Have you asked yourself cHow to save your camera settings on iPhone? Have you ever adjusted your iPhone camera to perfection only to find that the next time you open the app, everything has gone back to its original state? This happens to many Apple users. We filter our images, change the capture mode, adjust the brightness, and it all disappears when we close the app!
The good news is that there is a very handy way to save all those settings you've worked so hard to customize.Whether you're a photography enthusiast or just use your camera to capture your vacations, keeping your settings fixed can save you time and effort. In this article, we explain step by step how to do this, which options you can keep depending on your iPhone model, and some tricks you might not have known about.
Why do camera settings reset?
By default, the iPhone camera restarts every time you close it.Apple does this to ensure the camera is ready with standard settings for all types of users. However, this can be annoying if you have specific preferences regarding photo mode, exposure, filters, or even aspect ratio. To learn more about the camera app redesign, you can check out this article on the redesign of the camera app on iOS.
With the arrival of iOS 13 and models like the iPhone 11 onwards, Apple introduced the option to keep settings, allowing the camera app to remember certain settings you have previously defined.
How to activate the "Keep Settings" feature
This setting is somewhat hidden in the Settings app., which causes many users to ignore its existence. Here's how to find it:
- Open the app Configuration on your iPhone.
- Swipe down and tap on Camera.
- Select option Keep settings.
Once inside that menu, you'll see several options you can activate depending on your iPhone model. Each corresponds to a setting that can be saved, even if you close the camera app.
Settings you can keep and what each one does
Depending on your iPhone model, you'll see more or fewer options in the "Keep Settings" menu. Here's what each one does:
- Camera mode: Allows the camera app to open in the last mode you used, whether it's video, photo, portrait, slow motion, etc. Very useful if you usually record videos or take portraits.
- Creative controls: Save the filters, light, color and aspect ratio you've selected. Only available on iPhone 8 Plus and later models.
- Exposure setting: Saves the brightness level you've manually set, preventing it from returning to automatic mode. Available on iPhone 11 and later.
- Macro control: On iPhones like the 13 Pro and Pro Max, this prevents the camera from automatically switching to Ultra Wide for close-up shots. Ideal for always keeping the main camera on.
- Night mode: Allows you to keep your preference of having Night Mode on or off on iPhones 12 and 13.
- Live Photos: Disable the 1,5-second recording before and after each photo if you're not using it. Saving this setting will prevent it from automatically triggering every time.
- Portrait zoom: Available on some models like the iPhone 14, this setting remembers whether you want to use the telephoto lens in portrait mode or not.
Additional steps to further customize your experience
In addition to the basic settings, you can take advantage of other features that will improve the results of your photos and videos without having to configure them every time.
Apply filters directly from the camera
To make your photography work even easier, you can apply filters from the camera interface itself:
- Open the app Camera.
- Press the up arrow at the top to open the hidden menu.
- Click on the icon with three circles (filters).
- Swipe to explore filters like Mono, Noir, Silver or warm and cool tones.
Once you've selected a filter you like, you can set it as part of your saved creative settings. Also, if you're looking to learn how to make professional-quality recordings, here are some tips. Tricks for recording with your iPhone's camera.
Aspect ratio: 1:1, 4:3 or 16:9
For years, the iPhone only allowed shooting in 4:3 format. With iOS 13 and later, new aspect ratios were introduced:
- 1: 1: Ideal for Instagram or more artistic portraits.
- 4: 3: The traditional format of the iPhone camera.
- 16: 9: Perfect for video or more panoramic photos.
However, if you don't activate the creative settings, it will always revert to the default 4:3. So, make sure you have that feature enabled in the “Keep Settings” menu.
What if the changes are not saved despite everything?
Some users have reported that even after enabling the appropriate settings, their configurations are not saved. This may be due to specific errors of the operating system or because the steps have not been performed correctly.
Tips if this happens to you:
- Make sure you have the latest version of iOS updated.
- Restart your device after making changes in Settings.
- Check that in the Camera app you are closing correctly after applying the settings.
- If the problem persists, consider reset camera settings from Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
Advanced settings for Pro users
On models like the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, the camera offers custom resolutions such as 12 MP, 24 MP or even 48 MP thanks to the improved sensor.
To activate them:
- Go to Settings > Camera > Formats.
- Active Resolution control o ProRAW Control, depending on your device.
- Once this is done, within the Camera app you'll see options to select the format and resolution at the top.
Additionally, you can long press the icon to quickly switch between available formats without leaving the app. To take full advantage of these advanced features, consider using the What's new in the iPhone 14 Pro camera?.
Remembering these settings saves time, improves the consistency of your photos, and even helps you create a personal visual identity when taking pictures with iPhone.Although it may seem like a minor detail, having the right filter or format active from the first second makes a huge difference when capturing unique moments. If you haven't yet explored this feature, now you have all the tools to do so. From activating the correct camera mode to controlling brightness, filters, and even macros, Apple provides you with comprehensive options to adapt to any photography style. We hope you now know how to save your camera settings on your iPhone without losing them.
