How to Shoot a Panorama Photo on Your Phone

Tap your device to see how to shoot one.

Swipe to 'Pano' in the Camera app's mode bar, then move the phone slowly to follow the arrow across the screen while it captures.

Select 'Panorama' mode in the camera app, press the shutter, and slowly move the camera along the guide line.

Moving too fast or letting your hand shake can make the seams where shots are stitched together look awkward, so keep your movement slow and steady.

It lets you capture a wide, continuous shot of a scene β€” like a mountain range or a large building β€” that would not fit in a single regular photo.

For scenes too wide for one shot

Standing in front of a sweeping mountain range or an open stretch of coastline, a regular photo often cannot capture the full width of the view. Panorama mode stitches together a series of shots into one wide image that gets much closer to what your eyes actually see.

Why the app asks you to move so slowly

Panorama mode captures dozens of overlapping frames as you pan and stitches them together automatically. Moving quickly or unevenly gives the software less overlap to work with, which is what causes the visible seams, ghosting, or warped lines you sometimes see in a rushed panorama.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I shoot a vertical panorama too?

Some phones support turning the camera sideways and moving it up and down to create a vertical panorama, though the option and quality vary by model.

Do moving subjects look natural in a panorama?

A moving subject can appear distorted, duplicated, or cut off during the stitching process, so it is best to photograph mostly still scenes.