How to toggle Macro camera mode on iPhone 13, iPhone 12, or iPhone 11

Unfortunately, the fancy ultrawide camera sensor with autofocus and new Macro mode allowing it to be used from up to an inch distance from the object is not present on the iPhone 13 and 13 mini, yet another reason to pass them on the way to the Pro models.

How to turn off the automatic iPhone 13 Pro Macro mode

Go to Camera > Settings.

Scroll down until you see the Auto Macro toggle.

Turn Auto Macro on if you want the iPhone 13 Pro/Max to refocus automatically.

Keep Auto Macro off if you want to manually focus on a close object.

iPhone 13 Pro/Max Auto Macro mode switch

How to take Macro mode pictures with the iPhone 13, iPhone 12, or iPhone 11

The iPhone 13 and the ones sitting below in Apple's pecking order like the iPhone 13 mini or the iPhone 12 series don't have an ultrawide camera sensor with autofocus, so they don't get the newfangled iPhone camera ability for closeup shots at up to an inch from the object.

Fret not, though, as third-party iOS camera app developers are coming to the rescue, first by bringing granular ProRes video to the iPhone 13 Pro models before Apple has outed the feature officially, and now by allowing you to take Macro shots on lesser iPhones.

Halide is perhaps the most renowned iPhone camera app, and it is now bringing Macro mode to all iPhones, be they 11/12/13, or even X through a combination of AI software and hardware processing.

Through some "neural" macro trickery the app is able to pick and choose focus point and upscale resolutions on 2017 and newer iPhones with pretty breathtaking results. Take a peek at the Macro camera mode samples from the iPhone 12 or 12 mini, and judge for yourself.

iPhone 12 mini macro shots with the Halide app

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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena since 2010, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.

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Update: 2024-06-01

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