How to get raw mode on iphone camera

Learn how to access raw mode on your iPhone camera to capture high-quality images with more editing flexibility.

Are you looking to take your iPhone photography to the next level? While the iPhone camera is already a powerful tool for capturing stunning images, there’s a hidden feature that can unlock even more potential: raw mode. Raw mode allows you to capture images in their purest form, preserving all the details and information without any compression or processing.

But here’s the catch: raw mode isn’t readily available in the iPhone camera app. So, how can you access this feature and start taking your photography to new heights? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to enable raw mode on your iPhone camera and unleash the full potential of your device.

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How to Activate Raw Mode on iPhone Camera

If you want to take your iPhone photography to the next level and capture images in raw format for better editing capabilities, you can activate raw mode on your iPhone camera. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap on the “Settings” icon within the Camera app.
Step 3: Scroll down and find the “Formats” option.
Step 4: Tap on “Formats” and select “High Efficiency” to enable raw capture.
Step 5: Once raw capture is enabled, your iPhone will save both a JPEG and raw file when you take a photo.

By following these steps, you can activate raw mode on your iPhone camera and start capturing images in higher quality for better post-processing. Enjoy exploring the full potential of your iPhone camera!

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Access Camera Settings

Accessing the camera settings on your iPhone is essential to enable raw mode. Here’s how you can do it:


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  1. Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap on the arrow icon or swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal additional camera options.
  3. Look for the “RAW” or “Pro” mode option in the camera settings.
  4. Toggle the RAW mode switch to enable raw capture.

By following these steps, you can access the camera settings on your iPhone and enable raw mode for capturing high-quality, uncompressed images.

Enable ProRAW Feature

To enable the ProRAW feature on your iPhone camera, follow these steps:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Scroll down and tap on “Camera.”
  3. Toggle the “ProRAW” option to enable it.
  4. Exit the Settings app and open the Camera app.
  5. Now, when you select the RAW option in the Camera app, you will be able to capture photos in ProRAW format.

Understand Raw Format

Raw format is a type of file that contains minimally processed data from the image sensor of a digital camera. It captures all the information the sensor records at the time of the photo, without any in-camera processing such as sharpening or white balance adjustments.

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When you shoot in raw mode on your iPhone camera, you are essentially capturing the purest form of the image data, giving you more flexibility and control in post-processing. Raw files can be edited with greater detail and precision compared to JPEG files, which are already processed by the camera.

Benefits of shooting in raw mode:

  • Retain more image data for better editing
  • Adjust white balance, exposure, and other settings with more precision
  • Recover more details from shadows and highlights

Adjust Exposure and White Balance

When shooting in raw mode on your iPhone camera, you have the flexibility to adjust exposure and white balance during post-processing. This allows you to fine-tune the brightness and color temperature of your photos to achieve the desired look.


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Exposure Adjustment

Adjusting exposure in raw mode lets you control the overall brightness of the image. You can increase or decrease exposure to bring out details in shadows or highlights, depending on your creative vision.

White Balance Adjustment

White balance adjustment in raw mode allows you to correct the color temperature of your photos. You can adjust the white balance to ensure accurate colors and eliminate unwanted color casts for a more natural-looking image.

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Tip: Experiment with exposure and white balance adjustments to enhance the visual appeal of your raw photos.

Use Editing Apps for Raw Images

If you want to shoot in raw mode on your iPhone camera but don’t have the option built-in, you can still capture images in raw format using third-party editing apps. These apps allow you to import your photos and save them in raw format, preserving all the original data captured by the camera sensor.

Some popular editing apps that support raw image editing on iPhones include Adobe Lightroom, Snapseed, and ProCam. With these apps, you can adjust exposure, white balance, contrast, and other settings to get the most out of your raw images before exporting them in a high-quality format.

Share and Showcase Raw Photos

Once you have captured stunning raw photos with your iPhone camera, you may want to share and showcase them with others. Here are some tips on how to do it:

1. Editing: Before sharing your raw photos, you can edit them using various photo editing apps to enhance the colors, contrast, and overall quality.
2. Sharing Platforms: You can share your raw photos on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. Make sure to mention that the photos are raw for authenticity.
3. Photography Communities: Join photography communities online where you can showcase your raw photos and receive feedback from fellow photographers.
4. Print and Display: Consider printing your raw photos and displaying them in frames or creating a photo book to showcase your photography skills.
5. Collaborate: Collaborate with other photographers or artists to create unique projects using your raw photos as a base.

Carmen J. Moore
Carmen J. Moore

Carmen J. Moore is an expert in the field of photography and videography, blending a passion for art with technical expertise. With over a decade of experience in the industry, she is recognized as a sought-after photographer and videographer capable of capturing moments and crafting unique visual narratives.

  1. How does shooting in raw mode actually improve the quality of my photos compared to JPEG? I'm new to this and would love some clarity.

    • Avatar photo
      Carmen J. Moore June 15, 2026 at 3:01 pm

      Shooting in raw mode retains more image data, allowing you to edit with more precision. This means you can recover details in shadows and highlights, adjust white balance, and have greater control over exposure, resulting in higher-quality images.

  2. I've been using raw mode on my iPhone for a few months now, and the difference is night and day! I can recover so much detail in my landscape shots. I recommend trying it out for sunset photos; the colors look incredible after editing! Just remember to use a good app for post-processing like Lightroom or Snapseed!

  3. WeekendMeadow863 August 17, 2026 at 5:49 pm

    Can you still share raw photos on social media? Do platforms support them?

    • Avatar photo
      Carmen J. Moore August 20, 2026 at 3:35 pm

      Most social media platforms don't support raw files directly. You'll want to edit and export them as JPEG or PNG before sharing.

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