Use Camera Remote And Timer On Apple Watch

Apple Watch User Guide Open Menu Close Menu
  • Communities
watchOS 26 watchOS 11 watchOS 10 watchOS 9 watchOS 8 watchOS 7 watchOS 6 watchOS 5 Select version: watchOS 26 watchOS 11 watchOS 10 watchOS 9 watchOS 8 watchOS 7 watchOS 6 watchOS 5 Modifying this control will update this page automatically Search this guide Clear Search Table of Contents
  • Welcome
  • Introducing Apple Watch
    • Apple Watch models
    • Use buttons and gestures
    • Get started with Apple Watch
    • Stay fit with Apple Watch
    • Stay connected with Apple Watch
    • Apple Watch Ultra, built for the outdoors
  • What’s new
  • Set up and get started
    • Set up Apple Watch
    • Set up and pair your Apple Watch with iPhone
    • Pair another Apple Watch with your iPhone
    • Wi-Fi and cellular
      • Connect to Wi-Fi
      • Set up and use cellular service
      • Use Dual SIM
    • Use Apple Watch without its paired iPhone
    • Turn on and wake Apple Watch
    • Lock or unlock Apple Watch
    • Charge and monitor the battery
      • Charge the battery
      • Check battery health and usage
      • Extend the battery life
  • Apple Watch For Your Kids
    • Set up Apple Watch For Your Kids
    • Get started with Schooltime
    • Play music and podcasts
    • See activity and health reports
    • Use Apple Cash Family
  • Basics
    • Apps on Apple Watch
    • Open apps
    • Tell time
    • Status icons
    • Control Center
      • Use Control Center
      • Use the flashlight
      • Ping your iPhone
      • Use Airplane Mode
      • Turn on Schooltime
      • Customize Control Center
    • See and respond to notifications
    • Quickly mute notifications with gestures
    • Silence notifications for extended periods
    • See widgets in the Smart Stack
    • Use double tap for common actions
    • Use the Action button
    • Enter text
  • Personalize your Apple Watch
    • Change the settings
    • Change the language and orientation
    • Adjust brightness and text size
    • Adjust volume and haptics
    • Choose alert sounds and haptics
    • Remove, change, and fasten watch bands
    • Organize apps
    • View app settings and storage
    • Customize notifications and Focus modes
      • Change notification settings
      • Use Focus
    • Update your Apple Account
  • Apple Watch safety features
    • Safety features
    • Contact emergency services
    • Set up and view Medical ID
    • Use Check In
    • Manage Fall Detection
    • Manage Crash Detection
    • Off-grid communication via satellite
      • Set up satellite communications
      • Use satellite features
  • Siri
    • Use Siri
    • Find out what Siri can do
      • Ask Siri to get information
      • Use Siri for your daily routine
      • Ask Siri to play audio
      • Keep track of your health and fitness with Siri
      • Control your Apple Watch and smart home devices
    • Listen and respond to incoming notifications
    • Announce calls with Siri
  • Apple Watch faces
    • Explore the Face Gallery
    • Change your Watch Face
    • Add complications to the watch face
    • Share Apple Watch faces
    • Faces and features
  • Run with Apple Watch
  • Track important health information
    • Get started with health features
    • Set up Handwashing
    • See time in daylight
  • Apps
    • Activity
      • Track daily activity
      • Adjust your Activity ring goals
      • Track your training load
      • Share your activity
    • Alarms
    • App Store
      • Get apps
      • Change settings
    • Audiobooks
    • Blood Oxygen
    • Calculator
    • Calendar
    • Camera Remote
    • Compass
      • Use the Compass app
      • View and add Compass Waypoints
      • Use Backtrack to retrace your steps
    • Contacts
      • Contacts
      • Use NameDrop to share contact information
    • Cycle Tracking
      • Use Cycle Tracking
      • Receive retrospective ovulation estimates
      • Track your pregnancy
    • Depth
      • Measure underwater temperature, duration, and depth
      • Log your underwater activity
      • Configure the Depth app
    • ECG
    • Find People, Devices, and Items
      • Find People
        • View a friend’s location
        • Get directions to a friend
      • Find misplaced devices
      • Find Items
        • Locate an AirTag
        • Mark an AirTag as lost
    • Heart Rate
      • Heart Rate
      • Heart Health
      • Receive hypertension notifications
    • Home
      • Control your home
      • Use Grid Forecast to plan your energy usage
      • Send and receive intercom messages
      • Remotely access your smart home accessories
    • Mail
      • Read mail
      • Write and reply to mail
      • Manage mail
    • Maps
      • Find places and explore
      • Explore maps
      • Get directions
      • Use offline maps
    • Medications
    • Memoji
    • Messages
      • Read messages
      • Send messages
      • Edit and unsend messages
      • Translate messages
      • Send stickers, animations, and more
      • Share your location
      • Share messages
      • Make a FaceTime audio call
    • Mindfulness
      • Start a Reflect or Breathe session
      • Log your state of mind
    • Music
      • Add music
      • Remove music
      • Play music
      • Do more with Music
      • Radio
    • Music Recognition
    • News
    • Noise
      • Measure noise levels
      • Monitor your environmental noise exposure
    • Notes
      • Create and view notes
      • Organize notes
    • Now Playing
    • Phone
      • Make phone and FaceTime audio calls
      • Accept or decline incoming calls
      • While on a call
    • Photos
      • Choose a photo album and manage storage
      • View photos
    • Podcasts
      • Add podcasts
      • Play podcasts
    • Reminders
      • Make and view lists
      • Edit and organize lists
    • Remote
    • Shortcuts
    • Siren
    • Sleep
      • Track your sleep
      • View your sleep score and sleep history
      • Track your nightly wrist temperature
      • Receive sleep apnea notifications
    • Stocks
    • Stopwatch
    • Tides
    • Timers
    • Use the Tips app
    • Translate
    • Vitals
    • Voice Memos
    • Walkie-Talkie
    • Wallet
      • About Apple Wallet
      • Set up Apple Pay
      • Use Apple Pay for contactless payments
      • Use Apple Cash
      • Use Apple Card
      • Use passes
      • Use rewards cards
      • Ride transit
      • Use your driver’s license or state ID
      • Home, hotel room, and vehicle keys
      • Vaccination cards
    • Weather
      • Check the weather
      • See weather in other locations
    • Workout
      • Get started
      • Complete a workout
        • Start a workout
        • Start an outdoor push wheelchair workout
        • Adjust Apple Watch during a workout
        • Play audio during a workout
        • Use Workout Buddy
        • Use gym equipment
        • End and view a summary of your workout
      • Customize your workouts
        • Create a Custom Workout
        • Combine multiple workouts
        • Customize workout views
      • Go for a run
        • Start an outdoor run workout
        • Workout views and running metrics
        • View Heart Rate Zones
      • Go cycling
      • Go for a swim
      • Change settings in Workout
    • World Clock
  • Use Apple Watch with other devices
    • Connect to Bluetooth headphones or speakers
    • Choose an audio destination
    • Hand off tasks
    • Unlock your Mac
    • Unlock your iPhone
    • Ping your Apple Watch with iPhone
  • Accessibility
    • Use accessibility features with Siri
    • Use the Accessibility Shortcut
    • Vision
      • Use VoiceOver
      • Set up Apple Watch using VoiceOver
      • Apple Watch basics with VoiceOver
      • Use a braille display
      • Zoom
      • Adjust text and display settings
      • Tell time with haptic feedback
    • Hearing
      • Set up and use RTT
      • Accessibility audio settings
      • Control Live Listen
    • Type to speak
    • Mobility
      • Apple Watch Mirroring
      • Control nearby devices
      • AssistiveTouch
      • Use a Bluetooth keyboard
      • Adjust motor skills settings
      • Automatically open the focused app
  • Restart, erase, recover, restore, and update
    • Restart Apple Watch
    • Unpair and erase Apple Watch
    • If you forget your passcode
    • Recover Apple Watch
    • Restore Apple Watch from a backup
    • Update Apple Watch software
  • Get help
    • Protect a lost Apple Watch
    • Get information about Apple Watch
    • Find your serial number
    • Other ways to view this user guide
    • Apple Watch Support site
    • Learn more, service, and support
  • Safety and handling
    • Important safety information
    • Important handling information
    • Unauthorized modification of watchOS
    • Band care information
    • FCC compliance statement
    • ISED Canada compliance statement
    • Ultra Wideband information
    • Class 1 Laser Information
    • Disposal and recycling information
    • Apple and the environment
  • Copyright and trademarks

With the Camera Remote app, you can use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder for your iPhone camera and take photos and videos from a distance. You can even control the flash, set a shutter timer, and review your shots right on Apple Watch.

Tip: For best results, place your iPhone on a stable surface or use a tripod to keep it steady during remote shooting. When you open your iPhone camera, a hint appears at the bottom of your Apple Watch face. Tap the hint to open the Smart Stack, then tap Camera Remote.

To function as a camera remote, your Apple Watch needs to be within normal Bluetooth range of your iPhone (about 33 feet or 10 meters).

The Apple Watch screen showing what’s in the iPhone camera’s view. The shutter button is at the bottom center. The More Options button is at the bottom right.

Take a photo using your iPhone camera

  1. Go to the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.

  2. Do any of the following:

    • Frame the shot: Use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder.

    • Zoom: Turn the Digital Crown.

    • Adjust exposure: Tap the key area of the shot in the preview image.

    • Take the photo: Tap the Shutter button.

      By default, the shot is taken with a 3-second timer. Tap the More Options button to review the photo in the Camera Remote app. The photo is saved in the Photos app on your iPhone.

      Record video using your iPhone camera

      You can use the Camera Remote app on Apple Watch to record video using your iPhone.

      1. Go to the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.

      2. Position your iPhone to frame the shot using your Apple Watch as a viewfinder.

        To zoom, turn the Digital Crown.

      3. Touch and hold the Shutter button until the recording begins.

      4. Tap the Stop button to end the recording.

      You can

Tag » Apple Watch Facetime Camera