Live Photos captures video before and after you press the shutter, but you can disable it in seconds
Live Photos is turned on by default on iPhones. When enabled, it records about 1.5 seconds of video before and after you take a still photo, creating a short looping clip. If you do not want this feature — because it uses extra storage, creates files you do not need, or you simply prefer static images — you can turn it off on your device right now.
The steps differ between iPhone and Android, and the setting is not always obvious. This guide shows you exactly where to find it on each platform.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, open the Camera app, tap the concentric circles icon at the top of the screen, and select Live Photo to toggle it off.
- Live Photos is an iPhone-only feature; Android phones do not have a direct equivalent, though some Samsung and Google phones offer similar motion photo modes that work the same way.
- Turning off Live Photos saves storage space because each photo takes up less room without the video component.
- You can disable Live Photos for new photos without affecting photos you have already taken.
Disabling Live Photos on iPhone
Open the Camera app on your iPhone. Look at the top center of the screen — you will see a concentric circles icon (it looks like a target or ripple). Tap it once.
A menu will appear with three options: Live Photo (with a circle icon), Portrait Mode (if your phone supports it), and Night Mode (if available). The Live Photo option will show a checkmark or highlight if it is currently on. Tap Live Photo to turn it off. The icon will no longer be highlighted, and Live Photos will be disabled for all photos you take from that point forward.
This setting stays off until you manually turn it back on. Every time you open the Camera app, it will remember your choice.
What happens to photos you already took
Turning off Live Photos does not delete or change any photos you have already captured. Photos taken with Live Photos enabled will keep their video component. Photos taken after you disable it will be standard still images only.
If you want to remove the Live Photo component from existing photos, you can edit them individually. Open the Photos app, select a Live Photo, tap Edit, then tap the Live Photo icon at the top right and choose Off. This converts that single photo to a still image.
Live Photos alternatives on Android
Android phones do not have a feature called Live Photos, but some models offer similar functionality. Samsung phones have a feature called Motion Photo, and Google Pixel phones have Motion Photo as well. These work the same way as Live Photos — they capture video around the moment you press the shutter.
On Samsung phones, open the Camera app, tap the Settings icon (gear symbol), scroll down to Motion Photo, and toggle it off. On Google Pixel phones, open the Camera app, tap the Settings icon, scroll to Motion Photo, and turn it off. The exact menu location varies slightly depending on your phone model and Android version.
Why you might want to disable Live Photos
Live Photos uses more storage than regular photos because each one includes video data. If you are running low on phone storage, turning off Live Photos can help you take more photos before you need to delete old ones or buy more cloud storage.
Some people disable it simply because they do not use the feature. If you never watch the video clips or share them, there is no reason to keep recording them. Disabling it also speeds up photo processing slightly and reduces the file size when you back up photos to cloud services like iCloud or Google Photos.
Re-enabling Live Photos if you change your mind
If you decide later that you want Live Photos back on, the process is identical. Open the Camera app, tap the concentric circles icon at the top, and tap Live Photo again to turn it back on. You can switch between on and off as many times as you want.
There is no penalty for turning it on and off frequently. Your phone will not lose any data or settings by toggling this feature.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does turning off Live Photos delete my existing photos?
No. Disabling Live Photos only affects new photos you take going forward. Any photos you have already captured will remain unchanged, including those with the Live Photo video component.
Can I turn off Live Photos for just one photo?
Yes. Even with Live Photos enabled in the Camera app, you can disable it for a single shot by tapping the concentric circles icon right before you take that photo. It will turn back on for the next photo unless you tap it again.
Does Live Photos work with all iPhone models?
Live Photos is available on iPhone 6s and newer. If you have an older iPhone, the feature does not exist on your device. You can check your iPhone model in Settings > General > About if you are unsure which version you own.
Will disabling Live Photos speed up my phone?
Slightly. Live Photos processing uses a small amount of processing power and battery. Turning it off will not make a dramatic difference, but it may help if your phone is older or running low on battery.
Can I convert a Live Photo back to a regular photo?
Yes. Open the Photos app, select the Live Photo, tap Edit, tap the Live Photo icon at the top right, and choose Off. This removes the video component and saves it as a still image only.