Yes, you can change shutter speed on an iPhone, but the method depends on your model and which app you use
iPhones do not give you a direct shutter speed dial the way a traditional camera does. Instead, you control shutter speed indirectly through exposure time settings in the Camera app or through third-party apps that expose more manual controls. On newer iPhones (iPhone 11 Pro and later), you can adjust exposure time in Pro Raw mode or through the native Camera app's exposure slider. On older models, your options are more limited, and you may need a third-party app to get the control you want.
The exposure slider in the standard Camera app does affect how long the sensor stays open, which is what shutter speed controls. Moving the slider up brightens the image by letting light in longer; moving it down darkens the image by shortening that time. This is not the same as manually setting shutter speed in fractions of a second, but it gives you real control over motion blur and light capture.
Key Takeaways
- The native Camera app's exposure slider indirectly controls shutter speed by adjusting how long light hits the sensor, available on all recent iPhone models.
- iPhone 11 Pro, 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro, and later models can shoot in Pro Raw mode, which gives you a dedicated exposure time control in fractions of a second.
- Third-party apps like Halide, Lightroom Mobile, and Manual give you numeric shutter speed control on any iPhone model that supports them.
- Longer shutter speeds (slower) create motion blur and let in more light; shorter speeds (faster) freeze motion and reduce light, so your choice depends on the shot you want.
Using the exposure slider in the standard Camera app
Open the Camera app and frame your shot. Tap the screen where you want to focus. A sun icon with a slider will appear next to the focus square. Swipe up on that slider to increase exposure (longer shutter speed, more light) or down to decrease it (shorter shutter speed, less light). The number that appears shows how many stops you are adjusting from the camera's automatic setting.
This method works on all recent iPhones and is the fastest way to control how much light your image captures. It does not show you the actual shutter speed in fractions of a second—you are adjusting relative to what the phone thinks is correct—but it gives you real control. Use it when you want to brighten a backlit subject or darken an overexposed scene without switching apps.
Pro Raw mode on iPhone 11 Pro and later
If you own an iPhone 11 Pro, 12 Pro, 13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro, or later, you can shoot in Pro Raw format, which unlocks numeric shutter speed control. Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and turn on Apple ProRAW. Then open the Camera app, swipe to the right to see shooting modes, and tap Pro Raw.
In Pro Raw mode, tap the screen to focus, then use the exposure slider as before. But Pro Raw also records the raw sensor data, which means you can adjust shutter speed and other settings in post-processing using the Photos app or a desktop editor. The Camera app itself does not show you a numeric shutter speed value in real time, but the raw file preserves the information needed to adjust it later.
Pro Raw files are large (about 25 MB each) and require significant storage. If you want to see and set numeric shutter speeds before you take the shot, a third-party app is a better choice.
Third-party apps that show numeric shutter speed
Apps like Halide, Manual, and Lightroom Mobile let you see and set shutter speed in fractions of a second before you take the photo. These apps work on most iPhone models and give you the kind of manual control you would have on a dedicated camera.
Halide is designed specifically for manual camera control and shows shutter speed, ISO, and aperture (if your phone supports variable aperture) all on one screen. You can set shutter speed from 1/1000 of a second to several seconds, depending on your iPhone model. Manual is simpler and free, with a similar layout. Lightroom Mobile includes shutter speed control as part of its broader editing toolkit.
The trade-off is that these apps save photos in standard formats (JPEG or HEIF), not raw files, so you lose some editing flexibility later. But if you want to see the exact shutter speed you are using and adjust it before you shoot, these are your best options.
When to use slower shutter speeds
A slower shutter speed (the sensor stays open longer) lets in more light, which is useful in dim conditions like indoors or at dusk. It also creates motion blur, which can be intentional—flowing water, light trails from cars, or a sense of movement in a subject. The trade-off is that any camera shake during the exposure will blur the entire image, so you need a tripod or a very steady hand.
On an iPhone, shutter speeds slower than about 1/30 of a second are difficult to hold steady without a tripod. If you are using a third-party app and want to experiment with long exposures (several seconds), mount your phone on a tripod or use a phone holder to avoid blur from movement.
When to use faster shutter speeds
A faster shutter speed (the sensor stays open for a shorter time) freezes motion, which is essential for photographing moving subjects like children, pets, or sports. It also reduces the amount of light hitting the sensor, so faster shutter speeds are useful in bright sunlight when you want to avoid overexposure. The trade-off is that in low light, a fast shutter speed may force the camera to increase ISO (sensor sensitivity), which introduces digital noise.
Most iPhones default to shutter speeds between 1/30 and 1/120 of a second in normal lighting, which is fast enough to freeze most everyday motion. If you are photographing something very fast (a ball in flight, a sprinting dog) or shooting in bright sunlight, you may want to go faster.
How shutter speed interacts with other settings
Shutter speed, ISO, and exposure work together. If you slow down the shutter speed to let in more light, you may not need to raise ISO, which keeps the image cleaner. If you speed up the shutter to freeze motion, the camera may raise ISO automatically to compensate, which can add noise. In third-party apps, you can control all three settings yourself and find the balance that works for your shot.
On the standard Camera app, the phone handles ISO automatically, so you only control shutter speed indirectly through the exposure slider. This is simpler but gives you less fine control. If you find yourself adjusting exposure and still not happy with the result, switching to a third-party app or Pro Raw mode will give you more options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the iPhone exposure slider actually change shutter speed?
Yes, it does. The slider adjusts exposure time, which is what shutter speed controls. Moving it up keeps the sensor open longer, moving it down closes it faster. You are not seeing the numeric value, but you are controlling the same thing.
Can I use a slow shutter speed to photograph light trails or flowing water?
Yes, but you need a tripod or very stable surface. iPhones can handle shutter speeds of several seconds if you use a third-party app and keep the phone completely still. Without a tripod, anything slower than about 1/15 of a second will show blur from hand movement.
What is the difference between Pro Raw mode and a third-party app?
Pro Raw saves the raw sensor data, which gives you more editing power later but does not show numeric shutter speed in the Camera app itself. Third-party apps show you the exact shutter speed before you shoot and let you set it precisely, but save in standard formats like JPEG. Choose Pro Raw if you want maximum editing flexibility; choose a third-party app if you want to see and control shutter speed in real time.
Will a faster shutter speed make my photos darker?
Yes. A faster shutter speed lets in less light, so the image will be darker unless the camera compensates by raising ISO or increasing brightness in post-processing. In bright sunlight this is usually fine, but in low light you may need to use a slower speed or raise ISO.
Do all iPhones support Pro Raw mode?
No. Pro Raw is available on iPhone 11 Pro and later models. If you have an older iPhone, you can still control shutter speed indirectly with the exposure slider in the standard Camera app, or use a third-party app.