This method of taking photos on your iPhone can make it easier to take selfies without twisting your arm to keep your hand out of the frame.
Zachary McAuliffe Editor
Zach began writing for CNET in November 2021 after writing for five years for a broadcast news station in his hometown of Cincinnati. You can usually find him reading and drinking coffee or watching a TV series with his wife and their dog.
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Taking photos can be a fun way to save and share memories, but sometimes it’s not always easy to get a good photo that everyone likes. Group selfies, for example, can be tricky to get everyone taking a photo while keeping your hand out of the frame while still being able to press the capture button on your camera. iPhone. But when Apple released iOS26 In Septemberthe company has allowed the use of your AirPods take photos – so you only have to worry about getting the best viewing angle of everyone.
The iOS 26 update introduces a handful of new features to your iPhone, including call screening and a Liquid glass redesign. It also introduces Camera Remote for AirPods, which lets you take a photo with just a tap on your AirPods. But you need to enable this feature and it only works with AirPods with an H2 chip, like the new AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods 4.
If you have a pair of compatible AirPods, here’s where to find the Camera Remote option and how to use it.
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How to turn on the camera remote control
1. Connect your compatible AirPods to your iPhone.
2. Faucet Settings.
3. Tap your AirPods in the Settings menu.
Your AirPods will have a different name.
Apple/Screenshot by CNET4. Faucet Remote camera under Camera Control.
In the new menu you can choose either Press once Or Press and hold. This refers to how you press the stem of your AirPods to take a photo. Tap the one you prefer.
You can now use your AirPods to take a photo or shoot a video in Camera.
What to know about using your AirPods to take a photo
Once Camera Remote is enabled, you can use your AirPods to take a photo or shoot a video with any camera mode, like portrait and time-lapse.
When you use your AirPods to take a photo in static mode, such as a photo or portrait, you’ll see a countdown of three in the upper left corner of your photo frame. Your iPhone’s flash will also turn on during the countdown to let you know a photo is about to be taken. If you take a selfie, you will only see the digital countdown on your screen.
The three second countdown is automatically enabled and I can’t find a way to disable it. You can extend your camera’s countdown by tapping the dot grid in the upper right corner of your screen, tapping Timer and pressing 5s or 10s. You can press 3 seconds, but this will not change the countdown.
When you take a video using your AirPods, you won’t see a timer or anything. Pressing your AirPods is like pressing the record button on your iPhone. You can then tap your AirPods again to stop recording.
It’s important to note that Camera Remote only works when at least one AirPod is connected to your iPhone. The easiest way to do this is to put an AirPod in your ear. If you want to take a photo but don’t want your AirPod to appear in the image, you can activate the photo process with Camera Remote, remove the AirPod from your ear during the three-second countdown, and hold it in your hand or pocket until your iPhone takes the photo.
For more iOS news, here’s what you need to know iOS 26.2 and what was included in iOS 26.1. You can also view our iOS 26 Cheat Sheet for other tips and tricks.
Watch this: Secret iPhone Camera Feature: Taking Photos With Your AirPods
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