In addition to the new video mode, Apple also added the option to take Macro photos – that is, close-up shots of objects – for the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. However, when the phones were first released, there wasn’t any sort of button to switch into Macro mode. Instead, the phone would recognize that it was getting close to an item and automatically switch to Macro mode. The problem: you don’t want this jarring automatic switch interrupting your quick, creative snap. As the reviews rolled in and users expressed their annoyance, Apple quickly confirmed that a future update would include a toggle to disable Auto Macro mode switching. And with the release of iOS 15.1, Apple made good on its promise.
How to turn off Auto Macro mode
Before you find the new setting, make sure you’ve installed iOS 15.1 (or currently operating on a newer version) You can do that by opening the Settings app and going to General > Software Update.
- Once your iPhone is updated, turn off Auto Macro mode by going to Settings > Camera and scrolling to the very bottom of the page. Slide the switch next to Auto Macro to the Off position.
How to take a Macro photo with automatic switching turned off
Now that your iPhone’s camera will no longer automatically detect and switch lenses to take a Macro photo, how do you take one on purpose? Glad you asked. Open the camera app, switch to the ultra-wide camera – it’s the 0.5 option in the app – and then get really close to the item you’re trying to photograph. In my basic testing, it doesn’t appear that you can get as close with manual Macro mode as you could previously, but the results are still impressive.
How to use Macro Control Mode
All of this isn’t to say that Auto Macro is useless. If you still want to utilize the magnified shots that Macro mode delivers (and with the iPhone’s suggestion), you can also turn on the Macro Control toggle within the camera settings. Simply go to Settings > Camera > and turn on Macro Control. What exactly does this control toggle do? When taking your next close-up picture, get up close to the subject and the Camera app will display a macro button – a flower encapsulated by a yellow circle. Tap the button to turn off the automatic switching or tap again to turn it on – the choice is yours.
