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Use Camera Remote on Apple Watch

With the Camera Remote app, you can use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder for your iPhone camera and take photos and videos from a distance. You can even control the flash, set a shutter timer, and review your shots right on Apple Watch.

Tip: For best results, place your iPhone on a stable surface or use a tripod to keep it steady during remote shooting. When you open your iPhone camera, a hint appears at the bottom of your Apple Watch face. Tap the hint to open the Smart Stack, then tap Camera Remote.

To function as a camera remote, your Apple Watch needs to be within normal Bluetooth range of your iPhone (about 33 feet or 10 meters).

The Apple Watch screen showing what’s in the iPhone camera’s view. The shutter button is at the bottom center. The More Options button is at the bottom right.

Take a photo using your iPhone camera

  1. Go to the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Frame the shot: Use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder.

    • Zoom: Turn the Digital Crown.

    • Adjust exposure: Tap the key area of the shot in the preview image.

    • Take the photo: Tap the Shutter button.

      By default, the shot is taken with a 3-second timer. Tap the More Options button to turn off the timer or change other settings.

You can review the photo in the Camera Remote app. The photo is saved in the Photos app on your iPhone.

Record video using your iPhone camera

You can use the Camera Remote app on Apple Watch to record video using your iPhone.

  1. Go to the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.

  2. Position your iPhone to frame the shot using your Apple Watch as a viewfinder.

    To zoom, turn the Digital Crown.

  3. Touch and hold the Shutter button until the recording begins.

  4. Tap the Stop button to end the recording.

You can review the video in the Camera Remote app. The video is saved in the Photos app on your iPhone.

Review your shots

  1. Go to the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.

  2. Tap the thumbnail at the bottom left.

  3. Do any of the following:

    • View more shots: Swipe left or right.

    • Zoom: Turn the Digital Crown.

    • Pan: Drag a zoomed photo.

    • Fill the screen: Double-tap the photo.

    • Show or hide the controls: Tap the screen.

  4. When you’re finished, tap the Close button.

Switch the camera and adjust settings

  1. Go to the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.

  2. Tap the More Options button, then set any of the following:

    • Timer: Turn the 3-second timer on or off.

    • Camera: Choose Front or Rear.

    • Flash: Choose Auto, On, or Off.

    • Live Photo: Choose Auto, On, or Off.

To see which iPhone models support Live Photos, see Take Live Photos with your iPhone camera in the iPhone User Guide.

See alsoSee timely widgets in the Smart Stack on Apple WatchiPhone User Guide: iPhone camera basics
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