Best Samsung Camera Settings for Better Photos (2026)

You can find the Galaxy camera’s settings in Samsung’s Quick controls (tap the four-dot icon), in Camera’s Settings menu (tap the cog icon) or in Samsung’s separate Camera Assistant app.

Not all of Camera’s options directly affect the appearance of your photos, and many of the options are set sensibly by default, but we’ve picked out some of the switches that we think are worth tinkering with on phones that run the latest versions of One UI. Below you’ll find where each one lives and which guide has more detailed instructions on how to change it.

Which Samsung camera settings should I change first?

Start with Resolution (12MP, or 24MP on an S26 in good light), Ratio (3:4), Composition guide (on) and Watermark (off), then work through the rest of the table.

Camera app settings can be accessed by opening Quick controls (four dots) and tapping the settings (gear) icon.

The following are settings found in the Camera app on Galaxy S26 series phones, according to Samsung's support page. The table also includes where setting names may be different on Galaxy A series phones and previous Galaxy phones. For more information, visit Samsung's website.

What resolution and photo format should I use on a Samsung?

Keep the default 12MP for most photos, switch to 50MP (or 200MP on an Ultra) in bright light when you want to crop or print large, and save RAW alongside JPEG in Pro mode if you plan to edit.

12MP, 24MP, 50MP or 200MP

Galaxy phones will always default to using 12MP images (even if they have a 50MP or 200MP sensor) as pixels and images are combined for cleaner and smaller file sizes. If you want to get the most out of your phone’s camera and you’re shooting in bright lighting conditions and want to crop or print large, you’ll want to switch to 50MP images (or 200MP if you have an Ultra phone). It’s worth noting that 200MP mode does sacrifice some low-light performance and you lose access to the zoom cameras. Keep in mind higher resolution images will take longer to save as well. The new S26 phones also offer a 24MP option (via Camera Assistant) that doesn’t sacrifice any of the cameras. Our resolution guide has the model-by-model list and file sizes.

RAW, JPEG and HEIF

For Photo mode, Samsung provides HEIF as an option to help conserve storage space. Pro mode has its own image format setting. (On the S26, and on any other One UI 9-running phone, you’ll find both options in Photos and then Photo format; note that the RAW option is referred to as Pro mode picture format. If you’re using One UI 7 on the S25, you’ll find these settings under Advanced picture options.) When shooting in Pro mode, we recommend setting your phone to shoot a RAW file in addition to the JPEG when you anticipate editing the image down the line, since the DNG file will give you the most flexibility to restore blown-out highlights and correct white balance. Our RAW vs JPEG guide covers when the bigger file is worth it.

Expert RAW

Expert RAW is a free RAW shooting app from Samsung itself, available to download from the Galaxy Store. According to Samsung, Expert RAW enables users to shoot in RAW (16-bit linear DNG image saved along with JPEG) with manual control similar to Pro mode. Samsung’s support page, updated in October 2026, lists it as compatible with Galaxy S20-S26 series phones, Galaxy Z Flip and Fold phones and 'Galaxy A series (models with advanced camera systems)', though Samsung doesn't specify which Galaxy A models. SamMobile has reported that it's not available to download on the S25 FE, so check availability in the Galaxy Store. Note that Expert RAW's Astrophoto shooting mode only works when the app's shooting resolution is set to 12MP. The Expert RAW guide walks through setup.

How the phone processes your photos

Scene optimizer

According to Samsung, Scene optimizer changes certain camera settings, including exposure and white balance, depending on what the camera thinks it’s looking at. It’s available for the rear camera only, and is found in the Photo enhancer menu (within Intelligent features on the S26), where you can also choose to prioritise capture speed or image quality. On phones using One UI 9 this setting has been renamed Scene detection and is found in Photo enhancer too, below Prioritize quality / Balanced / Prioritize speed. (On the S25 before One UI 9 the relevant section was called Intelligent optimization.) Leave Scene optimizer enabled for quick snaps, but disable it when shooting food or people if it oversaturates skin tones and dish colours. In our Scene optimizer guide we compare both scenarios.

HDR

HDR has run automatically in Samsung’s cameras ever since the arrival of One UI 4.0, and the company explains in its camera FAQ that HDR images are created by default in Photo mode. HDR can help preserve detail in the highlights and shadows of an image, and is the result of combining multiple shots taken at different exposures. HDR can be disabled on Samsung’s flagship phones either through Camera Assistant by toggling Auto HDR off, or by shooting photos in Pro mode, according to Samsung. On phones like the Galaxy A16, A26, A36 and A56, there’s still an Auto HDR toggle listed in Samsung’s support documentation, located under Camera settings > General. HDR mode could be helpful to leave enabled if you often find yourself shooting images of backlit subjects or under bright skies. But if photos of high-contrast scenes seem a little dull, it’s worth turning Auto HDR off to see how the results compare. The position of the toggle varies from phone to phone, and our HDR guide tells you where to find it on yours.

Hidden settings in Camera Assistant

Camera Assistant (a free app from Samsung on the Galaxy Store; on the S26 it’ll show up under Camera settings > Good Lock Labs, and on One UI 9 it’s the last option under General) offers some additional options that you won’t find in the Camera app itself. Its Quick tap shutter setting makes the Camera app take a photo when you tap the shutter button, rather than waiting for you to lift your finger off the button. Since One UI 8.5 it’s also been possible to set a minimum shutter speed in Photo mode, which can help you take sharper photos of moving subjects, such as kids and pets. In addition to the switches in our Camera Assistant guide, our list of hidden camera features covers some handy features hidden in other places, such as Expert RAW’s Labs and the palm shutter.

Exposure, focus and colour

Pro mode

Pro mode unlocks ISO, shutter speed, exposure value, focus and white balance controls. Longer shutter speeds of up to 30 seconds are available on Galaxy flagships, while other Galaxy phones (like some Galaxy A or M models) may offer shutter speeds of only up to 10 seconds or no shutter speed setting at all. Samsung warns that shooting at a higher ISO results in noisier images. If you opt for manual focus, a slider lets you tweak the focus point. The Pro mode guide has starting values for common scenes.

AE/AF lock

Press down firmly on an area of the picture you want to focus on and you’ll see a circle with a padlock icon. This will lock focus and exposure, according to Samsung’s CamCyclopedia, so that when you line up your shot again, exposure and focus won’t change. This is particularly useful when shooting someone with a window or other bright light behind them. It’s available in Photo mode. See our AE/AF lock guide for more information on when to use this.

White balance

White balance lets you tweak the warmth or coolness of colours. Presets such as Daylight are available in Pro mode, but you can also specify the colour temperature yourself, which is handy for maintaining consistency across a series of shots. On One UI 8.5, Camera Assistant even brings white balance and exposure controls to Photo mode. See our white balance guide for a description of how to configure it.

Framing and capture

Grid lines

Navigate to Camera settings > General and turn on Composition guide (called Grid lines on the A series and in previous versions of One UI). Composition guide displays a level and/or 3x3 grid in the viewfinder (depending on your version of One UI; on One UI 9 you can choose to display both at once or individually). Using a grid helps to ensure that your horizons are level and makes it easier to compose shots using the rule of thirds (placing your subject away from the centre of the frame). See our rule of thirds guide for a demonstration. Our grid lines guide covers the three Composition guide options and how to read the level.

Motion photos

There’s also an option to save a brief video captured in the moments leading up to taking a photo, known as a Motion photo. This can be enabled or disabled from Quick controls, with further configuration options available in Camera settings under Photos. Some of the latest updates have introduced an Auto mode. SamMobile reported it on the S26 Ultra, and on a Galaxy S25 Ultra running One UI 9, tapping the icon presents three options: Off, Auto and On. Per SamMobile, with Auto enabled, a video will be saved only if sufficient motion is detected. The Motion photos guide covers editing and sharing them.

Burst shots

Before One UI 9, Swipe Shutter button to (in Camera settings on the S25 and A-series phones) lets you choose burst mode or GIF. On One UI 9, Swipe Shutter button to edge to (in Camera Assistant) lets you choose what happens when you swipe the shutter button over to the closest edge of the screen. Take burst photos, which are handy for capturing fast action (think sport and pets), after which you can select the best shot. Refer to our burst mode guide for information on selecting and storing optimal frames.

Night mode

The S24 and S25 offer Night mode both as a toggle in Photo mode and as a separate mode, while on the S26 tapping the moon icon in Photo mode brings up a control with Auto, Max and Off options (according to SamMobile).

A separate Night mode is also present on all three devices, although on the S26 it’s disabled by default, and you can re-enable it via Camera Assistant > Additional modes. On the Galaxy S25 Ultra (running One UI 9) the Night mode can be found right next to Photo mode.

Samsung suggests bracing the phone or using a tripod because photos taken in low light can take a few seconds to capture, so keeping the camera as still as possible helps. The Night mode guide covers when to switch to Pro mode or Expert RAW after dark.

What is in the Samsung Camera settings menu on One UI 9?

As with previous versions of One UI, Samsung has moved some settings around a bit and given some new names in One UI 9. Below is a list of every item in Camera settings, in the order Samsung currently lists them.

We verified this list on a Galaxy S25 Ultra with One UI 9 as of November 2026. Depending on your Samsung phone model, you may not see all of the following Camera settings if your phone doesn’t support the feature.

HEIF (Photo format) only applies to Photo mode, while Pro mode picture format, in the same menu, is where you can select RAW image format. Photo enhancer contains the Scene detection toggle (successor to Scene optimizer) and image quality options, and this too only applies to Photo mode. Press Volume buttons to, Voice commands, Floating Shutter button and Show palm all sit under Shooting methods. There’s also Save selfies as previewed. Our selfie settings guide deals with this one, along with some other options to do with the front camera, but basically it’s about whether to save selfies taken with the front camera mirrored as you see them on the screen when taking the shot. Tap Tracking auto focus from Photo mode and it says unavailable. You can also change Flash, Timer, Ratio, Resolution, Exposure and Motion photo from Quick controls, the four-dot button next to the zoom controls, which also holds the Settings cog. According to the handy Tips app that comes preloaded with One UI 9, if you change Exposure here it’ll remain at that level when shooting in the relevant mode. Also near the bottom of the list you’ll find Reset settings, another one of Samsung’s proposed Camera failed solutions, which our Camera failed guide ranks alongside the other suggestions.

There’s no option to change Shutter sound, because this is a European S25 Ultra. Galaxy phones sold in the UK and EU skip this feature; our shutter sound guide covers what you can do instead.

Camera Assistant switches on One UI 9

Tapping Camera Assistant brings up its options screen, which on the S25 Ultra running Camera Assistant 4.5.00.20 has options grouped under ten different headings, with Reset Camera Assistant settings at the very bottom.

The setting for taking burst shots by swiping the shutter button is here, as are Auto HDR and Photo softening. Enabling Single take and Dual rec will add these shooting modes to the camera’s shooting modes list, and they’re not shown there by default.

Settings pages for your Galaxy model

We provide these settings as a starting point on each phone’s page, but keep in mind that the ideal settings will vary based on the particular lenses and image sensor used in each phone.