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On iPhone 13 Pro, HDR photos are processed automatically; there is no separate photo-HDR switch to turn on. To record HDR video, enable the HDR Video control in the Camera settings. The phone supports Dolby Vision HDR recording up to 4K at 60 frames per second.
The quickest way to avoid confusion is to separate three things: how the camera captures an image, how the phone displays HDR content, and how a video behaves when it is edited or shared. The photo process is automatic, video capture has a setting, and compatible playback depends on the destination. Here is where to find the recording control and what it does—and does not—change.
How do I turn on HDR video on iPhone 13 Pro?
Use the Camera settings to enable HDR for new video recordings. Apple’s iPhone guide identifies the control as HDR Video; depending on the software presentation, Apple may label it simply HDR. This is a video-recording control, not a general switch that turns every camera feature into HDR.
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Open Settings on the iPhone.
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Tap Camera.
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Tap Record Video.
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Turn on HDR Video (or HDR, if that is the label shown).
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Return to the Camera app and record as usual.
The steps enable HDR capture for video you record after changing the setting. You do not need to choose a separate HDR mode in the Camera app according to Apple’s documented path: the control is in Settings under Camera and Record Video. If you are looking for a control while taking a still photo, that is a different feature and does not use this video setting.
The setting controls HDR video capture. Apple’s technical specifications say iPhone 13 Pro can record Dolby Vision HDR video up to 4K at 60 fps. Apple also lists HEVC among the model’s recorded video formats. Those are the model’s stated capabilities; the available recording options shown on a particular phone can depend on its software presentation. The “up to” specification describes the model’s maximum stated HDR recording capability; it does not mean every clip must be recorded at 4K or 60 fps.
Apple’s “Change video recording settings on iPhone” guide documents the HDR control. The iPhone 13 Pro technical specifications identify Dolby Vision HDR and the maximum supported resolution and frame rate. In practical terms, switching HDR Video on enables HDR recording; it does not change the separate setting or behavior used for still photos.
Why can’t I find a Smart HDR switch for photos?
Because iPhone 13 Pro does not have a separate photo-HDR switch for users to enable. Its camera uses Smart HDR 4, and Apple describes HDR photo processing as automatic when it is effective. If a search result or older instructions tell you to open Camera settings and turn on “Smart HDR,” do not assume those steps apply to this model.
Apple’s general explanation is that HDR helps with high-contrast scenes by combining multiple photos taken rapidly at different exposures. That processing can preserve detail across bright highlights and dark shadows. On iPhone 13 Pro, Smart HDR 4 is listed as a built-in camera feature for the rear camera system and TrueDepth camera. The phone applies the photo processing when appropriate; a user does not need to select an HDR photo mode before taking a picture.
Apple’s instructions for manually controlling Smart HDR apply to certain older model groups, including iPhone 11 models, iPhone SE (2nd generation), and iPhone 12. They are not instructions to follow on iPhone 13 Pro. If you are trying to improve a photo with bright skies and dark foregrounds, use the Camera app normally rather than looking for an “Enable Smart HDR” setting. The absence of that switch is expected, not an indication that the phone lacks HDR photo processing.
It is helpful to distinguish automatic photo processing from user-controlled capture. In a high-contrast scene, Smart HDR combines multiple exposures to help balance bright and dark areas. That description explains what HDR does, but it does not promise that every photo will look identical or that every scene will require the same processing. The important model-specific point is that Apple lists Smart HDR 4 as part of the iPhone 13 Pro camera system and describes the photo behavior as automatic.
What is the difference between HDR photos and HDR video?
On this phone, photo HDR is automatic image processing, while video HDR is a recording option. The distinction matters because enabling HDR Video does not add a missing control for still photos. Conversely, the automatic photo feature does not mean that video HDR is necessarily enabled: check the video setting if you want to record HDR video.
Photos: automatic processing
For still images, the camera applies Smart HDR 4 when appropriate. There is no need to switch a photo mode on before taking a high-contrast shot. Apple explains HDR photos as a rapid series of photos at different exposures that are blended to help retain detail in high-contrast conditions. The useful takeaway is simple: take the photo normally, and do not expect to find a dedicated photo-HDR toggle on iPhone 13 Pro.
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Video: a setting for recordings
For video, the HDR control determines whether recordings use the phone’s supported HDR video format. Apple says supported iPhones record Dolby Vision HDR for color and contrast; iPhone 13 Pro’s specifications state support up to 4K at 60 fps. The control is under Settings > Camera > Record Video, not in the instructions for manually toggling photo Smart HDR.
Apple lists HEVC among the iPhone 13 Pro’s recorded video formats. That specification is useful context when thinking about files and editing, but the fact that a format appears in the specifications does not establish that every app or sharing service will preserve HDR characteristics. Treat capture, editing, export, and playback as connected but separate stages.
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Yes. Apple lists the iPhone 13 Pro’s 6.1-inch OLED Super Retina XDR display as HDR-capable, with a maximum brightness of 1200 nits for HDR. Apple’s 2021 iPhone 13 Pro technical specifications describe the display capability; the 1200-nit figure is about the screen, not a recording setting or a measurement of the video file.
Capture describes the properties of a recorded file; playback describes whether a screen can show HDR content. A capable display can show supported HDR content, but its specifications do not mean every video is HDR or that every viewer will see an HDR version. Turning on HDR Video affects recording. The HDR-capable display affects how supported content can appear on this phone. Neither fact guarantees that a clip remains HDR after it passes through another device, app, or display.
This distinction also answers a common spec question: 1200 nits does not mean that the iPhone records every video at 1200 nits. It is the display’s maximum brightness in HDR, as described by Apple. Recording capability and screen brightness are different specifications and describe different parts of the experience.
Why can an HDR video look like normal video after sharing?
HDR does not necessarily survive every sharing route as HDR. Apple says HDR video is shared with devices running iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, macOS 10.15.4, or later; devices outside those compatibility conditions receive an SDR version of the same video. SDR means standard dynamic range. The recipient can therefore receive a version that looks less vivid or has a different range of brightness and contrast than the original HDR recording.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteThat means the recipient may see a standard-dynamic-range copy even when the original recording was HDR. The device, operating system, sharing app, and display all affect whether the recipient sees the full HDR result. If HDR appearance matters, confirm the destination supports it and check the version that arrives there rather than judging only by the sender’s original file.
There are two different questions to ask when a clip looks different: was the original captured in HDR, and did the recipient receive and play an HDR version? Confirming that HDR Video was on addresses the first question, but not the second. Apple’s compatibility guidance specifically identifies the operating-system versions above; the destination’s app and screen also matter to what the viewer sees.
Do not assume that every sharing method sends the same version or that every recipient device displays HDR. Apple documents the SDR fallback for devices outside the stated compatibility conditions. The practical expectation is that an HDR-capable original can still be viewed in SDR by a recipient. If the image looks ordinary after sharing, that alone does not prove the original recording was made with HDR turned off.
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How can I edit or export iPhone HDR video?
Apple documents HDR workflows in Clips and iMovie, and a color-managed HDR workflow in Final Cut Pro for Mac. The exact workflow depends on the app and the intended destination, so do not assume every editor or export path preserves Dolby Vision HDR metadata. If keeping HDR is important, use an Apple-documented workflow and check the output rather than relying on the label of the original recording alone.
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Clips and iMovie
Apple identifies both Clips and iMovie as supported options for editing HDR video recorded on an iPhone or iPad. This establishes support in Apple’s apps, not that every third-party app keeps the same HDR characteristics through editing and export. A clip can begin as HDR and still require an HDR-aware path through editing and sharing if you want the final deliverable to retain HDR.
Final Cut Pro on Mac
For Final Cut Pro, Apple documents using a Wide Gamut HDR library and a project color space of Rec. 2020 HLG. Apple recommends exporting an HLG master for highest quality, or sharing to Apple devices with the video codec set to HEVC 10-bit. Those workflow choices are relevant when preserving an HDR deliverable; they are not steps required merely to turn on recording.
This is a different level of workflow from the iPhone setting. The iPhone control tells the camera to capture HDR video. A Final Cut Pro library and project color space concern how the Mac editing project is managed; an export choice concerns the file that leaves the project. If all you want is to record a clip, you do not need to configure Final Cut Pro. If you are preparing a finished HDR video, Apple’s named settings give you a documented starting point.
Apple’s recommendations distinguish a highest-quality HLG master from sharing to Apple devices using HEVC 10-bit. They are options for an HDR workflow, not universal requirements for every viewer or every export. The guidance also does not support a claim that all third-party editors preserve Dolby Vision metadata, so check the behavior of the particular app and destination you plan to use.
What should I check if HDR is not showing as expected?
Separate the problem into capture, playback, and sharing. HDR capture being enabled does not by itself guarantee HDR playback on every screen or an HDR copy at the destination. These checks help identify which part of the path is involved without confusing the automatic photo feature with the video setting.
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You cannot find a photo-HDR setting: that is expected on iPhone 13 Pro. Smart HDR 4 is automatic rather than a separate switch. Apple’s manual-toggle directions concern certain older model groups, not this phone.
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You cannot find the video control: check Settings > Camera > Record Video. Apple documentation may display the control as HDR Video or HDR, depending on the software presentation. This is the setting for video capture.
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A shared clip looks less vivid than the original: the recipient may have received an SDR version because their device or software does not meet Apple’s stated compatibility conditions. The app or display can also affect what is shown. The version on the recipient’s device is not necessarily the same HDR presentation seen on the phone.
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An edited export does not retain HDR: verify that the editing and export workflow supports HDR. Apple documents specific settings for Final Cut Pro, but its guidance does not establish that all third-party apps preserve Dolby Vision metadata. Clips and iMovie are also Apple-documented HDR editing options.
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You are treating a screen specification as a capture setting: the 1200-nit maximum HDR brightness describes the iPhone 13 Pro display. It does not turn HDR capture on, and it does not describe the brightness of a recorded file.
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You are unsure whether the camera is capable of HDR: Apple lists Smart HDR 4 for still photos and Dolby Vision HDR recording up to 4K at 60 fps for video. The photo feature is automatic; the video feature has a setting.
Apple’s relevant references are its support guides “Adjust HDR camera settings on iPhone,” “Change video recording settings on iPhone,” and “Edit HDR video recorded on an iPhone or iPad,” alongside the iPhone 13 Pro technical specifications. The specifications are from Apple’s 2021 iPhone 13 Pro page. Together, they distinguish automatic photo processing, video capture, display capability, sharing compatibility, and supported editing workflows.
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For a still photo, use the Camera app normally: Smart HDR 4 is built in and automatic when effective, so there is no separate photo control to turn on. For a video, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and enable HDR Video (or HDR). That is the only setting change needed to enable the documented HDR recording feature.
For playback, consider the screen and software that will receive the clip. The iPhone 13 Pro itself has an HDR-capable 6.1-inch display with up to 1200 nits of HDR brightness, but Apple’s stated sharing compatibility conditions still matter when the file goes to another device. For editing, Apple documents Clips, iMovie, and a Final Cut Pro Mac workflow using Wide Gamut HDR and Rec. 2020 HLG. The right answer therefore depends on whether the goal is to capture, view, share, or finish a video.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn on HDR on my iPhone 13 Pro?
For video, open Settings > Camera > Record Video and turn on HDR Video (or HDR). HDR photos are processed automatically through Smart HDR 4, so there is no separate photo-HDR switch to enable.
Where is the HDR setting on iPhone 13 Pro?
The user-controlled HDR recording setting is under Settings > Camera > Record Video. It controls video capture, not still-photo HDR.
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Does iPhone 13 Pro automatically take HDR photos?
Yes. Apple lists Smart HDR 4 for the rear camera system and TrueDepth camera, and describes HDR photo processing as automatic when effective.
Can iPhone 13 Pro record Dolby Vision HDR?
Yes. Apple lists Dolby Vision HDR video recording up to 4K at 60 fps for iPhone 13 Pro.
Why does my HDR video look normal after sharing?
Apple says devices outside its stated compatibility conditions—iOS 13.4, iPadOS 13.4, macOS 10.15.4, or later—receive an SDR version. The recipient’s app and display can also affect how the video looks.
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Does the 1200-nit display specification mean the phone records at 1200 nits?
No. Apple’s 1200-nit maximum is the iPhone 13 Pro display’s HDR brightness, not a recording brightness specification.
Which color space should I use for iPhone HDR video in Final Cut Pro?
Apple documents a Wide Gamut HDR library and a Rec. 2020 HLG project color space for Final Cut Pro on Mac. For an HDR deliverable, Apple recommends exporting an HLG master or sharing to Apple devices using HEVC 10-bit.
Can I edit iPhone HDR video in Clips or iMovie?
Apple documents HDR editing workflows in Clips and iMovie for video recorded on an iPhone or iPad.
Do all apps preserve Dolby Vision when I edit or send a clip?
That is not established for all apps. Apple documents HDR workflows for Clips, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro, but those supported Apple workflows should not be treated as proof that every third-party editor or sharing service preserves Dolby Vision metadata.
Does turning on HDR Video change my photos?
No. HDR Video is a video-recording control. Still-photo HDR on iPhone 13 Pro is handled automatically through Smart HDR 4.
The Bottom Line
To record HDR video on iPhone 13 Pro, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video and turn on HDR Video (or HDR). The phone records Dolby Vision HDR up to 4K at 60 fps. For photos, there is no switch to hunt for: Smart HDR 4 is automatic. Remember that screen capability, editing, and sharing determine whether others see the full HDR result.
