How to edit Cinematic mode videos on iPad

On supported iPhone models, Cinematic mode in Camera applies a depth-of-field effect that keeps the subject of your video sharp while blurring the foreground and background. After capturing the video, you can adjust or remove the Cinematic mode effects in the Photos app on iPad.

Camera identifies where to focus while you record and can change focus automatically, and you can change the focus subject later. You can even adjust the depth of field or turn off the Cinematic effect.

Cinematic mode videos can be edited on iPad Pro 12.9-inch (3rd generation and later), iPad Pro 11-inch (all generations), iPad Air (3rd generation and later), iPad mini (5th generation and later), and iPad mini (A17 Pro).

Turn off the Cinematic effect

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode. Tap the Edit button.
3. Tap Cinematic at the top of the screen and then tap Done.

To turn Cinematic mode back on, repeat these steps.

Change the focus subject in a Cinematic mode video

When you record in Cinematic mode, Camera automatically works out where to focus and can change focus automatically if it identifies a new subject. You’re also free to change the focus subject manually.

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode. Tap the Edit button.

   White dots under the frame viewer indicate where Camera automatically changed the focus while recording. Yellow dots indicate where the focus was manually changed.

3. Play the video, or slide the white vertical bar in the frame viewer, to the point where you want to change the focus.
4. Tap the new subject, outlined in yellow, on the screen to change the focus; double-tap to set automatic focus tracking on the subject.

   A yellow dot appears under the frame viewer to indicate the focus was changed.

   Note: You can also touch and hold the screen to lock the focus at a specific distance from the camera.

5. Repeat the steps above to change focus points throughout the video.

   To remove a manual focus change, tap the yellow dot under the frame viewer, then tap the Delete button.

6. Tap Done to save your changes.

Tap the Manual Tracking button to switch between automatic focus tracking and the manually selected focus points.

After you save your changes, you can revert a Cinematic mode video to the original version if you don’t like your edits. Open the video, then tap Revert.

Adjust the depth of field in a Cinematic mode video

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode. Tap the Edit button.
3. Tap the Depth Control button at the top of the screen.

   A slider appears below the video.

4. Drag the slider left or right to adjust the depth of field effect. Then tap Done.

To undo your edits after you save, open the video, then tap Revert.

Export Cinematic mode videos to your Mac

To edit Cinematic mode videos in other apps, transfer them from your iPhone to your Mac, complete with depth and focus metadata.

Note: Your Mac has to be using macOS 13 or later to edit Cinematic mode videos from an iPhone with iOS 16 or later.

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Open a Cinematic mode video. Then tap the Share button.
3. Tap Options at the top of the screen and turn on All Photos Data. Then tap the Done button.
4. Tap AirDrop. Tap the device you want to share with (make sure the device you’re sharing with has AirDrop turned on).

Export Cinematic mode videos to an external storage device

You can export Cinematic mode videos directly to an external drive, a memory card, or other storage device.

Note: Photos and videos that have been edited will be exported as the unmodified original version.

1. Open the Photos app on your iPad.
2. Select the video you want to export.
3. Tap the Share button and then tap Export Unmodified Original.
4. Tap your storage device (below Locations) and then tap the Done button.

See also

• Edit photos and videos on iPad
• Undo and revert photo edits on iPad