In this article, we’ll tell you best ways for taking instant photos on Android, specifically how to configure camera shortcut on your Xiaomi, Samsung, Oppo or Huawei phone. Among all the functions of our cell phones, cameras are the ones we use the most daily. We don’t need to be in front of a special day to take snapshots, since at any time we may need to take a quick photo with the mobile to demonstrate something or simply to remember it.
Best ways to take instant photos on Android
That is why in the Android operating system, we came across an option that makes the camera system much more advantageous. With this integrated option, we will get the mobile to go directly from being locked to activate the camera and even take a picture of what we are pointing the lens at. In this way, we are somehow returning to the classic analog camera button or at least a simile.
We have to go back in time to come across the arrival of this function of quick photos, which occurred in Android after the arrival of this feature with EMUI 8, the driver of this advantage in Android phones. What was initially an added point of the software, has been standardized to make it possible for any smartphone to be able to take photos in tenths of a second and even with the screen off.
How to configure camera shortcut on your phone?
To get the camera to open quickly by simply pressing the power button twice on Android the process is simple. This is what we will do if we have a mobile that does not add customization layers, as is the case of Motorola, Nokia, or the Google Pixel:
First, we will access the Settings of the phone, looking for among the options the System button. Then we have to choose the Gestures option, which may be somewhat different in Motorola and Nokia phones, plus the aesthetic appearance will depend on the version of Android. To finish we just have to activate the option “Open the camera quickly” and we can proceed to lock the phone to try to open the camera by simply pressing twice on the power button.
On Xiaomi
Xiaomi phones that have MIUI 11 onwards, also have the option that allows us to run the camera with the buttons of the phone. This time the options are even more advanced, giving more personality to the operation of the fast camera in Xiaomi. An option that, unlike other options, is available from entry-level to high-end.
To activate this feature on our Xiaomi phone, what we will do is enter the Settings of the mobile, and then first access the tab called Additional settings. Once inside, we have to choose “Button shortcuts” and to continue with the configuration we will choose “Run camera” From this small menu of possibilities we will be able to choose how we want the camera to come into operation, choosing between:
- Double-tap on the power button.
- Press and hold the power button.
- Press and hold the menu button (only for mobiles with capacitive buttons).
- Press and hold the back button (only for mobiles with capacitive buttons).
- Press and hold the power and home button at the same time.
On Samsung
In case we have a mobile with One UI, we will also be able to activate this function, this time being present in all versions of One UI that exist. Intending to expand the photographic possibilities of cell phones, the Korean manufacturer introduced this feature with the name change in its layer and everything suggests that it will continue to be present for a long time.
To use it, we just have to go into the Settings of our mobile, scroll down to find Advanced functions. Among the myriad of quick options that Samsung presents us in their phones, will be Quick launch, from which we will activate this useful tool. As in other cases, we can already put it into practice, blocking the phone to press twice on the power button and the camera appears.
On OnePlus
In the phones of the OnePlus firm, we also have an added option to be able to use the camera instantly without first going through the sections of the system. This will lead us to be able to customize a gesture through different letters with the screen off.
To complete it, what we have to do is go into Settings, then we tap on Buttons and gestures, continuing with Quick gestures and selecting the drawing of the letter we prefer to open the mobile camera, as well as other functions that we could do without unlocking and not even turn on the screen.
On Huawei
The Huawei mobile brand is one of those that offers more possibilities to customize the camera and how could it be otherwise, also helps us to take photos faster. This time your option comes to all Huawei phones but unlike what we saw before, we will not only be able to open the camera, as we are going to tell you:
In this case, the steps are simpler, since we only have to enter the camera that comes by default on our Huawei mobile. Then at the top, we access the adjustment wheel that appears to us and we slide between the possibilities until we find “Quick snapshot”. By checking the option we will see that a panel appears where we will have to choose the behavior that performs the quick option.
We can section that when pressing twice the volume down button, a photo is taken quickly so as not to lose a tenth of a second to capture the image or, as in other manufacturers, we start the camera app.
Is there a way to add the option to other phones?
The phones that currently do not have an option to activate the camera quickly are those of OPPO, Realme, and Vivo among the most prominent. Their customization layers do not have the advantage among their camera options or system settings and therefore we do not have a native way to make it possible. We might think that by installing an extra camera app the option will appear on our mobile, but however, this is not possible since it requires system permissions.
