How to Use the Editing Tools in Photos - MacRumors
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

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 Adds Two New Features to CarPlay

Tuesday March 24, 2026 1:55 pm PDT by
iOS 26.4 was released today, and it includes a couple of new features for CarPlay: an Ambient Music widget and support for voice-based chatbot apps. To update your iPhone 11 or newer to iOS 26.4, open the Settings app and tap on General → Software Update. CarPlay will automatically offer the new features so long as the iPhone connected to your vehicle is running iOS 26.4 or later....
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 3, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Tuesday March 24, 2026 12:31 pm PDT by
Apple today released new firmware for the AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and the AirPods 4. The firmware has a version number of 8B39, up from 8B34 on the AirPods Pro 3, 8B28 on the AirPods Pro 2, and 8B21 on the AirPods 4. There is no word on what's included in the firmware, but Apple has a support document with limited notes. Most updates are limited to bug fixes and performance...
apple tv 4k new orange

tvOS 26.4 Adds These New Features to Your Apple TV

Wednesday March 25, 2026 3:33 pm PDT by
Apple this week released tvOS 26.4, and the software update includes a handful of new features and changes for the Apple TV. tvOS 26.4 is compatible with all Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD models released since 2015. To update your Apple TV, open the Settings app on the device, navigate to System → Software Updates, and select Update Software. Below, we have recapped what is new in tvOS...