Put the phone on a tripod, stay on the 1x lens, turn the flash off, and start with the longest Night Mode exposure. Then shorten it as the aurora brightens and starts to move. Setup takes a few minutes in the field. One thing matters more than any setting: the phone cannot be in your hand. Exposures of 5 to 10 seconds "produce total blur from hand movement," according to Aurora Norway.

What you need

  • A phone with a night mode

    On iPhone, Night Mode arrived with the iPhone 11, per JVN Photo and TelescopeGuides. Finding the Universe describes its automatic workflow from the iPhone 12 onward.

  • A mini phone tripod with a phone clamp

    Aurora Norway calls it non-negotiable. If you have no tripod, Finding the Universe suggests propping the phone against something solid.

  • A Bluetooth remote shutter

    Aurora Norway prices these at under €10. The 3-second self-timer does the same job.

  • A power bank

    Visit Norway warns that batteries drain much faster in freezing temperatures.

  • A microfiber cloth

    TelescopeGuides notes that smudges on the lens are magnified in long exposures.

iPhone, step by step

  • Mount the phone on the tripod

    Once the phone is still, the Night Mode slider offers longer times than it does handheld.

  • Turn off the flash

    The flash icon shows as off. TelescopeGuides notes that the flash blocks Night Mode.

  • Turn off Live Photos

    Live Photos also blocks Night Mode, per TelescopeGuides.

  • Select the 1x lens

    The 1x lens handles low light better than 0.5x. Use 0.5x only when the aurora fills the sky. Never pinch-zoom between lenses.

  • Turn on ProRAW if your phone offers it

    Aurora Norway says Pro models from the iPhone 15 onward produce 48-megapixel RAW files, which leave more room for editing.

  • Wait for the moon icon to turn yellow

    Night Mode switches itself on in low light. The yellow icon means it is active.

  • Lock focus on a bright star or distant light

    Press and hold until AE/AF Lock appears, so the camera stops hunting for focus.

  • Tap the moon icon and set the exposure time

    Dragging the slider fully right gives 10 to 30 seconds on a tripod. See the table below for when to use less.

  • Fire with the remote or the 3-second timer

    The shot should show green bands with some texture, not a smooth wash.

What the aurora is doing Exposure Source
Faint, slow 10 to 30 seconds TelescopeGuides
Moderate 5 to 15 seconds TelescopeGuides
Bright or fast-moving 3 to 8 seconds TelescopeGuides
Kp 6 or higher 2 to 3 seconds Aurora Norway

To keep stars as points rather than streaks, JVN Photo recommends staying under about 20 seconds. Night Mode sets the ISO itself, and the stock Camera app gives you no easy way to change it. If you want manual control over shutter, ISO and focus, Aurora Norway lists Halide and NightCap. The research gives no specific settings for either app.

On Android

The tripod, flash-off and main-lens rules are the same as on iPhone. Only the camera mode changes.

Samsung Galaxy. Open Camera, swipe to More, and choose Night Mode. You can adjust the exposure time in its settings. For manual control, Aurora Norway suggests the Expert RAW app at ISO 800 to 1600 with a 6 to 8 second shutter.

Google Pixel. Use Night Sight for slow displays. Pro mode at ISO 800 and 8 seconds is Aurora Norway's manual setting. Avoid astrophotography mode: it stacks frames over several minutes, which smears an aurora that is moving.

Other Android phones. If the built-in night mode is weak, Finding the Universe recommends the free Open Camera app. Set the shutter to 5 to 15 seconds and leave ISO on auto.

When the shot comes out wrong

The phone moved. Check that the clamp is tight, then trigger with the remote or the timer instead of tapping the screen.

The exposure is too long for how bright or fast the display is. Halve the time and shoot again. Keep shortening until the bands show texture. TelescopeGuides puts it this way: "no single exposure fits every display."

Aurora Norway says phones struggle at Kp 0 to 1 and give grainy results at Kp 2 to 3, even on flagship models. Kp 4 to 5 is its best range for phones. Try a longer exposure, and accept that phone sensors are noisier than dedicated cameras.

Cold drains batteries fast. Visit Norway advises closing background apps, keeping the phone warm in a pocket between shots, and carrying a power bank.

You now have a phone set up to record the display you are watching, with an exposure you can adjust as the aurora changes. Moving up to a dedicated camera and full manual settings is covered in aurora photography for beginners. If you want to know when the next strong night is coming, the options are compared in aurora forecast apps.