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Apple Reference Image is an optional camera mode on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max that records signed sensor data alongside a regular photo. After you develop the reference image in Photos, you can compare it with the photo to inspect changes such as cropping, color adjustments, or generative edits. It offers evidence about the image capture and subsequent changes—not proof of the scene’s full real-world context or the identity and trustworthiness of the person sharing it.
What Apple Reference Image does
A Reference mode capture includes the ordinary photo and additional sensor data used to create a minimally processed reference image. Comparing that image with the regular photo can help show how the final image differs from the camera’s sensor capture. Apple says the reference image may look less contrasty and less saturated because it receives minimal processing.
Apple describes the data as signed and the feature as a way to verify that a photo was taken on a supported iPhone. That comparison can make image changes visible, but it cannot independently establish everything about the scene, what happened before or after the moment of capture, or whether a person who sends the photo is credible.
How to enable and take a Reference mode photo
- On iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max, open Settings > Camera > Reference Image > Add Reference Mode and complete the onscreen setup. The mode is off by default.
- Open Camera and swipe to Reference mode.
- Frame the shot and take the photo with the shutter button or a supported Camera Control.
Apple documents Live Photos, Portraits, and Photographic Styles as usable in Reference mode. Some camera features are unavailable, including Night mode.
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How to develop and compare the reference image
- Open the photo in Photos and tap the Reference badge to develop its reference image. This requires an internet connection. If the device is offline, Apple says development will happen when it next goes online.
- Tap the Reference badge to view the reference image. Tap the image to switch between it and the regular photo.
- Use the Info button to inspect reference data.
To find Reference mode captures in Photos, go to Collections > Media Types > Reference.
Availability and device support
Capture is supported on iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple says developed reference images can be viewed on iPhone, iPad, and Mac running iOS 27, iPadOS 27, or macOS 27 or later. A recipient needs a supported Apple device and operating-system version to view the reference image.
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Apple says Reference mode is unavailable in the European Union. In mainland China, users cannot capture or develop reference images, but they can view reference images shared with them. Availability and platform details are described in Apple Support’s Reference Image instructions.
Storage used by reference data
Apple Support estimates the additional reference data uses the following storage. These are Apple’s estimates, not independent measurements:
| Capture resolution | Undeveloped reference data | Developed reference data |
|---|---|---|
| 12 MP or 24 MP | Approximately 8–10 MB | Approximately 3 MB |
| 48 MP | Approximately 35–40 MB | Approximately 7–8 MB |
How to share a photo with its reference image
Include it by default
On iPhone 18 Pro models, open Settings > Camera > Reference Image and turn on Share Reference Image.
Choose for an individual share
Select the photo, tap Share, open Options, then switch Reference Image on or off.
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Transfer to a computer
To include reference data when transferring to a Mac or PC, enable Transfer Reference Image in the same Reference Image settings.
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Check privacy before sharing
Apple warns that sharing a Reference mode photo before its reference image has been developed may include sensitive device information, such as the serial number, and the full image frame regardless of the zoom setting used when taking the photo. Develop the image before sharing and check the share options so you understand what will be included.
Apple Security Engineering and Architecture and Camera & Photos describe a privacy-preserving processing design in their September 15, 2026 article, Apple Reference Image: A New Approach for Verified Photography. Apple says reference data is processed through Private Cloud Compute and claims that even Apple cannot access image data processed there. Those are Apple’s security and privacy claims, not independent verification. The article notes, “This is not a simple problem to address.”
What to consider before using it
- Enable the mode before taking photos; it is not on by default.
- Allow time and an internet connection to develop the reference image in Photos.
- Account for the additional storage, especially at 48 MP.
- Choose another camera mode if you need an unavailable feature such as Night mode.
- Develop the image and review the sharing options before sending it, particularly if the recipient does not use a supported Apple device.
For Apple’s step-by-step capture and sharing details, see Use Apple Reference Image to capture photos and verify they were taken on iPhone 18 Pro or iPhone 18 Pro Max and View reference images in Photos on iPhone.
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