Apple doesn’t let you change the default iPhone camera app, officially at least. However, a little smart hack to switch to your favorite camera app with a shortcut means you can tap on the lock screen shortcut and continue using your favorite camera app.
How to set a shortcut to the camera app
This hack uses Apple’s Shortcuts app to launch an app of your choice every time you launch the default iPhone camera app.
Unlike standalone shortcuts (which can be shared and downloaded), you have to manually set up camera shortcuts on your iPhone.
To do this, open Shortcuts and click on the Automate tab at the bottom of the screen. Click Create Personal Automation to get started.
Scroll down to find and select the App launcher. Then click on Select to choose the default iPhone camera app.
under the app[開封済み]Examined. Then press Next.
Now you need to choose an action that will happen every time you open the Camera app.
Select Open App from the menu, tap App next to Open, and select the app you want to use instead (I went manually).
After selecting the app, click Next.
Finally, disable “Ask before running” and click on “Don’t ask me” on the popup to allow the automation to run without any additional input.
Click Done in the upper right corner. You can now see the work appear in the list next to other iPhone automations.
incomplete solution
Not a big deal for everyone, but there are two drawbacks to using this method. First, your iPhone must be unlocked to run the third-party apps.
To launch the camera app from the lock screen, you have to take a look at the Face ID sensor.
In our testing, the Face ID sensor unlocked the iPhone 13 Pro so quickly that the shortcut seemed seamless, so we didn’t notice this requirement. Obviously, it might not be ideal for those who have trouble turning on Face ID constantly (or for those with iPhones). Older ones use Touch ID sensor).
Related: Face ID Not Working? 3 Things You Can Try
Additionally, there are no exceptions to this shortcut for use with the Apple Watch companion app. If you want to use your Apple Watch as a remote launcher for the Camera app, you will actually lose that functionality.
Combine with other camera tricks
If the Face ID experience is positive and quick, and you’re not using the Apple Watch remote trigger, there aren’t many downsides to doing so, other than a slight delay when launching the camera app of your choice.
This hack works alongside other cool tricks like swiping to open the iPhone camera and using the optional Back Tap feature built into iOS.
