custom watermark embedding for branding
  • Cloud backup integration

DU Recorder is particularly useful for streamers who want to broadcast their iPhone screen. The live streaming feature works well for gaming content and app demonstrations.

AZ Screen Recorder (No Official iOS Version)

AZ Screen Recorder is famous on Android. We could not find an official iOS version, so treat any IPA with that name with caution. On iPhone, apps cannot float controls on top of other apps or start a recording on a schedule: iOS requires you to start every screen recording yourself from Control Center or the app. If you want its features on iPhone, the recorders above cover them.

X-Mirage Screen Mirror and Recorder

X-Mirage takes a different approach: it uses local network mirroring to capture your screen. It is handy for recording on a computer, but protected video and audio are usually blocked over AirPlay mirroring as well, so do not count on it for apps that block native capture. It requires a local Wi-Fi connection and a Mac or Windows PC running X-Mirage as the AirPlay receiver, which makes setup more complex.

Can Sideloaded Screen Recorders Capture DRM Audio?

This is the most common question about sideloaded screen recorders. The honest answer is: sometimes, but not reliably or universally. iOS mutes protected audio and video during screen capture, and third-party recorders use the same system recording feature, so the same rule applies to them. Most sideloaded apps face the same restriction the native recorder does.

Some workarounds that have partial success include:

  • Recording from a nearby device aimed at your iPhone speaker
  • Using Bluetooth audio routing tricks during capture
  • Mirroring to a computer with X-Mirage, although protected content is usually blocked there too

For non-DRM audio (games, podcast players, most apps) sideloaded recorders work identically to the native recorder and the audio captures cleanly.

How to Install Screen Recording Apps via Scarlet iOS

  1. Open Scarlet iOS on your iPhone
  2. Search for “screen recorder” or the specific app name
  3. Tap Install on your preferred app
  4. If iOS asks, trust the developer in Settings > General > VPN & Device Management; you normally do this only once, when you first install Scarlet
  5. Open the app and grant screen recording permission when prompted
  6. Configure your quality settings, then use the app’s interface or control center button to start recording

Tips for Better Screen Recordings on iPhone

  • Enable Do Not Disturb before recording to prevent notification pop-ups appearing in your footage
  • Close background apps to free RAM and prevent frame drops during recording
  • Record in landscape orientation for videos intended for YouTube or wider screens
  • Lower screen brightness slightly if recording in a dark environment to improve battery life during long sessions
  • Use headphones with a microphone for cleaner voiceover audio if commenting over gameplay

Storage Management for Recordings

High-quality screen recordings consume significant storage. A 10-minute recording at 1080p 60fps can be 1-2GB depending on screen content complexity. Before starting long recording sessions, check your available storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage. Consider recording in 720p if storage is limited: the quality difference is minimal for most content types.

Explore More Sideloaded Apps

Screen recorders are just one category of app that benefits from sideloading. Check out the best productivity apps to sideload on iPhone for tools that improve your workflow. Learn how to sideload apps on iOS 26 and iOS 27 without a jailbreak for the full overview. Get started at scarletios.com.

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