How to edit Cinematic mode videos on iPhone

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 iPhone.

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.

Add a Cinematic effect to a video you recorded

If you recorded a video in Video mode with the Main camera on an iPhone 18 Pro model, you can apply the Cinematic effect to it.

1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Open a video you recorded in Video mode. Then tap the Edit button.
3. Tap Cinematic. 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.

Quick tip: To apply the effect quickly, open the video, tap Cinematic, and then tap Cinematic On.

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

Turn off the Cinematic effect

1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Open a video you recorded in Cinematic mode and tap Cinematic. Tap Cinematic Off.

You can also tap the Edit button, tap Cinematic, then tap Done (or the Done button).

To quickly turn Cinematic mode back on, tap Cinematic, then tap Cinematic On.

Change the focus subject in a Cinematic mode video

While you record in Cinematic mode, Camera automatically identifies where to focus, and if it identifies a new subject, it can change focus automatically. Or you can change the focus subject manually.

1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
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 a subject, outlined in yellow, 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 your 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. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
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 on your Mac, you can use AirDrop to transfer them from your iPhone, along with their depth and focus metadata.

Note: To edit Cinematic mode videos shot on an iPhone with iOS 16 or later, your Mac needs macOS 13 or later.

1. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
2. Open the Cinematic mode video and 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 and 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 straight to an external drive, a memory card, or another storage device.

Note: Edited photos and videos export as the unmodified original version.

1. Connect your iPhone to the storage device using the Lightning or USB-C connector.
2. Start the Photos app on your iPhone.
3. Select the video you want to export.
4. Tap the Share button and then tap Export Unmodified Original.
5. Tap Browse, tap your storage device (below Locations), and then tap the Done button.