iPhone X: Portrait Mode not taking Portrait Mode photos

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Level 1

25 points

iPhone X: Portrait Mode not taking Portrait Mode photos

I have been using Portrait Mode successfuly since getting my iPhone X in November 2017, but it has stopped working. The last Portrait Mode photo I took was on 12/03/2019.

I have seen some posts about there being duplicate photos, or storage-related issues, but niether of these seem to cover what I am experiencing.

Steps to replicate;

Open the Camera app
Select Portrait Mode
Take photo
Find photo in Photos app
It's not a Portrait Mode photo!

HELP!!

iPhone X, iOS 12

Posted on Apr 17, 2019 3:39 AM

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Answer 1

léonie

Level 10

200,747 points

Apr 17, 2019 4:09 AM in response to stvnshrmptn

The photo will not be a Portrait Photo, if you are too far away. Is there a warning shown in the camera to place the subject within 2.5 meters? If you are seeing such a warning, the camera will take just a regular photo, not a portrait mode photo.

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Answer 2

léonie

Level 10

200,747 points

Apr 17, 2019 7:37 AM in response to stvnshrmptn

Try to view the photo without the missing Portrait badge enlarged and give it time to download the depth map. Does the depth effect appear after some time?

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Answer 3

léonie

Level 10

200,747 points

Apr 17, 2019 6:33 AM in response to stvnshrmptn

Are you using the front camera or the pair of back cameras fro Portrait Mode photos? In my iPhone X neither camera allows zooming in Portrait Mode on my iPhone X with iOS 12.

Has iCloud Photos become enabled on your iPhone? If iCloud Photos and "Optimize Storage" are enabled, the depth map may be removed to save storage on your iPhone. have you checked, if iCloud has become enabled after an update?

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Answer 4

léonie

Level 10

200,747 points

Apr 19, 2019 2:52 AM in response to stvnshrmptn

Do you still have plenty of free storage, so the camera can save the photo in Portrait Mode?

And your iPhone model is really the iPhone X and not the iPhone XR? The iPhone XR will only take the photo in Portrait mode, if the camera can detect a face.

You have checked the lenses of the back camera, if there is a problem? Dust, or the cover occluding one of the lenses?

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Answer 5

stvnshrmptn Author

Level 1

25 points

Apr 23, 2019 1:47 AM in response to léonie

Correct, it is the iPhone X (not XR, or XS etc).

I am using 73GB of the 256GB capacity, so plenty of storage!

There doesn't seem to be any physical damage to the camera.

It's all very strange!

I am part of the BETA programme, so have submitted feedback in case that is the cause.

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Answer 6

stvnshrmptn Author

Level 1

25 points

Apr 17, 2019 4:40 AM in response to léonie

Thanks léonie, but that unfortunately that isn't the issue.

I am familiar with the "move further away" and "place subject within 8 feet" messages, which are now not appearing at all.

The light options carousel does appear, but it never highlights yellow.

Also, I have just realised that it is also not possible to zoom whilst in Portrait Mode, but it is opssible to do so in Photo mode.

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Answer 7

stvnshrmptn Author

Level 1

25 points

Apr 17, 2019 7:04 AM in response to léonie

Good point - just checked on a colleague's phone and there is no Zoom when in Portrait Mode.

iCloud Photos and "Optimize Storage" are selected, but I have tried "Download and Keep Originals" without any joy.

Ultimately, the photo taken when in Portrait Mode isn't even badged as a Portrait photo, and therefore not displayed in Photos > Media Types = Portrait.

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Answer 8

stvnshrmptn Author

Level 1

25 points

Apr 17, 2019 8:02 AM in response to léonie

Sadly not

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iPhone X: Portrait Mode not taking Portrait Mode photos

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