I used to rely on separate apps just to scan QR codes. Then one day, I opened my Samsung camera and saw it highlight a link the moment I pointed it at one. It was subtle, but enough to make me wonder what else the camera could do.
6
Record Video Without Killing the Music
Most phones shut off your music the moment you start recording a video, but Samsung phones aren’t limited in that way. If you’re listening to a song from Spotify or YouTube Music, open the Camera app, switch to Video mode, and hit record. The music continues to play in the background, and your phone captures both visuals and ambient sounds.
To make this work, though, there’s a quick setting you must enable first. Open Camera and tap the gear icon to access settings. In Settings, scroll down to Advanced video options and toggle Audio playback on.
Once that’s turned on, your music won’t be interrupted during filming. The feature works best when the sound comes from your phone’s speaker. If you’re recording with 360 audio or using a Bluetooth mic, the music might pause automatically. So double-check your setup before you start recording if audio is part of what you’re trying to capture.
5
Capture Documents Automatically—No Tap Required
When you point your Samsung camera at receipts, printed forms, or handwritten notes, it doesn’t treat them as ordinary photos. A yellow frame appears around the edges of the document, and if you hold still for a second, the camera captures it automatically.
To get this working, open the Camera app, tap the gear icon, and turn on Scan documents and text. Then tap it and enable Auto scan, which lets your phone take the shot as soon as it detects a steady frame.
You can also turn on Remove unwanted objects to crop out anything that gets in the way, such as fingers near the edge. After that, all you need to do is point the camera at the subject and let it do the rest.
4
Turn the Shutter Button Into a GIF Maker
Some moments are too brief for a video, but are more expressive than a single picture. That’s where this trick works. Samsung lets you turn the shutter button into a built-in GIF maker, so you don’t have to use a separate app or edit them later.
To enable it, open the Camera app, tap the gear icon, then scroll to the Pictures section. Tap Swipe Shutter button to, and by default, it’s set to Take burst shot. Switch it to Create GIF, and you’re all set.
Now, when you’re in Photo mode, slide and hold the shutter button downward. Your phone will take a burst of photos and automatically stitch them into a short, looping GIF. It works well for reactions, playful expressions, or anything that feels better in motion. Once you save it, you can share it right away, no conversions required.
3
Let the Camera Optimize Shots for You
You don’t need to adjust settings for every shot; most of the time, it’s better not to. Scene Optimizer fine-tunes your photos in the background during those quick moments. It recognizes what you’re shooting, like food, greenery, sunsets, or text, and adjusts details such as exposure and contrast to fit the scene.
To turn it on, open the Camera settings and navigate to Intelligent optimisation. From there, toggle Scene Optimizer on.
Once you enable it, your camera identifies scenes in real time and applies subtle adjustments to enhance the end result without you having to move a finger.
2
Make Portraits Pop With Color Point
Portrait mode blurs the background well, but sometimes you want more than just soft edges. That’s where Color Point adds a personal touch. This filter keeps your subject in full color while desaturating the background to black and white, creating a striking contrast that instantly catches your attention.
To try it out, open the Camera app and switch to Portrait mode. Tap on the Effects icon on the left side of the zoom controls, then choose COLOR POINT from the list of filters.
Once selected, the effect appears live in the viewfinder so you can line up the shot exactly how you wish. You can also adjust the background blur strength right on the screen using the slider.
1
Mute the Camera Shutter Sound
Sometimes you just want to take a quiet photo, but that shutter sound cuts through the silence. In a meeting, a quiet room, or near someone sleeping, it can easily break the moment. You could lower the volume every time, but there’s a better way—you can automate it with the Modes and Routines feature on your Samsung phone.
To set it up, open Settings, navigate to Modes and Routines, and tap Routines. Tap the + icon to create a new routine. Under the If section, tap +, then search for App opened > Camera, and tap Done.
Now move to the Then section, tap +, scroll to Sounds and vibration, and choose Sound mode and volume. Drag the System sound slider to 0%, tap Done, and hit Save. If you’d like, assign an icon to the routine, then tap Done again to complete the setup.
Your phone will now automatically mute the shutter sound every time you open the Camera app. No more fiddling with volume controls or worrying about creating noise when you need to stay quiet.
These are some of the features built into Samsung cameras that can make everyday photos easier, faster, and more useful. If you haven’t tried them yet, it’s worth exploring what they can do.