Use Google Camera

1. Open the Google Camera app

   You can use the latest version of Google Camera on some Pixel phones and Nexus devices.

   • Pixel
   • Pixel XL
   • Nexus 6P
   • Nexus 6
   • Nexus 5X
   • Nexus 9

   Note: Android isn't the same on all devices. These instructions are for devices running Android 7.1 and up. Check which version of Android you have.

   Ways to open Google Camera

   • Tap your device's Google Camera app . Learn where to find your apps.
   • Double-tap your device's Power button.
   • On your device’s lock screen, swipe away from the camera.
   • Say "OK, Google, take a picture." This takes a picture after a 3-second delay.

   Use Google Camera features

   These features are available on many devices.

   Tip: If your camera has trouble focusing, try cleaning the sensor and lens with a clean cloth.

   Photo burst

   On some devices, you can take a series or "burst" of photos and have Camera save the best ones.

   Automatic HDR+

   Camera can automatically adjust detail levels to make photos taken in dim or bright lighting look better.

   Slow-mo video

   On some devices, you can record videos in slow motion.

   Quick selfie mode

   On Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X phones, with your camera open, you can switch between your front and rear cameras by twisting your phone twice.

   To disable this gesture, open Settings   Moves switch "Selfie mode" Off .

   See the double-twist gesture

   

2. Take a photo

   You can take photos using Google Camera.

   With your hand

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Point your camera and wait for it to focus and expose.
      • To zoom in, pinch open on your screen.
      • To zoom out, pinch closed on your screen.
      • To focus on and expose for the subject of your photo, tap it on your screen.
      • On Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P, and Nexus 5X phones, you can swap between your back and front cameras by twisting your phone twice.
   3. Tap Capture photo .

   To see photos you’ve saved, tap the image in the corner of your screen.

   With your voice

   1. Say "Ok Google, take a picture," or "Ok Google, take a selfie."
      Optional: Have the camera wait before taking the picture. For example, "Ok Google, take a picture in 12 seconds." You can tell the camera to wait 3 to 30 seconds.
   2. Google Camera opens and takes a picture.

   With Android Wear

   If you have an Android Wear device synced with your Android device, you can take pictures with Google Camera using your watch as a remote control.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. On your watch, find and tap Remote.
   3. Touch the camera card.
   4. To take a photo, tap the shutter button on your watch.
   5. When your phone takes a photo, your watch vibrates and flashes.
   6. You’ll see a thumbnail of the photo on your watch.

   Advanced: More ways to take photos

   Take a photo burst (Pixel, Pixel XL & Nexus 6P only)

   To take a series of photos quickly on a Pixel phone or Nexus 6P, touch and hold Capture photo . Release when you’re done.

   See the double-twist to swap cameras (Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 6P & Nexus 5X only)

   

   Take photos with the background blurred

   To make the subject of a photo stand out, you can blur the background.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. In the top left, tap Menu   Lens Blur.
   3. Aim your camera and wait for it to focus.
   4. Tap Capture photo .
   5. Follow the on-screen directions.

   Change where a photo is blurry or focused

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Tap the image in the corner.
   3. Slide left or right to the photo you want to edit.
   4. Under the photo, tap Blur .
      • To move the center of focus, tap where you want the focus to be.
      • To change the focus size and blur level, slide left or right on the slider.

   Change your camera settings

   To change how you take a photo, tap the icon at the top right.

   • Switch between front and rear cameras
   • Use a flash
   • Take a photo after a time delay
   • Capture more details outdoors or in dim lighting
   • Add gridlines to help straighten
   • Add a filter

3. Take a panorama, wide-angle, or fisheye photo

   You can take large scenic photos that automatically merge images captured by your camera.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Tap Menu   Panorama.
      • To take a horizontal panoramic photo, tap Horizontal .
      • To take a vertical panoramic photo, tap Vertical .
      • To take a photo with a wide arc, tap Wide-angle .
      • To take a fisheye photo, tap Fisheye .
   3. Tap Capture photo .
   4. Hold the target circle over a gray dot on the screen until the gray dot disappears.
   5. Move the camera to the next gray dot, holding the lens steady.
   6. Repeat until there are no more gray dots, or tap Done .

   To see your photos, tap the image in the corner of your screen.

   Note: To cancel a photo, tap Close .

   Take a photo sphere

   On some devices, you can take a 360-degree photo sphere.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Tap Menu   Photo Sphere.
   3. Hold the target circle over a gray dot on the screen until the gray dot disappears.
   4. Move the camera to the next gray dot, holding the lens steady.
   5. Repeat until there are no more gray dots, or tap Done .

4. Record a video

   You can record real time and slow motion videos.

   Record a video

   1. Open your camera.
   2. To switch to video mode, swipe from right to left.
   3. To start recording, tap Capture .
   4. To put a cut in your video, tap Pause . To start recording again, tap Capture .
   5. To stop recording, tap Stop .

   Change camera settings

   To change your camera’s video options, tap the icons at the top right.

   • Add gridlines to help straighten
   • Use rear-facing camera for selfies
   • Use flash
   • Add a filter
   • Change frame rate (Pixel phones only)  / 

   Take a photo while recording

   To take a high-resolution photo while recording a video, tap Shutter .

   Record slow motion videos

   If you have a Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, or Nexus 6P phone, you can take slow motion videos.

   1. Open your device's Google Camera app .
   2. Tap Menu .
   3. Tap Slow Motion.
   4. To start recording, tap Capture .
   5. To stop recording, tap Stop .

   Tip: On all phones other than the Nexus 5X, to switch between 120 and 240 frames per second, tap the button at the bottom left.

Manage Google Camera settings

1. Change your photo and video settings

   You can change what happens when you take photos and photo bursts.

   Save memory space

   If you want to save space on your phone or tablet, change your camera resolution. Lower-resolution photos and videos take up less space, but have lower image quality.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Tap Menu Settings.
   3. Tap Resolution & quality.
   4. Pick a viewing mode.
   5. Tap the resolution and aspect ratio that you'd like to use.

   Tip: You can back up an unlimited number of photos and videos from a Pixel phone to Google Photos. Learn about Pixel phone backups.

   Turn off photo & video locations

   When you take photos or videos, Google Camera automatically attaches your location to help you sort and search. Learn how to search photos and videos.You can turn this setting off at any time.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Tap Menu Settings.
   3. Switch "Save location" to Off.

   Change your photo burst settings

   On a Pixel, Pixel XL, or Nexus 6P phone, you can change how your camera uses photo bursts.

   1. Open your camera.
   2. Tap Menu   Settings.
   3. Tap Burst settings.
      • To save more photos from your photo burst, switch "Smartburst" to Off.
      • To make animated slideshows, collages, or GIFs from your photo bursts, switch "Auto-generate creations" to On.

Google Camera troubleshooting

1. Fix problems with your camera

   If your camera isn't working, here are some ways to try to fix the problem.

   After each step, open your camera and check whether it fixed the issue. If not, try the next step.

   Step 1: Clean camera's lens and laser

   If your photos and videos are blurry or the camera has difficulty focusing, try cleaning the camera lens.

   If you have a Pixel, Pixel XL, Nexus 5X, or Nexus 6P phone, also try cleaning the laser sensor. You can see where the lens and laser are on your Pixel phone or Nexus device.

   To clean the camera lens and laser sensor, wipe them gently with a soft, clean cloth.

   Step 2: Restart your phone

   1. Press and hold your device's Power button.
   2. Tap Power off.
   3. After your phone turns off, press and hold the Power button until your phone turns back on.

   Step 3: Clear the app's cache

   1. Open your device’s Settings app .
   2. Tap Apps  Google Camera.
   3. Tap Data Clear Cache.

   Step 4: Update your apps

   1. Open your device's Google Play Store app .
   2. Tap Menu My apps & games.
   3. If any apps need updates, tap Update.

   Step 5: Check whether other apps are causing the problem

   Use Safe Mode to check whether another app is causing the problem.

   1. Press and hold your device's Power button.
   2. Tap Power off.
   3. After your phone turns off, press and hold your device's Power button until your phone turns back on.
   4. When you see the Google logo on your screen, press and hold the Volume down button until you see your Home screen.
   5. Open your camera and check whether the issue is fixed.
      • If Google Camera works in safe mode, another app might be the problem.
        1. To stop using safe mode, restart your phone.
        2. Uninstall your most recently downloaded app.
        3. Open your camera and check if the issue is fixed. If not, repeat the previous step.
        4. If the problem is fixed, reinstall any apps you removed.
      • If Google Camera doesn’t work in safe mode, see more ways to fix an app.

Accessibility for Google Camera on Android

1. Use TalkBack with Google Camera

   You can use the TalkBack screen reader on Android with Google Camera to take photos and videos and get more help.

   Use TalkBack with Google Camera

   With TalkBack, you can navigate Google Camera using standard navigation gestures and touch exploration. For example, you can:

   • Change the type of photo you want to take by double-tapping Mode list.
   • Navigate to photos taken by double-tapping Filmstrip.
   • Change your Google Camera settings by double-tapping Mode list, then double-tapping the Settings button.

   Turn on TalkBack

   1. Open your device's Settings app .
   2. Under "System," tap Accessibility.

   You can get detailed TalkBack instructions for your device in TalkBack setup help.

   Learn more

   You can get more information about navigating with TalkBack in these articles:

   • Explore by touch
   • Global and local context menus

   Use TalkBack to get mobile help

   1. Double-tap Mode list.
   2. Double-tap Settings button.
   3. Double-tap Help & feedback.
   4. From the list of suggested articles, pick Google Camera help.

   You can learn more about accessibility on Android in the Android Accessibility Help Center.