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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteOn Galaxy phones running One UI 4 or later, Samsung says Live Focus was incorporated into Portrait mode. On older phones, the camera may still call it Live Focus. Both names refer to a portrait effect that blurs the background to make the subject stand out, but available modes, effects, and controls depend on your phone and software.
Find Live Focus or Portrait mode
Open the Camera app and check the main mode strip for Portrait. If it is not there, tap More or open the camera’s mode list. Samsung describes Live Focus as part of Portrait on devices with One UI 4 and later; older Galaxy phones may retain a separate Live Focus option. The layout and availability vary by model, so check the modes shown in your own Camera app. Samsung’s Portrait mode guide and One UI 4 guidance describe the naming change.
Take a Portrait photo
- Open Camera and select Portrait. It may appear on the main mode strip or under More, depending on the phone.
- Choose an effect. Tap the effect control in the viewfinder and select an option available on your device. Samsung lists options that can include Blur, Studio, High-key mono, Low-key mono, Backdrop, and Color point; not every Galaxy offers every effect.
- Adjust the effect and frame the subject. Use the on-screen slider to set the effect strength, then compose the shot.
- Take the photo. If your older phone has a separate Live Focus mode, select it and use its blur or effect controls instead.
For a legacy example, Samsung’s Galaxy S9/S9+ instructions say to open Camera, tap Live Focus, adjust background blur, and capture the image. Samsung’s S9/S9+ instructions also describe changing the blur afterward in Gallery with Adjust Background Blur; the control is not guaranteed to appear on other phones or images.
Record portrait-style video
- Open Camera and tap More.
- Select Portrait Video or, on some older software, Live Focus Video.
- Choose an effect offered on your phone and adjust its strength with the slider.
- Start recording.
Samsung’s documented video workflow lists effects such as Blur, Big circle, Color point, and Glitch, but availability varies by device and mode. If neither video mode appears in the Camera app, your phone may not support it. Samsung’s camera-mode instructions cover both naming conventions.
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Choose the mode and effect your phone supports
| Camera option | What it does | Availability and adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| Live Focus photo | Applies background blur around a portrait subject. | Typically the label on older phones. Samsung documents post-capture blur adjustment for Galaxy S9/S9+ images; other models may differ. Samsung S9/S9+ guidance |
| Portrait photo | Provides the newer home for the Live Focus-style effect, with additional effects on supported devices. | Samsung says Live Focus was incorporated into Portrait on devices with One UI 4 and later. Effects and post-capture controls vary by phone. Samsung Portrait guidance |
| Live Focus Video or Portrait Video | Applies an effect while recording portrait-style video. | The label, effects, and availability depend on model and software. Check More in Camera. Samsung camera-mode instructions |
Get a cleaner background blur
- Use adequate light. Samsung recommends sufficient light in its guidance; dim conditions can make the effect less dependable.
- Keep the subject and phone steady. Samsung warns that movement by either can interfere with the blur.
- Give the subject some separation from the background. Samsung’s Galaxy S9/S9+ support page suggests placing the subject about 1–1.5 m from the lens. This is guidance for that legacy model, not a universal distance rule for every Galaxy camera. Samsung S9/S9+ support and Samsung UK’s camera-mode guidance
- Watch for difficult edges. Thin or transparent subjects, similar colors or patterns between subject and background, and plain subjects or backgrounds can make separation less accurate.
Why Live Focus may seem to be missing
First look for Portrait on the main Camera screen, then check More or the mode list. Samsung says the Live Focus experience moved into Portrait on devices with One UI 4 and later, which explains why the old name may disappear after a software change. If neither mode is available, the feature may not be supported on that model or in that software configuration. Samsung’s support pages do not provide an exhaustive compatibility list for every Galaxy model, region, or software build, so consult your model-specific Samsung manual or support page for confirmation.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Adjust blur after taking a photo
Some Live Focus or Portrait images provide a way to change background blur after capture. Samsung documents this for Galaxy S9/S9+ Live Focus images and in its Galaxy S21 Portrait guidance, but the option depends on the device, shooting mode, and image. Open the photo in Gallery or the photo-editing flow and look for a background-blur adjustment; if it is not shown, that image or phone may not support it. Samsung’s S9/S9+ guide and Samsung’s Portrait guidance
Quick Recap
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- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
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