Whether you’re running a Samsung Galaxy S21, Z Fold 3, or one of the other best Samsung phones, the Camera app on Galaxy smartphones contains some tucked-away features that make taking selfies a cinch.
Taking selfies on Samsung Galaxy phones the regular way isn’t exactly difficult — you simply tap the shutter button, like on any other phone — but Samsung has some cool additional methods that make it even easier, especially when taking group shots. For instance, you can simply hold up your hand to trigger the camera, or say “cheese.”
Want to see it in action? Check out the below TikTok from Chelseatherepairgirl.
@chelseatherepairgirl ♬ original sound – Chelsea Lynn
Cool, right? And it really is very simple to do — in fact I spent half of my Christmas taking selfies with my family this way. So here’s how to activate hidden selfie features on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
1. Open the Camera app, then tap the cog in the top-left corner.
2. Scroll to the bottom and tap “Shooting methods.”
3. Tap the toggles next to “Voice commands” and “Show palm” to turn the features on.
And that’s it. To test it out, try saying “smile,” “cheese,” capture,” or “shoot” to take a photo — this works with both the front and rear-facing cameras. To take a selfie or record a video using gestures, simply hold up your palm to the front-facing camera.
If you want to take your selfie game even further, check out our guide to the best ring lights for phones. Or if you want to get the most out of Google Assistant on Android, see what we think are the best Google Assistant commands. And whether your phone is brand new or you’ve had it a while, take a look at what we think is the first app you should install on your Samsung Galaxy phone.
Dale Fox is How-to Editor at Tom’s Guide, helping people get the most out of their technology. He’s been a tech nerd ever since childhood, when he used the money from his first job as a paperboy to buy a subscription to GamesMaster magazine, and has a whole room at home dedicated as a shrine to the countless gadgets he’s purchased over the decades. Dale was previously a presenter, reporter and editor in China, where he also worked as a copywriter for OnePlus at its Shenzhen HQ.