How to Use iPhone Camera Tools: Grid, Focus, Exposure and Square Photos

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To get the grid on your iPhone camera, open the Settings app, tap Camera, and turn on Grid. The next time you open the Camera app, thin lines divide the screen into nine boxes so you can line up your shot.

The switch is in the Settings app, not inside the Camera app, which is why many people never find it. This guide covers the exact steps, the newer Level switch that sits beside it, how to turn the grid off again, and what to check if the lines do not appear.

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A simple way to view your iPhone pictures on your TV is with the Apple TV. It also allows you to mirror your iPhone or iPad screen on your TV.

Quick Steps: Turn On the iPhone Camera Grid

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Camera.
3. Turn on Grid.
4. Open the Camera app and check for the lines.

Which iPhones and iOS Versions This Covers

These steps match Apple’s current iPhone User Guide, which is written for iOS 27. Apple’s guide gives the same Settings > Camera > Grid path in its older editions going back to iOS 12, so the steps work on almost any iPhone still in use.

Two things change with the version:

• iOS 17 and later: Apple’s guide lists a second switch, Level, next to Grid.
• iOS 16 and earlier: Apple’s guide mentions only the Grid switch.

You do not need an Apple Account, an internet connection, or a particular iPhone model. The grid is a built-in Camera setting.

How to Get the Grid on the iPhone Camera (Detailed Steps)

Step 1: Open the Settings app

Find the gray gear icon on your Home Screen and tap it. If you cannot find the icon, swipe down on the middle of the Home Screen and type Settings in the search field.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap Camera

The Settings list is long, so you will need to scroll. Tap Camera to open the Camera settings screen. This screen holds the options that the Camera app itself does not show, such as video formats and Preserve Settings.

Step 3: Turn on Grid

Look down the screen for Grid and tap the switch beside it. The switch turns green when the grid is on. On recent iOS versions, Grid is grouped with the other framing options, so you may need to scroll a little to reach it.

Step 4: Open the Camera app

Go back to the Home Screen and open Camera. You should see two horizontal lines and two vertical lines across the picture area. If the Camera app was already open, close it and open it again so it picks up the change.

The picture above comes from an older iPhone, so the buttons around the edge look different today. The grid lines themselves look the same.

What the Grid Does and Does Not Do

Apple describes the grid as lines on the camera screen that help you straighten and compose your shot. In plain terms, it is a guide for your eyes while you frame the picture.

• It is one fixed layout. Apple documents a single on or off switch. There is no documented setting for a different number of lines, a different color, or a different thickness in the built-in Camera app.
• It stays on. Grid is a Settings switch, so it remains on until you turn it off. You do not have to switch it on each time you open Camera.
• It is a framing guide. The lines are shown on the camera screen to help you aim. They are not an edit applied to your photo.
• It has no button in Camera. Apple’s instructions only point to the Settings app, so plan on changing it there.

Grid vs. Level: What Is the Difference?

On iOS 17 and later, Apple’s guide says you can turn on Grid and Level in the same Camera settings screen. They are two separate switches, and you can use one, both, or neither.

Switch	What it shows	Best for	Where Apple documents it
Grid	Lines across the camera screen	Placing your subject and keeping edges straight	iPhone User Guide for iOS 12 through iOS 27
Level	A level indicator on the camera screen	Keeping the iPhone from tilting	iPhone User Guide for iOS 17 through iOS 27

To add the level, go to Settings > Camera and turn on Level. Apple’s guide does not describe exactly how the level looks on screen, so the simplest way to learn it is to turn it on, open Camera, and tilt the phone slowly from side to side.

How to Use the Grid to Frame a Photo

The grid is most often used for the rule of thirds. That is a common photography guideline that says a picture often looks more balanced when the main subject sits along one of the lines, or where two lines cross, instead of in the exact center.

• Landscapes: Rest the horizon on the upper or lower horizontal line instead of across the middle.
• People: Put the person on the left or right vertical line and leave open space on the other side.
• Buildings: Compare walls, doors, and poles with the vertical lines to see whether the phone is tilted.
• Centered shots: Use the middle box to check that a sign, plate, or document is evenly spaced on all sides.

The rule of thirds is a starting point, not a requirement. If a centered photo looks better to you, take the centered photo.

How to Turn the Grid Off

Nothing about this setting is permanent. To remove the lines, go back to Settings > Camera and turn off Grid. The switch turns gray and the lines are gone the next time you open Camera. Do the same with Level if you turned that on too.

Troubleshooting: The Grid Is Not Showing

• Check the switch again. Open Settings > Camera and confirm Grid is green. It is easy to tap Level or another nearby switch by mistake.
• Reopen the Camera app. Close Camera and open it again after changing the setting.
• Make sure you are in the built-in Camera app. The Grid switch belongs to Apple’s Camera app. Other camera apps, and the camera inside social or messaging apps, have their own settings and may not show it.
• Try Photo mode. Apple does not publish a list of the modes that show the grid. If you do not see the lines in one mode, switch to Photo and look again.
• You cannot find Camera in Settings. Use the search field at the top of the Settings app and type Camera or Grid.
• You do not see a Level switch. Apple documents Level starting with iOS 17. On an older version you will only have Grid.
• Update iOS. If the switch is on and the lines still never appear, install the latest software. Apple explains how in Update your iPhone or iPad.

The menu name has also changed over time. On very old iOS versions the Camera options were part of a combined Photos & Camera menu. If your iPhone shows that name, tap it and look for Grid there.

Improve Focus, Exposure and Composition

Before shooting, wipe the camera lens with a soft, lint-free cloth and choose useful light; avoid placing the subject against a bright window unless you intend a silhouette. Open Camera, select Photo and tap the subject to set its focus area. Drag the nearby exposure control up or down to adjust brightness. Touch and hold the focus area until AE/AF Lock appears when you need to hold those choices; tap the screen to release the lock. Apple documents the focus and exposure controls. Check the actual preview instead of assuming a brighter setting improves every scene.

Use the Grid steps above to position a subject near a line or intersection, or center it when that composition works better. Keep the phone steady with both hands or a stable support, particularly in dim light, and take a few alternatives. Open the saved pictures and compare subject sharpness, highlights and framing. In Photos editing, use Adjust for exposure, contrast or color and Crop for framing, then Done and inspect the result; keep or duplicate an important original and use Revert when appropriate. These choices improve control, but do not guarantee professional results or restore detail lost to blur or severe overexposure.

Take a Square Photo on an Older iPhone 5

In the historical iPhone 5 Camera layout, open Camera and swipe left across the Photo mode label to select Square. Check that the viewfinder is square, frame the subject and tap the shutter. Open the saved picture and check its 1:1 shape; swipe back to Photo for the normal rectangular mode. The original iPhone 5 tutorial produced 2448×2448 square images, but newer models and settings have different dimensions. In current Camera layouts, open Camera Controls or swipe up from the mode labels, select Aspect and choose 1:1 instead. Use 4:3 or another offered ratio to restore the intended rectangular framing; Apple’s camera-tools guide above describes these current controls. Cropping an existing photo to Square is the separate Photos editing method.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone camera not have a grid?

The grid is turned off until you enable it. Open Settings, tap Camera, and turn on Grid. There is no grid button inside the Camera app.

Can I change the grid style on iPhone?

Not in the built-in Camera app, based on Apple’s documentation. Apple’s guide describes one Grid switch that is either on or off, with no style, color, or opacity options.

Does the grid show up in my photos?

The grid is a guide displayed on the camera screen while you frame the shot. It is there to help you aim, not to change the picture.

Can I turn on the grid from Control Center?

Apple’s instructions only list the Settings app for this switch. Go to Settings > Camera > Grid each time you want to change it.

Can I straighten a photo I already took?

Yes. Open the photo in the Photos app, tap the edit button, and use the crop tools, which include a straighten control with a slider. Apple’s steps are in Crop, rotate, flip, or straighten photos and videos on iPhone.

Does the iPad camera have a grid too?

Yes. Apple’s iPad guide gives the same path, and our guide on how to turn the grid on or off in the iPad camera walks through it.

Source and Next Steps

The steps in this article come from Apple’s iPhone User Guide page Use iPhone camera tools to set up your shot, checked in October 2026.

While you are in the Camera settings, you can also learn how to make the iPhone camera keep your last settings. If the flash is spoiling your pictures, see how to turn off the iPhone camera flash. Shooting video instead? Here is how to record 4K video on iPhone, and if your selfies come out mirrored, here is how to turn off the flipped selfie camera.

The Google Chromecast is a simple, affordable option if you want to stream videos to your TV.