---
title: "How to turn off Live Photos on iPhone permanently"
description: "The Camera app turns Live Photo back on by itself. Use Preserve Settings to keep it off, and see what turning it off does to the Live Photos you already have."
url: "https://picway.app/guides/turn-off-live-photos-iphone-permanently/"
lang: "en"
type: "guides"
updated: "2026-11-01"
published: "2026-11-01"
keywords: "turn off Live Photos"
---

# How to turn off Live Photos on iPhone permanently

URL: https://picway.app/guides/turn-off-live-photos-iphone-permanently/
Markdown: https://picway.app/guides/turn-off-live-photos-iphone-permanently/index.md
Last updated: 2026-11-01

Tap the Live Photo button in the Camera app to turn it off, then go to Settings, Camera, Preserve Settings and turn on the switch next to Live Photo. Without it, the Camera app turns Live Photo back on automatically. Turning it off only affects new photos, not the ones you already took.

## How to do it {#steps}

1. **Turn Live Photo off in the Camera app**: Open the Camera app, tap the Camera Controls button, then tap the Live Photo button. A slash through it means Live Photo is off.
2. **Keep it off with Preserve Settings**: Go to Settings, tap Camera, then tap Preserve Settings. Make sure the switch next to Live Photo is turned on.
3. **Check an existing photo**: To see which of your old photos are Live, open Photos, tap Collections, scroll to Media Types, and tap Live Photos.

## Why does Live Photo keep turning back on? {#why-turns-on}

Live Photo is on by default, and the Camera app turns it on again automatically. Turning on Preserve Settings for Live Photo keeps your choice ([Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104966)).

## Does turning it off delete my old Live Photos? {#existing-ones}

No. Turning off Live Photos in the Camera app only changes future shots. Existing Live Photos remain in your library until you edit them, convert them to stills, or delete them, according to [Live Photo Cleaner](https://livephotocleaner.com/do-live-photos-take-up-more-storage).

## Can I just turn the Live effect off on a photo? {#effect-off}

Yes, for one photo at a time: when you’re editing it, tap the LIVE button at the top of the screen to turn it off or back on ([Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104966)). See [turning off Live vs converting to a still](https://picway.app/guides/live-photo-or-convert-to-still/) for what that does to storage.

## How do I get rid of the motion on photos I already have? {#remove-motion}

PicWay can convert a Live Photo to a still. It removes the motion when you only want the still. On the Set aside page, tap the level on the compression card and choose **Keep one frame**.

## What if I only turn it off sometimes? {#temporarily}

Leave Preserve Settings off, and the Camera app switches Live Photo back on the next time you open it ([Apple](https://support.apple.com/en-us/104966)).