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where did portrait mode go

Portrait mode hasn’t been removed; it’s mostly been moved and renamed a bit in the new Camera layout , especially on newer iOS versions and iPhones.

Below is a friendly, forum-style “Quick Scoop” you can use as a post.

Where Did Portrait Mode Go?

(iOS update confusion is real…)

“Updated my iPhone, opened the Camera, and… where did Portrait mode go? Did Apple just nuke it or am I missing something obvious?”

You’re not alone. A bunch of people have asked the same thing after recent iOS updates, especially around iOS 26 on newer iPhones.

The Real Answer (Short Version)

  • Portrait mode is still there , just hidden behind a new swipe layout.
  • You now have to tap “Photo” and then swipe left/right on that word (or on the mode strip) to reveal Portrait and other modes.
  • On some models, auto-portrait can kick in directly from normal Photo if “Portraits in Photo Mode” is enabled in settings.

Step‑by‑Step: How to Find Portrait Mode Now

Try this sequence:

  1. Open the Camera app.
  2. Look at the bottom where it says something like:
    VIDEO | PHOTO (or just “Photo” with a little strip).
  3. Tap on “Photo” once so it’s actively selected.
  1. Now swipe horizontally on that word/strip:
    • Swipe one way → you’ll see photo options like Portrait , Pano , etc.
 * Swipe the other way → you’ll see video options like _Cinematic_ , _Slo‑mo_ , _Timelapse_.
  1. When you see Portrait , stop there and shoot like before.

Many users thought Portrait was gone simply because the app now separates photo modes and video modes on that same slider, and it’s not all visible at once.

Why It Feels “Gone”

Mini breakdown of what changed:

  • Old behavior: Every mode visible in one strip; easy but cluttered.
  • New behavior:
    • Photo and video modes grouped, so you must swipe further to reveal everything.
* Portrait won’t show until you interact with **Photo** first on some builds.
  • If you usually open Camera and just start shooting, it’s easy to never realize the modes are now “off-screen.”

A user in an iPhone subreddit literally solved it with:

“At the bottom, where it says VIDEO | PHOTO, swipe to the side to see your usual options like Portrait.”

Extra Gotchas People Run Into

Here are a few reasons you might still think it’s missing even after swiping:

  • Unsupported device or camera
    • Portrait mode only works on specific iPhone models (7 Plus and later, SE 2nd gen and later, etc.).
* Some devices only allow Portrait on the rear camera or only when a face is detected.
  • Auto‑Portrait from normal Photo
    • On some newer iOS versions, there’s a setting like “Portraits in Photo Mode” that lets your phone automatically capture Portrait when it sees a face, even in regular Photo mode.
* In that case, you might not see a separate toggle pop up—you just adjust the blur afterwards in Photos.
  • Low light / distance issues
    • Even when you’re in Portrait, the phone may tell you to “Move further away” or that it’s too dark, and refuse to blur.
* That can feel like “it’s not working” when it’s actually just being picky.

Quick Checks If It Really Seems Missing

If you want to be thorough:

  • Make sure you’re:
    • On a device that supports Portrait mode at all.
* Using the **rear camera** if your model requires it.
  • Try:
    • Force‑closing Camera and reopening it.
    • Restarting the iPhone.
  • Open Settings → Camera and look for options related to Portrait or “Portraits in Photo Mode” and ensure they’re enabled if present.

If after all that you still don’t see the mode when swiping on “Photo”, it might be a weird bug, and you may need to install any pending iOS minor updates or contact Apple Support.

Why This Is a Trending Forum Topic

Every big camera UI tweak sparks the same pattern:

  • People think a feature is removed.
  • Forums and subreddits fill with:

“Where did portrait mode go after the latest update?”

  • Then someone posts the “just swipe” answer, it gets upvoted, and becomes the new FAQ.

Given how much Apple leans into Portrait mode in marketing—and how often creators use it for social content—it makes sense that its temporary “disappearance” is now a mini‑trend whenever a big update drops.

TL;DR

  • Portrait mode is still on your iPhone.
  • Tap Photo , then swipe left/right on the mode strip at the bottom to reveal Portrait.
  • On newer setups, auto‑portrait may also kick in from regular Photo if enabled in settings.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.