How can I quickly launch the camera from the lock screen?
IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.
Valid for
- Android™ 9 or higher
Note: In the premium model of the following products, the Camera app function has been merged into Photography Pro basic mode. (Xperia® 1 III, Xperia 5 III, Xperia PRO-I, Xperia 1 IV, Xperia 5 IV and Xperia 1 V).
Overview of ways to quickly launch the camera from the lock screen
- Press the camera key
- Swipe or touch and hold the camera icon from the lock screen.
- Press the power key twice.
- Smart launch (Xperia 1, Xperia 5, and Xperia XZ3): Swiftly lift your device in landscape mode and aim the camera toward an object. Refer to the article What is Smart launch? for more information.
Launch the camera by pressing the camera key
If your device has a dedicated camera key, you can use it to launch the camera quickly. This feature is activated by default.
- When the screen is in sleep mode or from the lock screen, press and hold down the camera key until the camera launches.
You can adjust this feature so that the camera will launch and capture a picture or turn the feature off by going into Camera → Settings → Launch with camera key.
Launch the camera by swiping or touching and holding the camera icon
- To activate the screen, briefly press the power key.
- To launch the camera, swipe the camera icon upwards.
Note: For the following products, launch the camera, touch and hold (Camera icon) from the lock screen.
(Xperia 1 IV, Xperia 10 IV, Xperia 5 IV, Xperia 1 V and Xperia 10 V)
(Xperia 1 IV, Xperia 10 IV, Xperia 5 IV, Xperia 1 V and Xperia 10 V)
Launch the camera by pressing the power key twice
Android 12 or higher
- Find and tap Settings → System → Gestures → Quickly open camera/ Jump to camera.
- Press the power key twice when the screen is in sleep mode or from the lock screen.
Android 9, 10, 11
- Find and tap Settings → System → Gestures → Power key behavior → Launch camera.
- Press the power key twice when the screen is in sleep mode or from the lock screen.