Apple's newly launched iPhone 14 models include a new Action mode when recording video. Here's everything you need to know about the feature to start taking advantage of it.

action mode iphone 14

What is Action Mode?

In a nutshell, the new Action mode has been designed by Apple to help capture smooth-looking video that adjusts to significant shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when video is being captured in the middle of the action.

According to Apple, it uses the full camera sensor with more overscan and advanced roll correction to achieve this effect.


The feature is built into the ‌iPhone‌'s stock Camera app, and when enabled, should allow you to capture video that looks almost as if you were using a gimbal to do so. Action mode can record in up to 2.8K at 60 fps, and it supports Dolby Vision HDR, ensuring very good video quality.

Which iPhone Models Support Action Mode?

You don't even need a Pro device to make use of the feature, since all ‌iPhone‌ 14 models support Action mode out of the box, including ‌iPhone‌ 14, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max. Here's how to start capturing video with it.

How to Use Action Mode When Shooting Video

  1. Launch the Camera app on your ‌iPhone‌.
  2. Swipe the camera mode menu so that "Video" is highlighted.
    record video button

  3. Tap the Action mode button (it looks like a person running) above the viewfinder so that the icon turns yellow.
  4. When you're ready to start recording, tap the red Record button.
    camera

And that's it. Just toggle it on like so, for great-looking video without having to carry stabilizing equipment like a gimbal.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

japanime Avatar
33 months ago

Does anyone know if there is a technical reason this is not included on the iPhone 13 Pros? Since the 14s have the same processor as the 13 Pros, it seems like this should work fine on them.
There's probably no reason this couldn't work on any iPhone released in the past two or three years. GoPro and other sports cams do with tech that isn't nearly as sophisticated as that found in iOS 16.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
SteveJobs2.0 Avatar
33 months ago

I think it has something to do with the camera being moved up to 48 megapixels? Not sure tho it is really weird...
That’s not it because this feature is also available on iPhone 14 which has a 12 MP camera. It is most likely Apple wanting to give iPhone 14 some unique features even though iPhone 13 Pro could handle this.

Btw, you can always stabilize the video post recording in iMovie.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jav6454 Avatar
33 months ago

I'm guessing it works by throwing away unused parts of a higher resolution video?
Indeed. From what I have seen, it keep the subject in the center and crops away, using AI, the higher resolution to give you a stabilized video.

Quite neat actually and something already done in iMovie long ago; however, now being done on the fly.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
richie510 Avatar
33 months ago
Does anyone know if there is a technical reason this is not included on the iPhone 13 Pros? Since the 14s have the same processor as the 13 Pros, it seems like this should work fine on them.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
840quadra Avatar
33 months ago
Honestly the 13 Pro did really well without this feature. Essentially could run filming kids on a scooter and the finished video looked as good (maybe better) than a GoPro. Be curious to test this out myself tough!
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jav6454 Avatar
33 months ago
The article forgot to mention how this type of video is cropped, which means you don't get full resolution as a normal non-Action video.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Render Front Page Tech

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro's alleged design via Front Page Tech Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone...
iCloud General Feature Redux

iPhone Users Who Pay for iCloud Storage Receive a New Perk

Thursday March 20, 2025 12:01 am PDT by
If you pay for iCloud storage on your iPhone, Apple has a new perk for you, at no additional cost. The new perk is the ability to create invitations in the Apple Invites app for the iPhone, which launched in the App Store last month. In the Apple Invites app, iCloud+ subscribers can create invitations for any occasion, such as birthday parties, graduations, baby showers, and more. Anyone ...
iOS 18

Top 5 New Features Coming in iOS 18.4

Friday March 21, 2025 3:26 pm PDT by
We're not getting new Siri Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.4 as expected, but the upcoming update does have quite a few new additions that will be worth upgrading for. We've rounded up the five best features to look forward to, and if you're not running the beta, you can expect to get access to these in early April. Priority Notifications If you have an iPhone or iPad that supports...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock

iOS 19 Coming in June With These New Features

Thursday March 20, 2025 2:04 pm PDT by
While the first iOS 19 beta is still more than two months away, there are already plenty of rumors about the upcoming software update. Below, we recap the key iOS 19 rumors so far. visionOS-Like Design In January, the YouTube channel Front Page Tech revealed a redesigned Camera app that is allegedly planned for iOS 19. According to Front Page Tech host Jon Prosser, the Camera app...
Generic iOS 18

Apple Seeds iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 Release Candidate With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music and More

Monday March 24, 2025 10:07 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the release candidate versions of upcoming iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released the fourth betas. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. With iOS 18.4, Apple is adding the Priority Notifications...
airpods max 2024 colors

Don't Buy Into Apple's Hype About AirPods Max Gaining Lossless Audio

Monday March 24, 2025 4:24 pm PDT by
Apple today announced that AirPods Max with a USB-C port will be gaining support for lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio with a firmware update next month, alongside the release of iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS 15.4. For context, audio files are typically compressed to keep file sizes smaller. There are lossy compression standards like MP3, and Apple's own Advanced Audio Codec...
Foldable iPhone 2023 Feature Iridescent Search

Foldable iPhone Expected to Launch Next Year, Costing Around $2,000

Monday March 24, 2025 3:43 am PDT by
Apple will launch its long-rumored foldable iPhone next year with a ~$2,000 premium price tag attached, expects well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. Gurman's comments on Apple's launch plans for its first foldable device appeared in the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter. Earlier this month, the reporter said Apple's foldable iPhone could be arriving "as early as 2026,"...
iOS 19 Rounded UI Elements Light

iOS 19: What to Expect From Apple's Dramatic Design Overhaul?

Monday March 24, 2025 9:47 am PDT by
Earlier this month, Bloomberg reported that Apple is planning "one of the most dramatic software overhauls in the company's history" – an update that aims to bring iOS, iPadOS, and macOS into closer visual alignment. The redesign is said to be "loosely based" on visionOS, the software behind Apple's Vision Pro headset, and will reportedly update the look of icons, menus, apps, windows, and...