How to Use Instagram Focused Portrait Mode

Here’s how to use Instagram’s new Focus Portrait mode, what it does, and what you need to know. If your phone isn’t new enough to take fancy portrait photos with bokeh effects, Instagram is here to save the day.

Portrait mode is the latest popular phone camera feature that millions of iPhone X owners love. In this mode, the camera blurs the backgrounds while taking a photo, making the main subject stand out. Portrait mode for selfies is even more popular and Instagram’s new camera mode can do both.

If you don’t have the latest iPhone, Android, or Samsung Galaxy, you’re missing out on bokeh-style portrait photos. That’s why Insta added it to its app. Here’s how to take Instagram Focus mode photos today.

Before we start, there is a small catch. Focus mode is not yet available on all smartphones and may never be. Focus is currently available on iPhone SE, 6S, 6S+, 7, 7+, 8, 8+ and X and select Android devices. This is probably a hardware limit, but we’ll update when we know more.

Instructions

Focus mode works with the selfie camera or the rear-facing camera. But for now it only works with faces so if it can’t find one it will tell. When you take a Focus photo of someone, the person stays in focus and the background is slightly blurred. Enough to focus more on the subject.

The result is a nice, clear photo with the edges slightly blurred so that the person is front and center. Basically, making your subject matter where people naturally focus when looking at the image.

So far we’re seeing mixed results with the new Instagram Focus mode. Certain hairstyles make the blur effect harder, and you’ll also see blur around people’s edges if there isn’t enough lighting. Overall, this new feature is a welcomed addition to Insta. It works well and now you can take beautiful bokeh photos like your friends with iPhone X, Google Pixel 2 and other devices.

Before you go, learn how to hide Instagram photos and videos with Archive, and here are 8 common IG problems and quick fixes.