Astrophotography has always fascinated people. The ability to capture stunning images of the night sky, with stars and even galaxies, is a dream for many photography enthusiasts. With Google Pixel phones, this dream has become more accessible thanks to the built-in Astro Mode. This feature allows users to capture detailed photos of the night sky without needing expensive, professional equipment. But what if Astro Mode doesn’t automatically trigger? No worries! In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to manually enable Astro Mode on Google Pixel phones.
What is Astro Mode?
Astro Mode is a feature introduced in Google Pixel phones, starting with the Pixel 4 series. It uses the phone’s computational photography capabilities to take long-exposure shots, capturing more light and details in low-light environments. The result is breathtaking photos of the night sky, complete with stars and other celestial bodies.
Astro Mode is an advanced extension of the Night Sight feature on Pixel phones. While Night Sight is designed to enhance low-light photography by combining multiple exposures into a single bright and detailed image, Astro Mode takes this a step further by using much longer exposure times.
Steps to Manually Enable Astro Mode on Google Pixel Phones
The only way to trigger Astrophotography mode on a Pixel phone currently is to place it on a stable surface, point the camera toward the night sky, and switch to Night Sight in the camera app. However, The Google News Telegram channel spotted the ability to manually activate astro mode on Pixel Camera app version 9.5.118.
1) Update Your Google Camera App
The ability to enable astro mode manually on Google Pixel devices is working on the latest Pixel Camera app (v9.5.118). You can wait for Google to push the latest Pixel Camera release through the Play Store, or manually sideload the build by download Pixel Camera app v9.5.118 manually from APKMirror.
2) Activate astrophotography mode in the Pixel Camera app
- Launch the Pixel camera app 9.5.118 and swipe to the Night Sight mode. Astro Mode is an extension of Night Sight, so you need to be in this mode to access it.
- In the quick settings, select Astro in the duration slider (to the extreme right of “Max”).
- Once the frame is set, tap the shutter button, a five-second timer is triggered before the astrophotography mode starts capturing exposures.
Conclusion: Enable Astrophotography Mode Manually
Astro Mode on Google Pixel phones brings the beauty of the night sky to your fingertips, allowing you to capture stunning celestial images with ease. By following the steps outlined above, you can manually enable Astro Mode on Pixel device and take full advantage of this incredible feature. Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or a casual user, this guide will help you make the most of your night sky photography sessions.
