Does iPhone Camera Have a Timer? How to Set It (2026)

If you've ever tried to take a group photo, a flat-lay for your shop, or a quick headshot for your website without anyone to press the button, you've probably wondered whether the iPhone can do it for you. It can, and it's built into the Camera app.

This is based on Apple's iPhone User Guide, which describes the timer in its camera tools section. Icons and menu positions shift a little between iPhone models and iOS versions, so use my steps as a guide and follow what you see on screen.

Setting the iPhone camera timer before a photo

1. Open Camera on your iPhone.
2. Tap the arrow button, or swipe up from the camera modes at the bottom of the screen, to open the camera tools.
3. Tap Timer.
4. Tap 3, 5 or 10 to choose how many seconds the countdown lasts.
5. Tap the Shutter button to start the timer, then get in the frame.

Apple describes the timer as a way to give yourself time to get in the shot. The phone counts down and then takes the photo for you.

Choosing between the 3, 5 and 10 second iPhone timer

Apple's guide offers three choices on current iPhones. Which one suits you depends on how far you need to move.

• 3 seconds: handy when you're steadying the phone on a stand and want to avoid shaking it when you tap the button.
• 5 seconds: enough to step back from a tripod and settle into a pose.
• 10 seconds: useful when you need to walk round a table to join a group.

Those pairings are my own suggestions rather than anything Apple says. The only thing Apple gives is the three options.

Turning the iPhone camera timer off again

The timer stays set until you change it, which catches people out when the next photo seems to take ages. To stop using it, tap the arrow to open the camera tools, tap Timer, then tap the timer icon to turn it off. Tap the screen to close the menu.

If you can't find the timer on your iPhone camera

• Make sure you're in Camera and not another app that has its own camera screen.
• Swipe up from the camera modes at the bottom, or tap the arrow, to reveal the menu of camera tools.
• Check you're in a photo mode. Some camera tools aren't available in every mode.
• Update the iPhone to the latest version of iOS, as menu layouts change between versions.

Apple notes that on older iPhones, such as the iPhone X and earlier, the Timer button is on the camera screen itself and gives 3s or 10s options. That's from older guide versions, so if your phone is that age, look for the clock icon on screen.

Steadying your iPhone when you use the camera timer

The timer is only half the answer. You also need somewhere to put the phone. A small tripod, a stack of books or a shelf works, as long as the lens is clear and the phone can't slide. Check the shot is straight before you walk away.

Apple's guide has a good helper: go to Settings, tap Camera, then turn on Grid and Level. A grid and level appear on the camera screen to help you straighten and compose your shot, which is ideal when you're not behind the phone to check.

Focus and exposure before the iPhone timer starts

Set focus before you press the shutter. Apple says you can tap the screen where you want the focus area, then drag up or down beside it to adjust exposure. To keep those for the shot, touch and hold the focus area until AE/AF Lock appears. Otherwise the camera may refocus on the empty space where you used to be.

Apple's guide also lets you choose between 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9 shapes for the picture, so pick the one you want for your website or social post before the countdown.

Timers on other apps if you also post on social media

The iPhone Camera timer is separate from timers inside social apps. Portraits work differently again: my guide to getting Portrait Mode on Snapchat explains how that app treats a posed shot.

And if you want to play with the result afterwards, my ideas in Gemini prompts for family photos show what you can do with a good portrait.

Using the iPhone camera timer for business photos

Small business owners often shoot their own team photo, workspace pictures or a product on a table. The timer lets you do it alone, with no extra kit. Take several shots in a row, check them on the phone, and keep the best. If you need to appear in a series, set the timer, step into position, and repeat.

Frequently asked questions

Does the iPhone camera have a timer?

Yes. Apple's iPhone guide says you can set a timer in Camera to give yourself time to get in the shot.

How many seconds can the iPhone camera timer be set to?

Apple's guide says to tap Timer, then tap 3, 5 or 10. Older iPhones such as the iPhone X and earlier offer 3s or 10s.

How do I start the iPhone timer?

After you choose a time, tap the Shutter button. The countdown starts and the photo is taken when it ends.

How do I turn the iPhone camera timer off?

Open the camera tools, tap Timer, then tap the timer icon to turn it off, and tap the screen to close the menu.

Is there a grid to help me line up a timed shot?

Yes. Go to Settings, tap Camera, then turn on Grid and Level to show them on the camera screen.