You’ve been there. You are trying to get the whole group into a shot, or maybe you’re just attempting a solo sunset photo that doesn't look like a shaky selfie. You know the feature exists, but for some reason, Apple loves hiding things in plain sight. Learning how to turn the timer on iPhone camera setups is actually easy once you stop looking for a dedicated button on the main screen and start looking for the "shelf."
It's kind of annoying.
Older iOS versions used to have the stopwatch icon right there at the top. Now? It’s tucked away behind a tiny arrow. If you’re rushing to catch the light, that three-second delay in finding the menu feels like an eternity. Honestly, most people just end up taking a video and grabbing a screenshot later, which totally kills the image quality. Let's fix that.
The Secret Swipe: Finding the Menu
Open your Camera app. Look at the very top of the screen (or the side if you’re holding it sideways). See that tiny chevron or arrow pointing up? Tap it. Or, if you want to feel like a pro, just swipe up anywhere on the camera viewfinder area.
This action reveals the "Control Center" for the camera. A row of icons pops up just above the shutter button. You’ll see the flash, Live Photos, aspect ratio, and then—finally—that little clock icon. That’s your gold mine.
Once you tap that clock, you’re given two main choices: 3s or 10s. There is no custom timer, which is a bit of a bummer if you need exactly five seconds to run across a field, but we work with what we have. Pick one. The icon will turn yellow to show it's active. Now, when you hit the shutter, you’ll see the countdown numbers flash on the screen and the LED flash on the back will blink rhythmically to warn everyone to stop blinking.
Why the 10-Second Option is Usually Better
Three seconds is a lie. It’s barely enough time to pull your hand back, let alone pose. Unless you are already in the frame and just trying to stabilize the phone on a rock to avoid motion blur, three seconds usually results in a photo of your own arm retreating from the lens.
Go for the 10-second delay.
It gives the lens time to refocus after you've moved. It gives your friends time to actually look at the camera. Most importantly, it triggers "Burst Mode." This is the real secret to how to turn the timer on iPhone camera for the best results. When the timer hits zero, the iPhone doesn't just take one photo; it takes ten in rapid succession.
Why? Because someone always blinks. By taking a burst, the iPhone gives you a gallery of options to pick from. You can go into your Photos app later, hit "Select," and find the one frame where everyone actually looks human.
Dealing with the Burst Mode "Problem"
Some people hate the burst. It fills up your storage and makes a mess of your library. If you want a timer but don't want a burst, you have to turn off Live Photos or use a specific setting. Actually, the easiest way to stop the burst while using the timer is to turn on the "Live Photo" feature (the concentric circles icon) before you hit the shutter.
Apple’s logic is a bit weird here. If Live Photos is ON, the timer takes one single Live Photo. If Live Photos is OFF, the timer assumes you’re doing a "serious" setup and gives you the 10-frame burst.
💡 You might also like: The Cessna T-37C: Why This Screaming "Tweety Bird" Still Matters
The Hardware Trick Nobody Uses
Struggling to balance the phone? If you have a pair of wired Apple EarPods (the ones with the lightning or USB-C connector), the volume buttons on the cord act as a shutter release. It doesn't technically "turn on the timer," but it solves the same problem: taking a photo without touching the phone and shaking the lens.
Even better, if you have an Apple Watch, use the Camera Remote app. It’s arguably the best way to handle the iPhone camera timer. It shows you a preview of what the phone sees on your wrist. You can tap the "3s" button on your watch, and it triggers the iPhone across the room. It’s seamless.
What to Do When the Timer Won't Appear
Sometimes the icon just isn't there. If you’re in "Video" mode or "Pano," the timer disappears because, well, you can't really time a panorama. It only exists in Photo and Portrait modes.
If you're in Portrait mode and it’s still missing, make sure you haven't zoomed in too much or that the phone isn't overheating. iPhones do weird things when they get hot, like disabling the flash or limiting camera features to save the processor.
Pro Tips for Steady Timer Shots
- Clean your lens. Seriously. You’ve been touching it while looking for the menu. Wipe it on your shirt.
- The "Upside Down" Trick. If you don't have a tripod, turn your iPhone upside down. The cameras are at the top, so flipping it puts the lenses closer to the ground, which often creates a much cooler, professional-looking angle for group shots.
- Focus Lock. Before you start the timer, tap and hold on the spot where you're going to stand. The yellow box will blink "AE/AF LOCK." This ensures the camera doesn't try to focus on the background while you're running into the frame.
Better Stability for Sharp Images
Using a timer is often about more than just getting in the shot; it's about "Long Exposure" or night photography. When you use the Night Mode (the moon icon), the shutter stays open for seconds. Even a tiny heartbeat can blur the image.
By setting a 3-second timer, you ensure that the vibrations from your finger tapping the screen have died down before the camera actually starts capturing light. It’s the easiest way to make your night shots look like they were taken on a $2,000 DSLR.
Setting Up for the Perfect Shot
- Prop the phone against a water bottle or a shoe if you're desperate.
- Check the lighting—don't stand with the sun directly behind you unless you want to be a silhouette.
- Turn on the "Grid" in your Settings > Camera to make sure your timer shots aren't crooked.
The iPhone's native app is powerful, but it’s built for speed, not necessarily for deep menus. Once you memorize the swipe-up gesture, you’ll never struggle with the camera timer again.
Final Steps for Success
To get the most out of your iPhone's timed photos, head into your Settings, scroll to Camera, and look at Preserve Settings. If you find yourself using the timer constantly, you can toggle "Creative Controls" to ON. This tells the iPhone to remember that you like the timer menu open, or that you prefer certain filters, so you don't have to reset it every single time you close the app.
🔗 Read more: Why Firefox for Android is Actually Better Than Chrome Right Now
After you’ve taken your timed photo, go to your Photos app. If it was a burst, tap "Select" at the bottom to find the best frame. If it was a Live Photo, you can actually change the "Key Photo" or turn it into a Long Exposure by swiping up on the individual image. This gives you way more flexibility than a standard point-and-shoot ever could.
Next time you're out, don't just ask a stranger to take the photo. Set the 10-second timer, flip the phone upside down against a coffee cup, and let the burst mode do the heavy lifting for you.