How to Shoot RAW Photos on iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max

Published on October 7, 2021
Written by:
Novak Bozovic
Novak Bozovic
Tech & VPN Content Specialist

Last year, we saw Apple bring RAW photos to iPhones, thanks to its own ProRAW file system. Of course, this year’s iPhone lineup supports ProRAW as well, having the most capable camera system yet. With that said, we’ll show you how to shoot RAW photos on your iPhone 13 by guiding you through each step at a time. 

Apple's ProRAW is currently supported on the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max. Aside from those two models, the iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max support it as well. If you have any other iPhone, you can enable the RAW file type using a third-party app, such as Halide Mark II, for example. 

How to Shoot RAW Photos on the iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max

You can shoot RAW photos on your iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max once you enable this option via the Settings app. Here’s everything you need to know.

#1: How to Set Up Apple ProRAW

By default, Apple’s ProRAW comes disabled as it’s aimed at more advanced users. With that said, go through the following steps to enable your phone to shoot in RAW. 

1. Navigate to the Settings app on your iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max. 

2. Scroll quite a bit down, and then tap on 'Camera.'

3. Pick 'Formats,' visible at the top of your screen. 

4. Flip the switch next to 'Apple ProRAW.' That’s it!

Steps to Enable ProRAW on iPhone

Keep in mind that ProRAW photos are typically massive in size, 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files. Therefore, the chances are that if your plan to shoot only in RAW, you will run out of space quicker than you might expect. 

#2: How to Take a Photo with Apple ProRAW

After enabling ProRAW, it's time to learn how to shoot using this photo file type. As you can imagine, the process is quite simple, as explained below. 

1. Launch the Camera app on your iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max. 

2. Now, take a look at the top row of icons at the top of your screen. 

3. On the right, it should say 'RAW' (without being crossed). 

4. If 'RAW' is crossed, tap to enable it at any point. 

5. Finally, take your shot. That’s it!

Steps to Shoot in RAW on iPhone

Once you start shooting in RAW on your iPhone 13, you’ll see a 'RAW' indicator as you browse your photos in the Photos app. To learn more information about your image, open your image in the Photos app and then swipe towards the top of your screen. 

For more tips and tricks, here’s how to use your iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max camera. And also, here’s our dedicated guide on using the ultra-wide camera on your iPhone 13. 

#3: How to Edit a ProRAW File

Naturally, taking full advantage of RAW files is done by editing your photos. That’s where the true power of Apple’s ProRAW really shows.

Apple's ProRAW files aren't huge in size due to their dimensions. They're huge because they contain plenty of information that photo editors can use. One such editor is the Photos app, available on all Apple devices (iOS, iPadOS, and macOS). So, to edit your photo in the Photos app, do the following:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max. 

2. Find the photo you want to edit. Make sure it’s a RAW photo. 

3. Tap to open your photo. It should be displayed across your screen. 

4. Select 'Edit,' visible in the top-right corner of your phone’s screen. 

5. Now, feel free to make any edits using the Photos app’s image editor. 

6. Once done, tap on 'Done,' visible in the bottom-right corner. That’s all!

Steps to Edit a RAW Image

#4: How to Share a ProRAW File

And lastly, if you want to share ProRAW photos, you need to know how exactly to share them as your phone will often convert them to JPEG files. Find more information below.

For more tips and tricks, make sure to turn to our latest iPhone 13-related articles. Use the provided link to get to dozens of in-depth tutorials and step-by-step guides. 

That would be all on how to shoot in RAW on your iPhone 13. Use the comments section below in case of any questions. And lastly, thank you for reading!



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