How to Turn Off Motion Photo on Samsung

Motion Photo on Samsung phones captures a short video clip before and after each still photo, which can eat up storage and make sharing awkward. This guide shows you how to disable it in the Camera app on current Galaxy models (One UI 3.0 and newer). You’ll be able to turn it off in under 30 seconds, and we’ll also cover what to do if the option is missing or greyed out.

What You’ll Need

• A Samsung Galaxy phone or tablet with the Camera app (any model running One UI 3.0 or later, which covers most devices from 2021 onward).
• Access to the Camera app – no special permissions or settings are required.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the Camera app. Tap the camera icon on your home screen, app drawer, or lock screen. Make sure you’re in Photo mode (the default).
2. Tap the settings gear icon. It’s located in the top-left corner of the viewfinder (or top-right if you’re holding the phone in landscape).
3. Scroll down to ‘Motion photo’. In the settings list, look for the section labeled ‘Motion photo’ – it’s usually near the top, just below ‘Scene Optimizer’.
4. Tap ‘Motion photo’ and select ‘Off’. A pop-up menu will appear with two options: ‘On’ and ‘Off’. Choose ‘Off’. The setting will save automatically.
5. Exit settings. Tap anywhere outside the menu or press the back button. Your camera is now set to take regular still photos only.

Note: On some older models (Android 9 or 10), the option might be called ‘Motion Photos’ (plural) and be located under ‘Recording mode’ or ‘Camera features’. The steps are otherwise identical.

Common Mistakes

• Looking in the wrong settings menu. Some users search in the phone’s main Settings app (the gear icon in the app drawer). Motion Photo is only controlled from within the Camera app’s own settings.
• Turning it off for the wrong camera. The setting applies to the rear camera by default. If you switch to the front camera, you’ll need to repeat the steps – the toggle is separate for each camera.
• Confusing Motion Photo with ‘Motion Picture’ or ‘Live Focus’. These are different features. Motion Photo is the one that records a short clip. ‘Live Focus’ is for background blur effects, and ‘Motion Picture’ (on some models) is a separate mode you select manually.
• Forgetting to check if the setting is actually saved. After selecting ‘Off’, verify that the toggle shows ‘Off’ before closing the menu. It’s easy to accidentally tap ‘On’ again.

Tips

• Use the quick toggle in the viewfinder (if available). On some newer Galaxy models, you can swipe up or down on the viewfinder to reveal a shortcut bar. Look for a small icon that looks like a circle with a motion line – tapping it toggles Motion Photo on and off without opening settings.
• Check your storage after disabling. If you’ve taken many Motion Photos, you may want to delete the old ones to free up space. Open the Gallery app, select a Motion Photo (it will have a small ‘MOTION’ badge), and use the ‘Delete’ option.
• Re-enable it for special moments. Motion Photo is great for capturing a fleeting expression or action. You can turn it back on temporarily for a birthday or event, then turn it off again.
• If you’re on a foldable or tablet, the steps are the same. The camera interface is consistent across Samsung devices, so the guide works for the Galaxy Z Fold, Z Flip, and Galaxy Tab series.

Troubleshooting

• The ‘Motion photo’ option is missing. This can happen if you’re in a different camera mode (like Pro, Night, or Panorama). Switch back to Photo mode and the option will reappear. On some budget models (like the Galaxy A series), the feature may not be available at all – check your camera settings for any ‘Motion’ or ‘Live’ options.
• The option is greyed out. This usually occurs when the camera is in a mode that doesn’t support Motion Photo, such as ‘Single Take’ or ‘Food’. Go back to the standard Photo mode. Also, if your battery is in power-saving mode, some camera features are disabled – disable power saving temporarily and try again.
• Photos still have motion after turning it off. First, confirm that the setting is actually ‘Off’ (go back to settings and check). If it is, the motion effect might be from ‘Scene Optimizer’ or ‘HDR’ – these don’t record video but can make the viewfinder appear to have motion. Also, check if you have ‘Motion Photo’ enabled in the Gallery app’s ‘Create’ menu – that’s a different feature.
• The setting resets after a software update. Occasionally, a system update may reset camera preferences. After updating your phone, go back and check the Motion Photo setting – it may have reverted to ‘On’.
• Can’t find the settings gear at all. On some models, the gear icon is hidden behind a swipe-up gesture. Swipe up on the viewfinder to reveal the top menu bar, then tap the gear. If you’re in a mode like ‘Pro’, the gear might be replaced by mode-specific icons – switch to Photo mode first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does turning off Motion Photo affect photo quality?

No. Motion Photo is an add-on that records a short video clip around the still photo. The still photo itself is captured at the same resolution and quality whether Motion Photo is on or off.

Will I lose existing Motion Photos if I turn the setting off?

No. Turning off Motion Photo only affects new photos you take. Any existing Motion Photos in your Gallery will remain untouched until you delete them manually.

How do I save a Motion Photo as a regular photo?

Open the Motion Photo in the Gallery app, tap the ‘MOTION’ badge, and then tap the three-dot menu. Choose ‘Save as still image’ (or similar) to create a regular JPEG copy without the motion clip.

Can I turn off Motion Photo for only the front camera?

Yes. The setting is per camera. You’ll need to switch to the front camera, open settings, and turn Motion Photo off separately. The rear camera setting will remain as you left it.

Why does my Samsung keep turning Motion Photo back on?

This can happen if you have ‘Smart Stay’ or ‘Adaptive battery’ features interfering, or if you’re using a camera mode that automatically enables Motion Photo (like ‘Food’ mode). Check that you’re in Photo mode, and also look for a ‘Save options’ or ‘Camera assistant’ setting that might override your choice.

Does Motion Photo use more battery?

Yes, slightly. Because the camera is continuously buffering video in the background, it uses a bit more processing power and battery. Turning it off can improve battery life, especially if you take many photos in a row.

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