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

meta instants

Meta Launches 'Instants' App for Sharing Disappearing Photos on Instagram

Wednesday May 13, 2026 11:32 am PDT by
Meta today announced the launch of Instants, a new image sharing option on the Instagram social network. Instants are ephemeral photos that disappear from Instagram after they're viewed by a user's friends or after a 24-hour period. Reactions and replies to Instants images show up in DMs instead of on the post. Instants photos are only displayed for a short period, but they are saved to a...
sweeping AI driven upgrades feature

First Look at AI Camera and Photos Features in iOS 27 Revealed

Thursday May 28, 2026 6:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning sweeping AI-driven upgrades to its Camera and Photos apps in iOS 27, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports. Image via Bloomberg. The report offers a first look at the appearance of several major iOS 27 features that Apple plans to announce at its Worldwide Developers Conference on June 8. The images are based on information viewed by Bloomberg and people said to be familiar with ...
HomePod mini and Apple TV Sage

New Apple TV and HomePod Mini Are 'Nearly Ready' to Launch, New Siri Remote Also Rumored

Sunday May 31, 2026 8:47 am PDT by
New models of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini are "nearly ready to go," according to the latest word from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Both devices have been ready "for months," but Apple is holding off on launching them until the more personalized version of Siri is available, he said. "I am told the hardware for the next Apple TV...

🔗 Related Apple News & Rumors

Stay updated with the latest Apple ecosystem news and verified rumors