Live Photos on iPhones can be a fun feature, adding a touch of motion and sound to your still images. However, they also consume more storage space and might not always be desirable for every photo you take. Many users find themselves wanting to disable Live Photos, but often discover that the setting reverts back to “on” every time they open the Camera app. If you’re frustrated with constantly turning off Live Photos, you’re not alone. This guide will walk you through the steps to permanently disable Live Photos on your iPhone, ensuring your camera app always opens with Live Photo turned off.
Understanding Live Photos and Why Turn Them Off
Introduced by Apple, Live Photos capture a few seconds of video and audio before and after you snap a photo. This creates a dynamic image that comes to life when you touch and hold it. While this feature can be great for capturing memories with added context, there are several reasons why you might want to turn it off:
- Storage Space: Live Photos files are significantly larger than still photos, quickly eating up your iPhone’s storage, especially if you take a lot of pictures.
- Unnecessary Feature: For everyday snapshots, the motion and sound of Live Photos might be unnecessary and even unwanted. Many users simply prefer standard still images.
- Battery Consumption: While the impact is minimal, capturing video and audio for every photo can slightly increase battery drain over time.
- Preference for Still Photography: Some photographers prefer the control and clarity of traditional still images and find Live Photos distracting or gimmicky.
If you resonate with these points and want to take control of your iPhone camera settings, learning how to permanently disable Live Photos is essential.
Steps to Turn Off Live Photos (The Standard Method)
Before diving into the permanent solution, let’s quickly review the basic way to turn off Live Photos directly in the Camera app. This is the method most users are familiar with, but it’s often the source of frustration because the setting doesn’t stick.
- Open the Camera App: Launch the Camera app on your iPhone.
- Locate the Live Photo Button: At the top right corner of the screen (in portrait mode), you’ll see a circular icon that looks like concentric circles. This is the Live Photo button.
- Tap to Disable: If the Live Photo icon is yellow, it means Live Photos is currently enabled. Tap the icon once. It will turn white with a diagonal line through it, indicating that Live Photos is now turned off for the current session.
While this method turns off Live Photos immediately, you’ll likely find that the next time you open the Camera app, Live Photos is back on. This is where the “Preserve Settings” feature comes into play to make your preference permanent.
The Persistent Problem: Live Photos Turning Back On
The core issue reported by many iPhone users is that despite turning off Live Photos in the Camera app, the setting frustratingly reverts to “on” automatically. This can happen every time you close and reopen the camera, or even when switching between photo modes. Users have expressed annoyance at this behavior, especially those who prefer to consistently shoot still photos and want to avoid the larger file sizes of Live Photos.
The good news is that Apple has included a setting designed to address this exact problem. It’s called “Preserve Settings,” and when configured correctly, it will remember your Live Photo preference and ensure it stays off (or on, if you prefer).
Solution 1: Using “Preserve Settings” to Keep Live Photos Off
The primary solution to permanently disable Live Photos involves adjusting the “Preserve Settings” in your iPhone’s Camera settings. Here’s how to do it:
-
Open Settings App: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
-
Scroll Down to Camera: Find and tap on “Camera” in the Settings menu.
-
Tap on “Preserve Settings”: Within the Camera settings, locate and select “Preserve Settings.”
-
Toggle “Live Photo” to On (Green): You’ll see a toggle switch next to “Live Photo.” Make sure this switch is turned ON (green).
It’s counterintuitive, but turning this switch on actually allows you to preserve the setting you choose in the Camera app – whether it’s on or off.
-
Turn Off Live Photos in the Camera App (One Last Time): Now, open your Camera app and manually turn off Live Photos using the button at the top, as described in the previous section. Ensure the Live Photo icon is white with a diagonal line through it, indicating it’s off.
After completing these steps, your iPhone should now remember your preference to keep Live Photos turned off. Close and reopen the Camera app, and you should find that Live Photos remains disabled.
Solution 2: Preserve Camera Mode for Extra Persistence (If Solution 1 Fails)
While the “Preserve Settings” -> “Live Photo” option works for most users, some have reported that Live Photos still occasionally turns back on. In such cases, an additional setting within “Preserve Settings” might be the key: “Camera Mode.”
According to user reports, especially for those on older iOS versions like iOS 11, disabling “Camera Mode” in addition to enabling “Preserve Live Photo” can provide a more robust solution. Here’s how to implement this enhanced fix:
-
Follow Steps 1-4 from Solution 1: Ensure you have already enabled “Preserve Settings” -> “Live Photo” as described above.
-
In “Preserve Settings,” Toggle “Camera Mode” to Off (White/Gray): Below the “Live Photo” toggle in “Preserve Settings,” you’ll find “Camera Mode.” Toggle this switch OFF (so it’s white or gray, not green).
Disabling “Camera Mode” prevents the camera app from automatically resetting to the default “Photo” mode and instead preserves the last mode you used – including whether Live Photo was on or off.
-
Turn Off Live Photos in the Camera App (Again): Open your Camera app and make sure Live Photos is turned off (white icon with a line).
By disabling both “Camera Mode” and enabling “Preserve Live Photo,” you’re instructing your iPhone to remember not only your Live Photo preference but also the overall camera mode you were last using. This combination appears to be particularly effective in preventing Live Photos from automatically reactivating.
Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Live Photo Settings
Dealing with Live Photos turning back on can be a persistent annoyance for iPhone users who prefer shooting still images. Thankfully, Apple provides the “Preserve Settings” options to give you control over this behavior.
By enabling “Preserve Settings” -> “Live Photo,” you should be able to permanently turn off Live Photos and have your iPhone remember this preference. If you still encounter issues, additionally disabling “Preserve Settings” -> “Camera Mode” offers a more robust solution that has worked for many users.
Take a few minutes to adjust these settings, and you can finally enjoy a camera app that respects your choice and keeps Live Photos off until you decide to turn them on again. This not only saves storage space but also streamlines your photography experience, allowing you to focus on capturing the perfect still shot without the added motion and file size of Live Photos.
