{"id":870039,"date":"2025-04-29T11:40:26","date_gmt":"2025-04-29T18:40:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/?p=870039"},"modified":"2025-04-29T11:40:01","modified_gmt":"2025-04-29T18:40:01","slug":"use-camera-control-button","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cultofmac.com\/how-to\/use-camera-control-button","title":{"rendered":"How to use the iPhone 16 Camera Control"},"content":{"rendered":"

The new Camera Control button on the iPhone 16 lineup opens the Camera app, takes pictures and adjusts camera settings on the fly. It offers a quick shortcut to using one of the most popular and important iPhone features.<\/p>\n

Apple baked a lot of controls and interactivity into this innovative button. But while Cupertino’s designers are usually restrained, some people find this new user interface a little fiddly. The physically clicking button also accepts touch input when you swipe your finger along it. And it utilizes pressure sensitivity and haptic feedback as you maneuver through the iPhone’s camera settings.<\/p>\n

Learn how to master the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control<\/a> button in our guide below.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How to use the Camera Control button on iPhone 16<\/h2>\n

Somewhat surprisingly, Apple did not limit the new Camera Control to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max<\/a>. Both the regular iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Plus also come with the complicated button. Alongside Apple Intelligence<\/a>, it’s one of the marquee features of this year’s iPhone lineup.<\/p>\n

Table of contents: How to use the Camera Control button on iPhone 16<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Click to open the camera and take pictures<\/a><\/li>\n
  2. Light-press to control the camera and switch settings<\/a><\/li>\n
  3. Click and hold to lock focus and exposure<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Change the Camera Control settings<\/a><\/li>\n
  5. Fine-tune the way you use Camera Control even further<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Click to open the camera and take pictures<\/h3>\n
    \"The<\/a>
    You can zoom in and adjust other iPhone camera settings, all from the Camera Control.
    Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    The basics of the Camera Control seem really easy<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Simply click the button, located toward the bottom of the right edge of all iPhone 16 models, to open the Camera app. If your phone is locked, the first click will wake up the screen, and the second click will open the camera. If the screen is already on, a single click will immediately switch to the Camera app. (This can be adjusted in\u00a0Settings > Display & Brightness > Require Screen On<\/strong>, but I don\u2019t recommend disabling it. I tried it out and discovered my phone kept accidentally opening the camera and recording in my pocket.)<\/p>\n

    With the camera open, click the Camera Control to take a picture. Click and hold the button to record a quick video \u2014 it\u2019ll stop recording when you let go. If you hold down the button but don\u2019t move or say anything, the video will end after just a few seconds.<\/p>\n

    Light-press to adjust settings<\/h3>\n

    The Camera Control is pressure-sensitive, too. If you apply a little bit of force to the button without clicking it, you\u2019ll bring up a menu that lets you zoom in or out. A quick swipe on the Camera Control will always zoom to the next optical zoom level \u2014 0.5\u00d7 to 1\u00d7 to 2\u00d7 to 5\u00d7 on the iPhone 16 Pro. Slowly roll your finger to zoom precisely.<\/p>\n

    Double-light-press the Camera Control to switch between other functions. The options at launch include Exposure, Depth, Zoom (default), Cameras, Styles and Tone. Light-press to select one of the options, then you can double-light-press to go back to the menu.<\/p>\n

    Whatever setting you leave the Camera Control on will stay there the next time you open the camera. So if you find the menu too fiddly to mess with when out and about, you can set it where you want and leave it there. Since the iPhone’s main touchscreen already offers gestures that control the zoom (pinch-to-zoom and the on-screen buttons) and exposure (tap on the subject, then drag your finger up or down), I recommend setting the Camera Control to something unique like Depth or Styles.<\/p>\n

    Click and hold to lock focus and exposure<\/h3>\n

    If you\u2019ve updated to iOS 18.2, a new setting lets you hold down the Camera Control to lock the focus and exposure, like a traditional camera.<\/p>\n

    If you have this setting enabled, holding down the button for a moment without clicking it all the way. You\u2019ll see the yellow square appear in the center of the frame, indicating that focus and exposure are locked. You can move the camera around or adjust objects in the frame, and your iPhone won\u2019t refocus anywhere else or change the brightness of the image.\u00a0Click and hold the camera control again to remove the lock.<\/p>\n

    Change the Camera Control settings<\/h3>\n
    \"Settings<\/a>
    The Camera Control is highly customizable.
    Screenshot: D. Griffin Jones\/Cult of Mac<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    In\u00a0Settings > Accessibility > Camera Control<\/strong> (in the Physical and Motor section) you will find a bunch of settings for how the button works. You can tweak things so they work best for you:<\/p>\n