How to use the level feature in the Camera app in on iPhone and iPad

Sometimes shooting the perfect image can be tricky, especially if you're going at it from a strange angle. Lucky for us, Apple makes shooting with your iPhone easier with various tips, tricks, and on-screen helpers: one of them being the level feature, which is available on iPhone and iPad running iOS 12 and later.

While the level feature doesn't appear when you aim at most objects, it will appear if you aim directly up or down. Once the cross-hairs are even, you'll know you're in perfect alignment with your subject, giving you that crisp, even shot.

But before you go level-crazy like I did when I realized this feature was a thing, you'll have to properly enable the feature. Here's how!

How to enable the level feature in the Camera app

Before you go level-crazy like I did when I realized this feature was a thing, you'll have to properly enable the feature, which is actually tucked away in the Grid display.

  1. Tap to launch Settings from your home screen.
  2. Tap the Camera Menu. You might have to scroll for a moment to find it.
  3. Tap the toggle beside Grid to enable the grid in your camera app. It should turn green.

How to use the level feature in the Camera app

Once the grid feature has turned on, the level feature will be available, too — but only if you're aiming directly up or down.

  1. Tap to launch the Camera app from your home screen.
  2. Aim directly up or down to enable the level feature.

Once the crosshairs are even, you'll know that your image is totally and completely level.

What do you think?

Are you a big fan of using helping hands like this with your iPhone? Maybe you prefer to be a little bit more free with your shooting and forgo that pesky grid? Let us know what you think and how you shoot in the comments down below!

Cella Lao Rousseau

Cella writes for iMore on social and photography. She's a true crime enthusiast, bestselling horror author, lipstick collector, buzzkill, and Sicilian. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @hellorousseau