How to Use the Editing Tools in Photos - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

How to Use the Editing Tools in Photos

by

photos iconIn iOS 13, Apple has introduced a redesigned photo editing interface that improves upon earlier versions by making it easier to select tools and apply adjustments in the stock Photos app.

Previously, the photo editing tools in iOS where hidden away in expandable subsections of a vertical menu, which meant finding the one you wanted was sometimes a chore.

Apple has replaced this menu with a horizontal strip of icons that means you can simply swipe to the tool you want and quickly make the desired adjustment. Let's take a look at how it works.

how to use the editing tools in photos 3
Launch the stock Photos app on your iPhone or iPad and select a picture from your Photo library using the Photos tab. If it isn't a recent photo that you want to edit, use the Days, Months, and Years views to whittle down your collection, or select a photo from one of your albums via the Albums tab.

Once you've selected a picture, tap Edit in the top-right corner of the screen to enter the black editing interface, and then tap the Adjust icon (it looks like a control knob) at the bottom of the screen.

how to use the editing tools in photos 1
A horizontal strip of adjustment tools will appear below the photo. Tap Auto – the first tool in the strip – to select it, and you'll notice the horizontal dial light up below the toolset.

Auto uses intelligent algorithms to optimally tune the other tools and enhance your photo, but you can manually adjust its intensity level by moving the dial with a swipe of your finger. You can easily return to the auto-tuned level by returning the dial back to the white dot.

how to use the editing tools in photos 2
Swipe along the strip of other tools and you'll find that they all work similarly. The only difference is that when you swipe along the dial to change the adjustment level, the selected tool's icon will display a number that you can use as a reference to refine the effect you're previewing.

The other adjustment tools available in the horizontal strip include Exposure, Brilliance, Highlights, Shadows, Contrast, Brightness, Black Point, Saturation, Vibrance, Warmth, Tint, Sharpness, Definition, Noise Reduction, and Vignette. Simply tap Done when you're happy to apply and save your adjustments.

Remember, you can use these editing tools whenever you take a picture using the built-in Camera app – you don't even have to unlock your device to edit the photo you just shot.

Related Forum: iOS 13

Popular Stories

Apple Event Far Out Banner

NASA Shares Photos Shot on iPhone 17 Pro Max During Artemis II Mission to the Moon

Sunday April 5, 2026 6:39 pm PDT by
NASA has shared three incredible photos shot on the iPhone 17 Pro Max by astronauts during the Artemis II mission to the Moon. Shot on iPhone 17 Pro Max (Wiseman) In February, NASA announced that the iPhone had been fully qualified for extended use in orbit, with reports indicating that each of the four crew members aboard the Orion are equipped with an iPhone 17 Pro Max for personal photos...
iphone 17 pro orange

Apple Highlights Photos Shot on iPhone During NASA's Mission to Moon

Saturday April 11, 2026 8:17 am PDT by
As we previously reported, astronauts aboard NASA's Orion spacecraft used the iPhone 17 Pro Max to take selfies of themselves with the Earth in the background during the Artemis II mission around the far side of the Moon last week. Now that the crew members have safely returned to Earth, Apple's CEO Tim Cook and marketing chief Greg Joswiak have both turned to social media to congratulate...
google photos wardrobe

Google Photos to Get AI 'Wardrobe' Feature

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:50 pm PDT by
Google Photos is getting a new wardrobe planning feature that will help you decide what to wear. AI will pull in images of clothing from the Google Photos library, organizing clothing items into a digital closet. You will be able to put items together to create outfits, and even virtually try them with a digital avatar on to see how they'll look. The Google Photos app will show all items of...
Related Apple News: News | Culture | Business | World News | Opinion