Can you mute the shutter sound for Japanese iPhones on iOS 15?

I don't know why this is still marked as the right answer when it isn't. I just bought my daughter a refurbished iPhone 7 and to our surprise the shutter sound could not be muted, so I started to investigate and realized we had been sold a Japanese model (A1779). Then I started to investigate whether there was any way to disable it and came across this post here, and was disheartened.

But after reading so many replies in this thread confirming that it could be done I just didn't understand how someone could be so sure it wasn't possible while so many others were confirming it was. However, I couldn't figure out why I wasn't able to mute the shutter sound on my daughter's phone. I updated to iOS 15.2 (it was on 15.1 when we got it) and still the shutter sound could not be muted. Then I came across a Reddit post indicating that you needed to be on iOS 15.x, be physically outside Japan and have a non-Japanese SIM card. Well, I met all three requirements and still could not disable the shutter sound.

So I decided to remove the SIM card and insert it again and... voilà. Now my daughter's Japanese model iPhone on iOS 15.2 can take photos silently!

So here is confirmation that it works, even on iOS 15.2 which just came out yesterday, so that maybe someone responsible for this thread can unmark the post I'm answering to as the correct answer and mark any of the many posts indicating that I can indeed be done as the right one.

Just got the iOS15.2 minutes ago. My 11pro max is J/A and currently using it here in Philippines. The latest update made the shutter sound disappear on Silent Mode regardless if Live/Live Off. I use to take all my photos before with Live On. The update fixed that for me. There is still the sound though when not in Silent mode

Today I updated my Japanese version iPhone 12 mini to IOS 15.1 and the shutter sound was gone when I muted the phone.( I don't live in Japan and don’t have Japanese SIM card)

This is true even with iOS 15.0.1. Listen to the people who actually have Japanese iPhones. You'll be able to mute the shutter sound now as long as you have a foreign SIM card.

Using the iPhone XS, Japanese model (J/A), living in a foreign country.

Yes, this is actually infact true.

despite of people disagreeing with the same, I can assure you that it does Turn off. How do I know, cuz I am currently using IOS 15.1, and there’s no more The annoying camera Shutter sound in my Japanese Iphone 12 pro max.

I noticed this a while back when i first updated to IOS 15, But wasnt sure if it was a bug or something. But Now I can confirm that it uses geo location to determine if you live outside Japan, and it automatically switches to the off settings when turned your phone to Silent, just like Iphone bought from anywhere but Japan..

so yeah the sound has gone.

I don’t really now if it’s the iOS 15, but I own an iPhone 13 the Japanese variant, and when I mute my phone the shutter sound disappears. Note: I have a United Arab Emirates SIM card in my iPhone and my region is also United Arab Emirates

To tell the truth, I’m using an iPhone XR Japanese set in Malaysia. After iOS 15 update, it can mute the shutter sound using the mute button.

Yes after updating to ios 15 the camera shutter sound can be muted. My iPhone 12 Pro is a Japanese model and wasn’t able to mute the shutter sound earlier but after the ios 15 update it is able to mute the sound .

yes it’s true

i have iPhone 11 Japanese version I suffered in the last 9months with camera shutter even i use Live Photos most of time to avoid that annoying sound after the iOS 15 update I started noticing that there is no sound at all while on silent mode

so i guess no more shutter sound on Japanese iPhones

Hi! I’m from Ph with JP variant Iphone 11. Shutter sound can be muted now after updating to IOS15. But it goes back when silent mode is off while using airpods/earphones.

Unfortunately the iPhone13 Pro which was a gift I requested last Christmas seems from Japan, tho I was told it was bought online here in Germany for me. Sure like most people here in Europe, we aren’t aware of Japanese and S. Korean iPhone13 and 12 cam shutter sound can’t be turned off, and as it seems, its flooding the online market as cheaper compared to physical mobile phone shops… I live in Germany and tried everything I’ve read and told to do so to have the scandalous camera shutter off. But really NOTHING works. Even with the latest iOS 15 it doesn’t work… Its really uncomfortable and disturbing when one is in public gatherings and places to not to be able to silence the camera shutter and clicking sound… I hope they (Apple) sellers online would put a warning on buying iPhones online about the difference of S. Korean and Japanese iPhones so to have a better choice to pay a little bit more on convenience, we need awareness of its difference.

Yes for me it’s true. I am an iPhone 7 user here in the Philippines and my iPhone is from Japan. Before the update, I can’t turn off the silent feature of the camera but after the update I am shocked that silent feature works (Even if Live is off).

Yes it is true , I just updated my iphone 12 pro max japan version to ios 15 and the camera mute button works .

Updated my japan iphone xr to ios 15 no camera sound on mute

Mine is a Japanese iPhone XS - using it in Europe, there is no shutter sound when being muted anymore since iOS 15 update.. iOS 15.1 still works silently..