If you’re sick of accidentally capturing moving images on your iPhone, our guide on how to turn off live photos is here to help. While Apple introduced this feature a few years ago, countless users still prefer to take still images, so they can perfectly encapsulate the moment. Here, we’ve got all the instructions you need to do exactly that.
If you need even more help getting to grips with your iOS device, our how to delete contacts on iPhone, how to delete albums on iPhone, how to scan on iPhone, and how to delete apps on iPhone content can help you out. Or, if you’re more concerned with gaming performance than mobile photography, find your next upgrade with our list of the best gaming phones to suit every budget.
How do I turn off live photos?
To turn off live photos on your iPhone’s camera app, follow these steps:
- Open your camera
- Hit the ‘live’ icon in the top right of the screen
- Take your picture
There is another option to remove the live photos feature permanently, and it’s almost as simple a process. Here are the instructions:
- Go to settings
- Tap ‘camera’
- Hit ‘preserve settings’
- Switch off live photos

How do I make a live photo into a regular image?
If you forgot to turn off live photos before taking an important picture, don’t worry, just follow these steps to transform it into a regular image:
- Open your photos app
- Select the live photo you want to change
- Hit ‘edit’
- Tap the ‘live’ photo icon at the bottom of the screen
- Hit the ‘live’ button at the top of the screen
- Tap ‘done’
What are live photos?
A live photo on an iPhone is a three-second-long moving image, rather than the still image you might be used to. While live photos are useful for gifs or creating long-exposure images, they can be annoying if you’re trying to capture a single moment in a shot. Fortunately, they’re only optional, and you can easily turn the feature off with the steps above.
There you have it, all you need to know on how to turn off live photos. It really is as easy as that. Now, if you feel the need to play something, our best iPhone games list can help you out, as can our free Monopoly Go dice guide.