iOS 10.2: How to Disable Always On Live Photo

Live Photo active in the iOS 10.2 Camera app

If the iOS 10.2 beta is any indication, Apple thinks every iPhone pic we take should be a Live Photo. Live Photo is on by default and reactivates itself every time you launch the Camera app, but there is a way to force it to stay off. Read on to learn how.

The problem is that Live Photo in iOS 10.2 auto-activates every time you launch the camera app, so you need to disable it each time if you want to snap non-moving photos. That’s kind of annoying because it adds an extra tap that could be the difference between catching and missing that perfect shot.

Live Photo on in iOS 10.2. Camera app
Live Photo is always on when you open the Camera app in iOS 10.2

Here’s how to disable the Live Photo feature from auto-activating in iOS 10.2:

  • Tap Settings
  • Tap Photos & Camera
Preserve Settings option in Photos & Camera settings in iOS 10.2
Go to Photos & Camera > Preserve Settings to stop Live Photo from always turning on
  • Choose Preserve Settings
  • Enable Live Photo
Live Photo settings in iOS 10.2 Photos & Camera settings
You need to turn Live Photo on in Photos & Camera settings to be able to keep it off in the app

Here’s the deal: The Live Photo setting is a little confusing because enabling it feels like you’re saying “Always leave Live Photo enabled when I launch the Camera app.” What you’re really saying is “Honor whatever Live Photo setting I chose the last time I used the Camera app.”

Live Photo off in the iOS 10.2 Camera app
Live Photo stays off when you open the Camera app thanks to a Settings change

That means if you have Live Photo enabled in Preserve Settings, and you turn off Live Photo in the Camera app, it’ll stay off until you enable it again.

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