Turn off motion photos on your Android phone easily using simple steps. Android smartphones now come with smart camera features. These features improve photography for everyday users. Motion Photo is one such feature available on many Android phones.
Motion Photo records a short video with every image. Some users enjoy animated memories. Others prefer clean and still photos only.
Turn Off Motion Photo on Your Android Phone: Motion Photo Explained
Turn off motion photos on your Android phone after understanding how it works. Motion Photo captures a still image with a short video clip. The phone records moments before pressing the shutter. Some devices also record moments after the capture.
How Motion Photo Works
- Combines photo and short video
- Captures movement around the photo
- Allows best frame selection later
- Helps avoid blinked or blurred photos
Different Names on Different Phones
- Google Pixel: Top Shot
- Samsung: Motion Photo
- Motorola: Active Photos
The feature name changes, but functionality remains the same.
Additional Motion Photo Features
- Previews play automatically in gallery
- Full video shows on long press
- Image quality remains unchanged
- HDR and Google Lens still work
- Still frames can be extracted
- Full video clip can be saved
Motion Photos add life to memories. However, they are not for everyone.
Why Disable It
Motion Photos take more space than normal images. Each photo stores an extra video file.
Reasons to Disable Motion Photo
- Uses three to four times more storage
- Fills phone memory quickly
- Consumes cloud backup space faster
- Slows camera performance on budget phones
- Causes shutter delay sometimes
- Moving previews feel distracting
Many users prefer still photography. Disabling Motion Photo gives better control and saves space.
Google Pixel Method
Google Pixel phones use the Google Camera app. Motion Photos are called Top Shot here.
Steps to Disable Top Shot on Pixel
- Open Google Camera app
- Look at the camera viewfinder
- Tap the Settings icon
- Find Top Shot
- Toggle the option Off
Pixel Top Shot Modes
- On: Always records motion
- Off: Records only still photos
- Auto: Phone decides automatically
Top Shot does not work in some modes:
- Night Sight
- LED flash usage
- Selfie illumination
- Social depth mode
Motion videos never include sound. Auto mode balances storage and quality well.
Samsung Phones
Samsung phones provide a direct toggle for Motion Photo. Here’s what you need to do:
Disable Motion Photo on New Samsung Phones
- Open Camera app
- Select Photo mode
- Look above the shutter button
- Find Motion Photo icon
- Tap once to turn it Off
A confirmation message appears on screen.
Disable Motion Photo on Older Samsung Phones
- Open Camera
- Choose Photo mode
- Open Settings
- Find Motion Photo
- Toggle the option Off
Samsung keeps the process simple across devices.
Motorola Devices
Motorola phones call this feature Active Photos. Here’s how you can disable them:
Steps to Disable Active Photos
- Open Camera app
- Tap the small arrow icon
- Access additional camera settings
- Find Active Photos
- Turn the toggle Off
Important Notes for Motorola Users
- Automatic mode may still activate
- HDR may disable when turned off
- LED flash may not work together
- Image quality may slightly change
Test settings to find the best balance for your needs.
Google Photos Control
Motion Photos autoplay in Google Photos, which some users find annoying.
Stop Motion Photo Playback for One Image
- Open Google Photos
- Open a Motion Photo
- Tap the Motion Photo icon
- Playback stops instantly
Disable Motion Photo Autoplay Completely
- Open Google Photos
- Tap Profile icon
- Go to Photos settings
- Select Preferences
- Find Motion Photo playback
- Turn the toggle Off
This setting works on both mobile and web versions. Photos remain stored safely.
As We Conclude
Turn off motion photos on your Android phone anytime you want. Motion Photos add movement and context to images. They also consume extra storage space. Many users prefer simple and clean photography.
Android phones offer full control over Motion Photos. Each brand provides easy settings access. Gallery playback can also be customized. Choose the settings that match your photography style best.
Important FAQs
1. What happens when I turn off motion photo on my Android phone?
Turning off motion photos captures only still images. No short video clips are recorded with photos.
2. Does turning off motion photos improve phone storage space?
Yes, motion photos use more storage. Disabling them helps save phone and cloud storage space.
3. Can I turn off motion photos only for gallery playback?
Yes, you can stop motion photo autoplay in Google Photos without deleting the motion data.
4. Will photo quality reduce after disabling motion photos?
No, image quality remains the same. HDR and camera processing still work normally.
5. Is motion photo automatically re-enabled after updates?
Sometimes the camera updates reset settings. It is good to recheck motion photo settings after updates.
