iPhone 17 Pro switches to automatic selfie mode

The Preserve Camera Settings option on iPhone does allow the Camera app to remember the last mode you used, including Front Camera (Selfie mode).

Here’s how it works:

• Go to Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings.
• Toggle on Camera Mode.
• With this enabled, if you last used the front camera (selfie mode), the Camera app will open in that same mode the next time you launch it.
• If it’s off, the Camera app always defaults back to the rear camera in Photo mode.

You can also preserve other settings like Filter, Live Photo, and Macro Control depending on your iPhone model.

gj450985 wrote:

I have the same experience and it happens quite often. I'm going to take a photo. I raise the camera up and it switches a selfie mode by the time I get it back into the normal mode. The picture I want to take is gone. typically it's is Street photography and I have just a quick second to get the shot. It's very frustrating. It started happening after the last update.

It's never happened to me, not once. Which iPhone do you own? What is the current iOS version? After you update your phone, do you Force Restart it? I do this procedure after EVERY iOS update --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support

In Settings > Camera > Preserve Settings - Is Camera Mode turned on? I also have Creative Controls and Depth Control turned on.

Finally, are you absolutely certain that when you open the camera, you aren't accidentally taping two arrows in a circle to the right of the Photo button, which changes from back to front camera or from front to back when touched?

This is a known issue on many of the iPhone social media platforms. When using the native Apple camera app horizontally the right thumb may grip the iPhone very close to the button for switching from rear cameras to front camera (selfie). Apple needs to make a design tweak now that they are allowing customization of Camera controls.

Apple may make changes based partially on the feedback they receive through their official feedback channel, linked below .

Product Feedback - Apple

Apple typically does not formally reply to feature requests such as yours. 

This has nothing to do with the Preserve Camera Settings option. What it is caused by: when I am using the camera horizontally with my right index finger on the camera control button, the rest of my index finger often slightly overlaps the top right corner of the screen, which is where the selfie button is on the screen. Easy for me to replicate, especially when grabbing the camera for a quick picture. I wish the selfie button could be moved elsewhere.

I have also had this aggravating selfie switching and I hate selfies! Since my wife and I got new iPhone 17Pros in April we have both had this problem. An hour + phone call with Apple support and a trip to an Apple store did not help.

I did find the below recommendations that I am trying. I will reply to this thread if I have any success.

Go to Settings / Camera / Camera control - enable 'Require screen on' set gesture pressure to double click.

Go to Settings / Accessibility / Touch 'tap or swipe to wake' off.

jena79 wrote:

Same issue. I have experienced this for about the past ~month. If I am holding my camera taking photos with the regular rear camera but pause between photos, usually bringing it down which I assume rotates it a bit, it auto switches to selfie mode when I bring it back up to take another photo. I sometimes then miss the shot I wanted to take so this is very annoying. I am sure that I am not swiping the screen or accidentally pushing the camera button and Preserve settings is not on (this also is happening when I am already taking photos with the rear camera).

This has never happened to me. But then I DO have Preserve Settings turned on my iPhone, which I think would solve this if you did as well.

Same issue. I have experienced this for about the past ~month. If I am holding my camera taking photos with the regular rear camera but pause between photos, usually bringing it down which I assume rotates it a bit, it auto switches to selfie mode when I bring it back up to take another photo. I sometimes then miss the shot I wanted to take so this is very annoying. I am sure that I am not swiping the screen or accidentally pushing the camera button and Preserve settings is not on (this also is happening when I am already taking photos with the rear camera).

I do not. However, there may be a few reasons that can be attributed to this issue.

The first is that the iPhone 17 Pro has the new Camera Control, a button on the right side of your iPhone where if you click it opens the camera. That can accidentally be activated if held in your hand. If you go to Settings > Camera > Camera Control, make sure "Require Screen On" and "Double Click" are enabled to reduce accidental activations.

Secondly, go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Make sure "Tap or Swipe to Wake" is disabled. That can also accidentally be enabled if it is in your pocket and experiences touch from your pocket as an example.

I have the same experience and it happens quite often. I'm going to take a photo. I raise the camera up and it switches a selfie mode by the time I get it back into the normal mode. The picture I want to take is gone. typically it's is Street photography and I have just a quick second to get the shot. It's very frustrating. It started happening after the last update.