What does the flower icon on your iPhone camera mean?

If you own an iPhone Pro or one of the latest iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models, you’ve probably realized that a flower icon on your iPhone’s camera appears randomly. Technically, random wouldn’t be the right description, because the flower icon only appears when you have a subject very close to the camera lenses. This icon means that your iPhone has enabled macro mode and is now using the ultra-wide lens so you can get up to two centimeters closer to the subject to take a macro photo.

Macro mode is available on the iPhone 13 Pro and newer devices, but Apple has also added this feature to the regular iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models; The “e” versions and the iPhone Air do not have this feature, as they lack the second camera. Interestingly enough, besides these phones, Apple offered a sort of macro mode on the iPhone 3GS, as it was the first iPhone to introduce autofocus with a tap-to-focus feature. With this, users could get up to 10 centimeters closer to a subject. However, when Apple introduced “real” Macro mode with the iPhone 13 Pro, it somehow forgot that it was promoting this feature with one of its OG smartphones.

Apple automatically brings up the Macro mode flower icon whenever you get too close to a subject. However, there are times when you want to get closer to something without changing your goal. At such times, users can simply tap the flower icon to turn off this automatic shutdown. If by chance the camera switches automatically but you don’t see the flower icon, you need to go to the iPhone settings, tap on the camera and turn on the macro control toggle. This button allows users to have better control over this hidden camera feature of the iPhone, which is especially useful in low light conditions.

iPhone Macro mode allows users to take photos and videos. More interestingly, users can also select Slo-mo or Time-lapse modes to record in Macro mode. For these modes, Apple says users should simply switch to the .5x camera and get closer to the subject.

Another handy feature is to preserve Macro Control functionality between sessions by going to Settings, Camera, Keep Settings and enabling Macro Control. This is especially useful when you just want to focus on close-up shots and have good lighting conditions, as the ultra-wide lens usually has a smaller aperture than the main camera, making images more difficult when you don’t have a good light source.

To get the most out of shooting in Macro mode, here are some of the tips and tricks I use. First tip, avoid shadows, which can be particularly delicate. Since your own phone may cast a shadow when you get closer to a subject, try taking photos from different angles or using a side light source rather than directly behind you. One of my favorite iOS features is Photo Styles. Apple revamped them with iPhone 16, so you can control many details of your photo after it’s taken.

I use a pre-saved setting, but I also edit my favorite photos afterward by going to the photo’s Edit button and then tapping Style to adjust the tone, warmth, etc. Another trick for Macro mode is to lock the focus. If the camera continues to tilt, try long-pressing the screen to lock the focus and exposure on the subject. This prevents the camera from searching for focus when you get closer. Last but not least, when you are this close to a subject, you may need to be careful to avoid blurring the photo. With a small tripod or a stable surface to lean against, your macro photos can be much sharper.