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How to Turn Off Motion Photo on Android

Change the Photo Mode setting in the Camera app to take still pictures

By Jeremy Laukkonen Jeremy Laukkonen Writer Shoreline Community College Jeremy Laukkonen is automotive and tech writer for numerous major trade publications. When not researching and testing computers, game consoles or smartphones, he stays up-to-date on the myriad complex systems that power battery electric vehicles . lifewire's editorial guidelines Published on May 17, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email

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Expand Jump to a Section Turn Off Motion Photos Turn On Motion Photos Enable/Disable Motion Photo on Samsung Frequently Asked Questions

What to Know

Camera app > select photo mode > tap the settings icon > tap the off icon next to Top Shot. On Samsung phones: Camera app > select photo mode > tap the motion photo icon to toggle the feature off/on.
This article explains how to turn off motion photos on Android and how to turn it back on.

How Do I Turn Off Motion Photos on My Android

The default Android camera app has a feature called Top Shot, which was originally introduced alongside the Pixel 3. Top Shot is capable of taking a short video when you take a picture, which can be used as a motion photo or to find the best frame to use as a still picture. To take regular pictures without the motion photo component, you can disable this feature. Here’s how to turn off motion photos on an Android:
In the camera app, select the photo mode if it isn’t already selected. Tap the settings icon. Tap the off icon next to Top Shot to disable motion photos. If you select automatic, the camera app will take still photos if no movement is detected.

How to Turn Motion Photos Back On Again on an Android

If you decide you actually want to use the motion photo feature, you can turn it back on the same way you turned it off. Here’s how to turn on motion photos on an Android:
Open the camera app, and select the photo mode if it isn’t already selected. Tap the settings icon. Tap On or Automatic next to Top Shot to enable motion photos.

How to Enable and Disable Motion Photo on Samsung

Samsung phones run on Android, but Samsung models don’t always work exactly like other Android phones. They also have a motion photo feature, but the procedure to turn it off isn’t the same as it is with other Androids.
These instructions apply to Samsung phones with Android 10 and newer. To disable motion photo in older Samsung phones: open the camera app > select photo mode > tap Settings > tap the motion photo toggle. Here’s how to disable motion photo on Samsung: In the camera app, select photo mode if it isn’t already selected. Tap the motion photo icon (square with the small triangle inside it). If you see the text Motion photo: off, that means the feature has been disabled. To turn it back on, tap the motion photo icon again. When you see the text Motion photo: on, that means it has been reenabled.

What Is Top Shot or Motion Photo

Motion photos are pictures accompanied by a very short snippet of video. When you take a motion photo with an Android phone, the phone records a short video in the form of several additional frames beyond the precise moment when you took the picture. In the default Android camera app, the motion photo setting is called Top Shot, because you can select the best frame and turn it into a still picture. This is useful if you took a picture, but your subject closed their eyes, looked away, or anything else unwanted happened at the exact moment you took the picture. Top Shot allows you to select a frame where the subject wasn’t closing their eyes or looking away, and Google Assistant can actually use its built-in smarts to locate these ideal frames automatically most of the time. The other purpose of taking a motion photo is it captures a bit of movement instead of just a static moment in time. You still have the static picture, but you also get a bit of movement along with it as a bonus.
FAQ How do I save a Motion Photo as a video? You can convert a Motion Photo to a video in Google Photos. Select the Motion Photo, and then go to More (three dots) > Export > Video. The new video will show up in the same folder as the original Motion Photo. How do I share a Motion Photo? The easiest way to share a Motion Photo is to first convert it into a video (Google Photos > select the photo > More > Export > Video). Once you've done that, you can send it to your contacts, even if they don't have an Android device. This is also the best way to share a Motion Photo to Instagram, Twitter, or other social media sites. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Set an SD Card as Default Storage in Android How to Fix It When WhatsApp Images and Videos Are Not Showing in Gallery How to Turn Off Android Phone Sensors How to Use the iPhone Camera Turn off the Annoying Camera Sound on iPhone How to Sideload the Google Camera App Onto Your Phone How to Take a Selfie on iPhone How to Take a Photo on a Chromebook How to Turn Safe Mode On and Off on Android How to Set a Timer on an iPhone Camera How to Turn Off Motion Control on Nintendo Switch How to Connect an Android to a PC How to Merge Contacts in Android How to Free Up Space on Android Phones How to Turn Off Do Not Disturb on Android How to Use Samsung Smart Alert and Direct Call Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies