Motion Photo on Samsung Galaxy phones is enabled from the Camera app’s Photo mode by tapping the play-button icon at the top of the screen before you take the shot.
A Samsung Galaxy camera can capture more than static shots. Motion Photo records a brief video clip alongside your still image, giving you something closer to a living memory—a second of movement before and after the shutter press. The feature lives inside the Camera app, but the toggle is easy to overlook if you don’t know where to look. Here is exactly where it is and how to use it, from first tap to playback in Gallery.
Where To Find The Motion Photo Toggle
The control sits in Photo mode—not Portrait, Video, or Pro. With the Camera app open and PHOTO selected at the bottom, look at the top of the viewfinder for an icon that resembles a Play button (a triangle pointing right). Tapping it turns the feature on; the icon changes appearance to show it is active.
If you do not see that icon at the top, tap the Quick controls icon (four dots arranged in a square) near the top-left or top-right corner of the screen, then swipe left across the toolbar that appears. The Motion Photo toggle slides into view there. That second path is useful if your layout has been customized or the icon is hidden behind other controls.
Taking A Motion Photo
Once the toggle is on, press the shutter button normally. The camera captures the still image and a short motion clip together. There is no extra step—the phone records movement starting a moment before you press the shutter and continuing a moment after.
A quick way to confirm it worked: the thumbnail in the bottom corner of the Camera app shows a small Motion Photo indicator (often a play icon overlay) when you swipe to review the shot you just took.
Playing And Editing Motion Photos In Gallery
The captured file lives in the Gallery app like any other photo. Open it and look for a View motion photo label or button near the bottom of the screen. Tapping it plays the motion clip. Samsung also includes playback effects: tap the drop-down menu in the top-right corner of the playback screen to switch between standard play, Boomerang (forward then reverse), or Slow-mo, so you can pick the loop style that suits the moment.
Adjusting What Gets Recorded
The capture window is configurable. Open the Camera app, tap Quick controls (four dots), then tap the Settings gear icon. Scroll to Advanced picture options and tap Motion photo capture. There you will find two choices:
| Setting | What It Records | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Before and after shutter | Video from a moment before you press the shutter through a moment after | Action shots, group photos, capturing the perfect expression |
| Before shutter only | Video only from the moments leading up to the shutter press | Scenes where the start matters more than the end |
| Off | No motion clip, still photo only | Saving storage space or when you need a clean static image |
The default is Before and after shutter, which gives you the most flexible result. Switching to Before shutter only saves a small amount of storage, since the clip is shorter.
When The Toggle Seems Missing
The most common frustration is not seeing the Motion Photo icon at all. Three things usually fix it:
- Make sure you are on PHOTO mode at the bottom of the Camera screen. The toggle does not appear in Video, Portrait, or Pro modes.
- Check the Quick controls (four dots) and swipe left on the toolbar—the icon may have been moved off the main row.
- Restart the Camera app by swiping it away from the recent-apps list and reopening it; a UI glitch can occasionally hide the icon until the app reloads.
If you still cannot find it after those steps, open Camera → Quick controls → Settings → Advanced picture options → Motion photo capture and confirm the feature is not set to Off at the system level. That menu bypasses the viewfinder toggle entirely and turns Motion Photo on directly.
Turning Motion Photo Off
To go back to regular still photos, tap the same Motion Photo icon in the Camera viewfinder (or find it under Quick controls) to toggle it off. When the icon no longer shows an active state, the next shot will be a static image only. This is worth remembering if you are trying to save storage or if the motion clip is not needed for the scene.
Storage And Compatibility Notes
| Factor | What To Know |
|---|---|
| Storage impact | A Motion Photo takes more space than a standard still because it includes the video segment. On a phone with limited free space, leaving Motion Photo on for every shot adds up. |
| Device support | Samsung presents Motion Photo as a Galaxy phone feature available on supported Camera and Gallery software versions. It is not limited to a single model or region. |
| No subscription required | The feature is built into the native camera experience on compatible Galaxy phones. There is no paid tier, plan, or add-on needed. |
Quick Start Checklist For Motion Photo
- Open Camera and make sure PHOTO mode is selected.
- Tap the Play button icon at the top of the viewfinder (or find it under Quick controls → swipe left).
- Press the shutter button as usual to capture the still and motion clip together.
- Open the image in Gallery and tap View motion photo to watch or edit the clip.
- Tap the drop-down menu in the top-right corner of the playback screen to choose Boomerang or Slow-mo effects.
References & Sources
- Samsung US Support. “Capture group shots with Motion photos on your Galaxy phone.” Official steps for enabling and using Motion Photo on Samsung Galaxy phones.
- Samsung Australia Support. “Enable Motion Photos on my Galaxy Device.” Additional official documentation covering the same feature flow.