New to all iPhone 16 models is a button dedicated to controlling the camera, called Camera Control of all things. It’s not just a single-use button, it’s a Camera app launcher, multi-purpose shutter, and feature control with touch sensitivity and haptics.
Those who are new to iPhone 16 have expressed some frustrating with it, though. While launching the Camera app and taking pictures works well, reliably light-pressing on the button to open controls is a little tricky. Swiping to adjust the controls is a little awkward sometimes, and doing a double-tap to select controls without accidentally taking a photo seems like a dexterity test.
Fortunately, there are some very useful settings you can use to adjust how the Camera Control works—if you know where to find them. In what feels like an Apple running joke, these useful-for-everyone features are stuffed in Accessibility options for some reason.
Two sets of Camera Control options
Open Settings and tap Camera, then Camera Control.
Here you can disable the “Clean Preview” that removes interface when you press the Camera Control button, set the Camera app launch feature to a double- or single-click, and choose which app you wish to launch.
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But those aren’t all the Camera Control settings; there are several other useful tweaks you can make in another menu.
Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then scroll down and tap Camera Control.
These are the features you really want! You’ll find a variety of options here, including independently enabling light-press or a full swipe to bring up controls, adjusting the force necessary for a light press with three sensitivity levels, and choosing the speed to register a double-tap. You can also turn the whole thing off if it’s getting in the way.
We’re not sure why Apple chose to hide these settings in Accessibility, but we suspect it won’t be long before they end up in the Camera settings. But until then, you’ll know where to find them.
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Author: Jason Cross, Senior Editor, Macworld
Jason has written about technology for more than 25 years - first in the gaming press, then focusing on enthusiast PCs and general technology. He enjoys learning how complicated technology works and explaining it in a way anyone can understand.