How to change shutter speed on iPhone

On a camera, shutter speed is how long the sensor collects light. A fast shutter freezes movement, and a slow one blurs it or brightens a dark scene. Apple's Camera app picks this for you and hides the number. That keeps shooting simple, but it is why you cannot find a shutter speed dial. Here are the ways to get what you wanted.

Method 1: Night mode for a longer exposure

In dim light, a Night mode icon appears at the top of the Camera screen with a number of seconds. Night mode is the closest you get to a slow shutter in the Camera app.

Method 2: Long Exposure on a Live Photo

For flowing water, car lights or crowds, take a Live Photo and add the blur afterward. It works best with the iPhone held still.

Method 3: A manual camera app

If you want to set the shutter speed yourself, you need a camera app made for it. Apps such as Halide and ProCamera show a shutter speed control along with ISO and focus. Many are paid or subscription apps, so look at the price and the free trial before you download one. Use the app's shutter speed control in low light and the iPhone on a tripod.

Tips for sharper long exposures

• Use a tripod or lean the iPhone against something solid. Even a small shake blurs a slow exposure.
• Use the timer in the Camera app so your finger does not shake the phone.
• Clean the lens with a soft cloth. A smudge makes night photos hazy.
• Lower the exposure slider (tap the screen and drag the sun icon) if bright lights blow out.

Blurry photos when you did not want slow shutter

In dim light, the iPhone itself uses a longer exposure, so anything that moves blurs. If you did not mean to get blur, read our guide to fixing blurry iPhone photos. If the camera does not open or shows a black screen, see a phone camera that is not working.

Looking for the photo shape, not the shutter?

Searches for this topic sometimes mean the shape of the photo. That is the aspect ratio, not the shutter speed. See how to change the aspect ratio on iPhone.

Shutter speed, exposure and ISO on an iPhone

On a camera you set shutter speed, aperture and ISO separately. An iPhone has a fixed lens, so the Camera app handles most of it automatically, and it chooses the shutter speed to match the light. The exposure slider next to the focus box changes brightness, not shutter speed directly. To control shutter speed yourself you need Night mode, a Live Photo with Long Exposure, or a manual camera app.

Which iPhones have Night mode

Night mode arrived on the iPhone 11 and is on later models. It turns on by itself in dim light, shows a moon icon, and lets you set a longer capture time with the slider. Hold the phone still or use a tripod for a sharper result. Older iPhones do not have it, and for them a manual app is the only way to slow the shutter.

Manual camera apps

Camera apps such as Halide or ProCamera give you a shutter speed control, along with ISO and focus. They may charge a one time fee or a subscription, so check the current price in the App Store. Use a tripod, turn off the flash and set a low ISO for long exposures of lights, water or stars.

Action shots need a fast shutter

If your problem is blur from motion, you want the opposite. Tap to focus on the subject, keep the phone steady, use Burst by holding the shutter button, and shoot in good light. Newer iPhones also have Action mode for video. Our guide to changing the aspect ratio on iPhone covers the other camera controls.

Get a sharper long exposure

A long exposure picks up every shake. Rest the iPhone on a tripod or a solid surface, use the timer or a volume button on wired earbuds to avoid touching the screen, and keep the subject still. Wipe the lens first, because a smudge turns into a glow around lights at night. If you are shooting moving water or traffic, the Live Photo Long Exposure effect works best when the phone is perfectly steady for the full capture.