How to Turn Off the iPhone Camera Shutter Sound (2026)

That loud click is fine on a walk, but it's less welcome when you're photographing a sleeping baby, a quiet gallery, a menu at a restaurant or a product in a meeting. The good news is that Apple gives you a simple way to quieten it, plus one useful alternative if you'd rather keep the rest of your phone's sounds on.

The steps here come from Apple's iPhone User Guide page on the camera shutter volume. Apple's own wording has a few caveats, and I've kept them in rather than promise something your phone might not do.

Silencing the iPhone camera shutter with the Ring/Silent switch

Apple's page says you can mute the shutter sound using the Ring/Silent switch on the side of your iPhone. Here's how:

1. Look for the small switch on the side of the iPhone, above the volume buttons.
2. Flip it so that it shows orange. That means Silent mode is on.
3. Open Camera and take a photo. The shutter should now be quiet.
4. To bring sound back, flip the switch back so the orange disappears.

Silent mode quietens other sounds too, such as ringtones and message alerts, so remember to switch it back afterwards if you're waiting for a call.

Turning off the shutter sound on an iPhone with an Action button

Apple notes that some iPhone models have an Action button instead of a Ring/Silent switch. On those, press the Action button to turn Silent mode on or off. If your Action button is set to do something else, look in the iPhone settings for what it's assigned to, because the help page only describes the default use for Silent mode.

Lowering the iPhone camera shutter volume instead of muting it

If you don't want your whole phone silent, Apple says you can change the shutter volume in Photo mode. The steps are:

1. Open Camera on your iPhone.
2. Open Control Center.
3. Drag the volume control up or down.
4. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen to go back to Camera.

Control Center looks different from one iPhone to the next, so I won't point to an exact corner. Apple's page describes the volume control as the one to drag up or down. This is handy if you want a quieter click without switching on Silent mode for everything.

Does taking a Live Photo make the iPhone camera silent?

Apple says the shutter doesn't make a sound when Live Photos is turned on, with the exception of some countries and regions. So if you can't use the switch, turning Live Photos on is another route, though it records a short moving clip around each shot, which is not what everyone wants.

Why you can't turn off the iPhone shutter sound in some places

Apple's page states plainly that in some countries and regions you can't mute the shutter sound. If your phone keeps clicking even in Silent mode, that may be why. I won't guess at which places that covers, because Apple doesn't list them on the page. If it matters for your work, check Apple's help pages or contact Apple Support.

Whatever the sound settings, it's good manners to ask before photographing people in quiet or private spaces. A quick question beats an awkward moment.

Keeping the iPhone camera quiet for product and content shots

• Switch to Silent mode before you start a photo session, not in the middle of one.
• If you shoot for Snapchat as well, my guide to getting Portrait mode on Snapchat covers another camera feature worth knowing.
• Turn the switch back off once you've finished, so you don't miss calls from customers.
• If you shoot a lot for social media, a quiet phone makes it easier to capture natural moments at events.

If you listen to podcasts or videos while you plan your shots, my guide to playing YouTube in the background on iPhone is worth a look. Silent mode only affects alerts and the shutter, not media you've chosen to play.

If the iPhone camera shutter still makes a noise

1. Check the switch really does show orange, and that your phone has a switch and not an Action button.
2. If your phone has an Action button, press it and look for the Silent mode message on screen.
3. Think about whether you're in a country or region where Apple says muting isn't possible.
4. Try Live Photos, which Apple says doesn't make a shutter sound in most places.
5. Lower the shutter volume with the Control Center step above.
6. If you're using another camera app, remember that Apple's page covers the Camera app that comes with the iPhone, so check the other app's own settings.

That last point matters for creators. Apple's help page is about its own Camera app, so a third-party app may have its own sound options. I haven't found an Apple page that covers them.

Silent mode versus Do Not Disturb for taking quiet photos

It's easy to mix these up. Apple's page about the shutter only talks about the Ring/Silent switch (or Action button). Focus modes such as Do Not Disturb are a separate feature for notifications, and the shutter help page doesn't mention them as a way to mute the click. For a quiet photo session, stick to the method Apple names.

Frequently asked questions

How do I turn off the iPhone camera shutter sound?

Flip the Ring/Silent switch on the side of the iPhone so it shows orange. On models with an Action button, press that button to turn Silent mode on or off.

Can I just make the iPhone shutter sound quieter?

Yes. Apple says you can open Camera, open Control Center and drag the volume control up or down to change the shutter volume in Photo mode.

Does Live Photos turn off the camera shutter sound?

Apple says the shutter doesn't make a sound when Live Photos is on, except in some countries and regions.

Why does my iPhone still click in Silent mode?

Apple says that in some countries and regions you can't mute the shutter sound.

Does my iPhone have a Ring/Silent switch?

Apple says some models have an Action button instead. If yours has no switch, press the Action button to turn Silent mode on or off.

Does Silent mode stop all iPhone sounds?

It quietens ringtones and alerts too, so switch it back when you've finished taking photos.