How to turn off Live Photos on iPhone
Open Camera, tap the Camera Controls button, tap Live and set it to Off. To keep it off, go to Settings, tap Camera, then Preserve Settings, and turn on Live Photo.
Turn off Live Photos for your next shot
- Open Camera and make sure it’s in Photo mode.
- Tap the Camera Controls button, or swipe up from Photo mode at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Live and set it to Off. Tap anywhere outside the menu to close it.
Live Photo is on by default, and the Camera turns it back on by itself the next time you open it. To always see the Live Photo button on the camera screen, go to Settings, tap Camera, then Indicators, and turn on Live Photo. A slash through the button means Live is off.
Turn off Live Photos permanently
- Open Settings and tap Camera.
- Tap Preserve Settings.
- Turn on Live Photo. The Camera now remembers your last Live setting instead of resetting it.
- Turn Live off once in the Camera, as above. It stays off until you turn it back on.
Turn off Live on a photo you already took
- Open the Live Photo in Photos and tap the Edit button.
- Tap the Live Photo button.
- Tap Live at the top of the screen, then tap Done. The photo becomes a still of its key photo.
It isn’t permanent: tap Live again in the same place to bring the motion back. To send just the still without changing the photo, tap the Share button and tap Live in the upper-left corner of the photo before you choose how to share.
Live Photos aren’t available while ProRAW or HEIF Max is turned on.
Only bothered by the sound or the length?
You don’t have to lose the motion. In the same edit screen (open the photo, tap Edit, then the Live Photo button), tap the Mute button at the top to silence it, or drag either end of the frame viewer to trim which frames play. You can also move the white frame and tap Make Key Photo to pick a better still.
Want a photo to move after all?
If you took a photo with Live off and later wish it moved, Tada can make it move. Open Tada, tap Make it Live, pick the photo and tap Save. It goes to Photos as a Live Photo. Breathe and Puff are free and made on your phone in about a second. It’s new motion made from the still, not the moment your camera skipped. For the Camera way, see how to make a Live Photo.
Questions
Why do Live Photos keep turning back on?
The Camera app turns Live Photo back on automatically. Go to Settings, tap Camera, then Preserve Settings, and turn on Live Photo. Then turn Live off once in the Camera and it stays off.
Can I turn Live back on for a photo after turning it off?
Yes. Open the photo in Photos, tap Edit, tap the Live Photo button and tap Live at the top of the screen again.
How do I send a Live Photo as a normal photo?
Open it in Photos, tap the Share button, then tap Live in the upper-left corner of the photo before you choose how to share. Only the still is sent.
Sources: Apple Support: Take and edit Live Photos · iPhone User Guide: Take Live Photos with your iPhone camera · iPhone User Guide: Save camera settings on iPhone · iPhone User Guide: Edit Live Photos on iPhone