Why is my iPhone Camera always on live?

Why is My iPhone Camera Stuck on Live Photo?

Are you tired of your iPhone camera defaulting to Live Photo, even when you swear you turned it off? That slightly animated image can be cool sometimes, but if you prefer still photos, it’s a constant, low-level frustration having to disable it for every single shot. The good news is, it’s probably not a glitch. The culprit is likely a setting called “Preserve Settings,” specifically the one related to Live Photo.

Here’s the breakdown: When “Preserve Settings” for Live Photo is enabled, your iPhone remembers your last used setting. So, if you took a Live Photo, closed the camera app, and then reopened it, it will automatically default back to Live Photo mode. Even if you switched it off previously, the phone “preserves” that last “Live” setting. This can be particularly annoying for users who primarily shoot still photos and only occasionally use Live Photo.

The solution is simple: disable the preservation of the Live Photo setting. This forces your camera to revert to a default state each time you open it. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on “Camera.”
3. Tap on “Preserve Settings.”
4. Locate the toggle switch next to “Live Photo.” If it’s green, it’s currently ON, meaning your iPhone remembers your last Live Photo setting.
5. Tap the toggle to turn it OFF (grey). Now, your iPhone will default to your preferred setting (likely still photo) every time you open the camera.

This minor adjustment should eliminate the constant need to toggle Live Photo on and off. You can now open your camera app confident that it will be ready to capture still images without that extra three seconds of animation. While Live Photos offer a fun way to capture moments, controlling the default setting gives you back the convenience and speed you desire when snapping quick pictures.