Since iOS 17, you can adjust the focus point of a portrait photo afterwards. This is not only possible with photos you have recently taken, it is also possible for old photos.
The conditions are that they must be made with iPhone 13 models and newer that have iOS 16 or newer installed. Editing the focus point of a portrait afterwards is very easy and can be done on an iPhone, iPad and even Mac. We explain how it works.
Portrait photos in short
On models that support portrait mode, the standard Camera lets you apply a depth of field effect that brings your subject (people, animals, objects, etc.) into focus, while blurring the foreground and background. This creates a beautiful depth effect that you know from SLR cameras. You can also apply different lighting effects to your portrait photos for extra dimension.
Adjust the focus point of a portrait photo afterwards
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone or iPad
- Go to a portrait photo
- Tap ‘Edit’
- If necessary, open the ‘Portrait’ tab
- Tap photo to change focus point (yellow square)
- Save the adjustment
You can’t do this as easily on a Mac as on an iPhone or iPad. Here too, use the standard Photos app and open a portrait photo. Click ‘Edit’ and then ‘Portrait’ at the bottom of the photo. You can then shift the focus.
Adjust focus point conditions
You can make the above adjustments not only on photos you have recently taken, but also on old photos. You can edit the focus point afterwards from iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS Sonoma. In addition, the feature is only available on portrait photos taken under iOS 16 or newerimmediately iPhone 13 or newer.
It is possible that adjusting the focus point afterwards is not possible due to insufficient photo data or that the portrait photo was forwarded without all data.