Starting this week, Snapchat is introducing a faster way for iPhone users to take snaps when they’re in a rush. iPhones running iOS 18 or later can replace the flashlight or native camera shortcuts at the bottom of the lock screen with shortcuts to Snapchat’s camera.
Now you can launch Snapchat’s camera from your iPhone’s lock screen
iOS 18 allows users to replace the flashlight or camera shortcuts on their lock screen with Snapchat’s camera mode.
iOS 18 allows users to replace the flashlight or camera shortcuts on their lock screen with Snapchat’s camera mode.
Image: Snapchat
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With the new shortcuts, you can launch the Snapchat camera directly from the lock screen with a single tap, making it easier to capture moments before they pass. Using these controls enables iPhones to launch and take photos in “Camera Only” mode while locked, but sending or editing the snaps will still require users to unlock the device.
To set this up, users need to tap and hold the Lock Screen, hit Customize, and then select Lock Screen to replace one of the default options. That adds to the other available options, like adding a Snapchat widget to the lock or home screen, customizing the iPhone 15 / 16 Action button to launch Snapchat directly, or customizing the iPhone 16’s new Camera Control to open Snapchat.
In a move similar to Google touting its “Quick tap to Snap” feature at the Pixel 6’s launch a few years ago, this change was shown off during Apple’s WWDC keynote in June. We’ve also seen other alternative camera apps like Halide add support for this iPhone feature since iOS 18 launched in September.
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