What Is AE/AF Lock & How to Use It

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When you capture an image with your iPhone, the camera's autofocus (AF) and auto exposure (AE) features will automatically determine the best focus position for you and the best exposure for that area of focus. However, you can manually adjust these settings and lock them so that you don't have to reset them between shots. Now, let's find out how to use AE/AF Lock!

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• Keep every shot in focus with the same exposure.
• Maintain consistency when taking multiple photos.

How to Use AE/AF Lock on iPhone

What is AE/AF Lock? AE stands for Auto Exposure, and AF stands for Auto Focus. Exposure determines how light or dark your image will be, while focus determines what will be the clearest part of the image. AE/AF Lock locks the focus and exposure, which will help prevent blurry shots and keep the focus on one part of the image without requiring you to refocus between each shot. For more iPhone photography tips, such as how to change exposure on iPhone, sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter. Now, here's how to use AE/AF Lock on iPhone:

1. In your iPhone camera, tap the area where you want the camera to focus.
   
   
2. When the yellow square appears, touch and hold it until the focus square flashes.
   
   
3. The AE/AF Lock icon will then appear at the top of your screen.
   
   
4. Tap anywhere in the viewfinder to turn off AE/AF Lock.
   
   

AE/AF Lock is also great for taking panoramic photos (since the consistency of exposure as you move the camera is important), for taking shots with difficult lighting, and for when you want to adjust the exposure for artistic reasons. Next, find out what to do if your iPhone camera is not focusing.