The Burst Photos feature on iPhones is designed to capture rapid sequences of images, perfect for fast-action shots. However, many iPhone users find themselves unintentionally triggering Burst Mode, resulting in dozens of similar photos cluttering their photo library. If you’re looking to regain control over your iPhone photography and prevent unwanted burst photos, you’re in the right place.
While there isn’t a direct “turn off burst photos” setting on iPhones, this article provides effective workarounds to help you avoid capturing bursts. Whether you prefer using the self-timer, enabling the flash, or exploring alternative camera apps, we’ll guide you through practical methods to take single photos and manage your iPhone storage more efficiently.
Understanding Why Your iPhone Takes Burst Photos
iPhone’s Burst Mode is activated by simply holding down the shutter button or the volume up button when using the camera. Introduced initially with the iPhone 5s, this feature is incredibly useful for capturing fleeting moments. Think of photographing a sporting event, trying to get the perfect jump shot, or capturing a child’s spontaneous smile. Your iPhone smartly groups these burst photos together, allowing you to easily select the best images and discard the rest.
Over successive iPhone models, Burst Mode has been refined and improved. For instance, iPhone 6s and later versions boast faster processors, enabling capture speeds of up to 10 frames per second in Burst Mode. The iPhone 11 series and beyond incorporated even more sophisticated scene detection algorithms, further simplifying the process of choosing the best image from a burst.
Despite its intended purpose, accidental activation of Burst Mode is a common frustration. Users often find their storage quickly filled with numerous burst photos they didn’t intend to take. Unfortunately, Apple doesn’t offer a straightforward setting to disable Burst Mode. However, several clever techniques can help you prevent your iPhone from capturing these unwanted photo bursts.
Let’s explore five practical methods to effectively disable Burst Mode and take individual photos, ensuring your iPhone camera captures exactly what you intend.
5 Effective Methods to Stop Burst Mode on Your iPhone
Although a direct “turn off burst mode” option is absent on iPhones, several workarounds can significantly reduce accidental burst photo captures. Here are five methods to help you disable Burst Mode and ensure you primarily take single, intentional shots.
Method 1: Utilizing Timer Mode for Single Shots
One simple way to prevent burst photos is by using your iPhone’s timer mode. When you set a timer, the camera is configured to take a single photo, not a burst. Here’s how to use the timer to avoid Burst Mode:
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Begin by opening the Camera app, the standard app for capturing photos and videos on your iPhone.
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Locate the timer icon, which resembles a small clock. It’s usually found after tapping the arrow icon at the top of your screen. Tapping the arrow reveals additional camera options, including the timer.
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Select a timer duration, either 3 seconds or 10 seconds. This delay before the photo is taken gives you time to stabilize your shot and ensures only a single image is captured.
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Press the shutter button. The timer will initiate a countdown, and after the set duration, the camera will take just one photo, effectively bypassing Burst Mode.
Using timer mode is a straightforward method to disable burst photos on your iPhone. It guarantees single, well-timed photos without the accumulation of numerous unwanted burst images.
Next, let’s explore how enabling the flash can also prevent burst photos on your iPhone.
Method 2: Enabling Flash to Prevent Burst Photos
Another effective technique to avoid burst photos is to enable the flash on your iPhone camera. When the flash is activated, Burst Mode is automatically disabled, ensuring your camera captures only one photo each time you press the shutter. Here’s how to enable flash:
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Open the Camera app again and tap the arrow at the top of the screen to access camera options.
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Find the flash icon, which is represented by a lightning bolt symbol. Tap the flash icon and choose “On” from the available options. Enabling the flash prevents burst photos because of the time needed for the flash to recharge between shots.
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Now, when you press the shutter button, your iPhone will capture just a single photo because the flash is enabled.
Enabling the flash is particularly useful in dimly lit environments where extra illumination is needed. This method not only helps stop burst photos but also ensures you get a brighter, single shot. Keep in mind that using the flash frequently can drain your iPhone’s battery faster.
Note: On iPhone 12 models and later, Night mode can also prevent Burst Mode. When Night mode is active, the camera takes a series of images at different exposures and combines them into one well-exposed photo, thus also disabling burst capture.
Method 3: Using Live Photos to Avoid Burst Mode
Utilizing the Live Photos feature on your iPhone is another way to prevent accidental burst photos. Live Photos capture a brief video clip along with a still image, offering a dynamic way to capture moments without needing multiple burst shots. Here’s how to enable and use Live Photos:
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In the Camera app, tap the Live Photos icon located at the top of the screen. It looks like a set of concentric circles.
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When the Live Photos icon is yellow, it’s enabled. Simply press the shutter button to take a Live Photo.
Using Live Photos allows you to capture lively moments with motion and sound, all while avoiding the risk of ending up with a series of unwanted burst photos.
Did you know? Live Photos debuted with the iPhone 6s. Beyond capturing a few seconds of video around your photo, Live Photos also allow you to select a different key photo from the captured frames. This is especially helpful for ensuring you get the perfect expression or moment.
Method 4: Disabling ‘Volume Up for Burst’ Functionality
Another way to prevent burst photos is by turning off the ‘Volume Up for Burst’ option in your iPhone settings. This stops accidental burst photos triggered by pressing the volume up button. Here’s how to disable this feature:
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Open the Settings app on your iPhone’s home screen.
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Scroll down in the Settings menu and tap on ‘Camera’ to access camera-specific settings.
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Toggle off the switch next to ‘Use Volume Up for Burst’. This will disable the volume up button from triggering Burst Mode.
Turning off this option helps ensure you take single photos even when using the volume up button as a shutter, significantly decreasing the chances of accidentally capturing burst photos.
Note: Disabling ‘Volume Up for Burst’ doesn’t prevent you from using the volume down button to take single photos, still offering convenient shutter button alternatives.
Method 5: Exploring Third-Party Camera Apps
If you desire greater control over your camera settings and wish to completely avoid Burst Mode, consider using third-party camera apps that do not support burst capture. These apps often come with advanced features and settings, allowing you to take deliberate single shots without the possibility of accidentally triggering Burst Mode. Here are some highly-rated third-party camera apps available on the App Store:
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Halide Mark II: Renowned for its robust manual controls and user-friendly interface. Halide offers features like manual focus, RAW capture, and depth capture. Importantly, Halide does not include Burst Mode, making it an excellent choice for precise single-shot photography.
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ProCamera: Another top-tier app providing professional-grade controls and settings. ProCamera includes features like HDR, low-light mode, and advanced editing tools. Its interface is designed for easy single-shot capture, eliminating the risk of accidental Burst Mode activation.
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Camera+: Camera+ offers a wide array of advanced features, including manual controls, RAW capture, and various shooting modes. It’s designed to help you capture high-quality single photos effortlessly. Camera+ 2’s intuitive design makes it a favorite among photography enthusiasts.
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Moment Pro Camera: Developed by Moment, known for their high-quality mobile photography lenses, this app is ideal for serious mobile photographers. It offers complete manual controls, dual lens support, and advanced video recording capabilities. Moment Pro Camera ensures single-shot capture without accidentally engaging Burst Mode.
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Obscura: Obscura 3 stands out for its simplicity and powerful features, offering manual controls, RAW capture, and a clean interface focused on single-shot photography. Obscura 3 is perfect for users wanting to avoid Burst Mode while enjoying advanced camera functionalities.
Some third-party apps, like Halide Mark II, integrate seamlessly with Apple’s advanced photography features, allowing you to leverage Night Mode, Deep Fusion, and other technologies without the concern of activating Burst Mode.
Using these third-party apps can effectively stop burst photos on your iPhone and provide you with enhanced control and flexibility in your mobile photography. Each app offers unique features to elevate your photo-taking experience.
How to Delete Burst Photos from Your iPhone
Despite taking preventative measures, you might still occasionally capture burst photos on your iPhone. Here’s how to easily delete burst photos to free up storage and declutter your photo library:
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Start by launching the Photos app, where all your captured photos and videos are stored.
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Navigate to the ‘Albums’ tab at the bottom of the screen and find the ‘Bursts’ album. This album automatically collects all your burst photos in one place.
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Tap ‘Select’ when viewing a burst photo you want to review and delete. This allows you to see all individual photos within the burst sequence.
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Tap on the circle at the bottom right of each photo you wish to keep. A checkmark will appear on the selected photos, indicating they will be saved.
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Tap ‘Done’. Choose ‘Keep Favorites’ to save only the checked photos and delete the rest, or ‘Delete All’ to remove the entire burst sequence. Confirm your selection to remove the unwanted burst photos.
Regularly deleting unwanted burst photos is a good practice to free up valuable storage space on your iPhone and maintain a well-organized photo library.
Conclusion
Managing Burst Photos on your iPhone can be straightforward. While a direct “turn off Burst Mode” setting isn’t available, employing methods like timer mode, flash activation, and exploring third-party camera apps can effectively help you avoid capturing unwanted bursts. Furthermore, knowing how to easily delete burst photos ensures your photo library remains organized and conserves precious storage space. By implementing these techniques, you can enjoy a more controlled and streamlined photography experience on your iPhone, focusing on capturing the perfect single shots you desire.
