# How to Shoot RAW on Android: Pro Mode, Open Camera & Best Apps

> How to shoot RAW on Android: turn on DNG in stock Pro mode, enable Camera2 in Open Camera, or use a multi-frame RAW app, plus what RAW is good for.

Source: https://www.sensepose.com/blog/how-to-shoot-raw-on-android
Updated: 2026-10-12

To shoot RAW on Android, open your stock camera, switch to **Pro** (or **Manual**) mode, go into the camera settings and look for **Image format**, **Save RAW copies** or **RAW + JPEG**. Turn it on, and every Pro-mode shot also saves a `.dng` file next to the JPEG. Whether that toggle exists depends on your brand and model. Many budget phones hide it or leave it out entirely. If yours does, a third-party app like **Open Camera** can usually save DNG through the Camera2 API. And if what you really want is RAW's latitude without editing every file, a **RAW burst-merge camera** may suit you better than single-frame DNG.

The rest of this guide covers how to check support, where the toggle lives on each brand, Open Camera, the other apps worth knowing, and what RAW actually does well (and badly) on a small sensor.

## Step 1: check whether your phone can shoot RAW

On Android, RAW capture comes from the **Camera2 API**, the interface apps use to talk to the camera hardware. Every phone reports one of four hardware support levels, and that level decides most of what follows:

| Camera2 level | What it means for RAW |
|---|---|
| **LEGACY** | Old compatibility layer. No RAW in third-party apps. |
| **LIMITED** | Some manual controls. RAW only if the phone also reports the `RAW` capability, which is rare. |
| **FULL** | Full manual control. RAW is common but not guaranteed. |
| **LEVEL_3** | Full control plus reprocessing. RAW is almost always available. |

To check, install a free tool such as **Camera2 API Probe** from Google Play. It lists the level for each lens and whether the `RAW` capability is reported. Lots of budget phones only expose LIMITED or LEGACY to apps, even when the stock camera can save RAW. Brands often keep that access private to their own app. Check the stock camera first, every time.

RAW support is also per lens. The main camera may offer DNG while the ultrawide and telephoto don't.

## Step 2: turn on RAW in your stock camera

### Samsung Galaxy

1. Open **Camera** and swipe to **More** > **Pro**.
2. Tap the **settings gear** > **Advanced picture options** (on some One UI versions it's **Picture formats**).
3. Turn on **RAW copies (Pro)** or **Save RAW copies**.

From then on, Pro-mode shots save a DNG alongside the JPEG. Samsung also offers **Expert RAW**, a separate app that merges several frames into a "linear DNG" with more latitude. Samsung limits it mostly to S-series and some foldables, though, so most Galaxy A and M phones can't install it. If you have an A-series phone, our [Expert RAW alternative for Galaxy A](/blog/expert-raw-alternative-samsung-galaxy-a) post covers what you can use instead. For a full settings walkthrough on a popular budget model, see [Samsung A16 camera settings](/blog/samsung-a16-camera-settings-best-quality).

### Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO

Open **Camera** > **More** > **Pro**. In HyperOS/MIUI, a **RAW** toggle usually sits at the top of the viewfinder, or under the settings menu as **RAW format**. Mid-range Redmi Note models generally have it. Entry-level Redmi A and C models often don't. The [Redmi Note 14 camera settings](/blog/redmi-note-14-camera-settings-best-quality) guide shows the rest of the useful toggles.

### Realme, Oppo and OnePlus

Switch to **Pro** (sometimes called **Expert**), then tap the menu or gear and look for **RAW** or **Image format: RAW + JPEG**. On some ColorOS builds the RAW button sits in Pro mode's top bar. Cheaper Realme C and Oppo A models commonly leave it out.

### Infinix, Tecno and itel (Transsion)

Look under **Pro** for a **RAW** switch in the top bar or settings. Support varies widely. Some higher-end Infinix and Tecno phones have it, but most budget Transsion models have neither a stock RAW toggle nor Camera2 RAW for third-party apps.

### Google Pixel

Open **Camera** > **Settings** > **Advanced** > **RAW/JPEG control**. Then pick **RAW + JPEG** from the quick settings. Pixel DNGs come out of the multi-frame HDR+ pipeline, which is a big part of why they edit so well.

Can't find the toggle? It probably isn't there. That's normal on phones under about $200.

## Step 3: shoot RAW with Open Camera

[Open Camera](/blog/open-camera-vs-ai-pro-mode) is free, open-source and the most widely used way to get DNG from phones whose stock app doesn't offer it. It needs Camera2 RAW support at the hardware level (see Step 1).

1. Install **Open Camera** from Google Play.
2. Open **Settings** (gear) > **Camera API** > choose **Camera2 API**.
3. Go to **Settings** > **Photo settings** > **Image format** > choose **DNG (RAW)** or **JPEG + DNG**.
4. Optional: set **ISO** and **exposure time** manually from the on-screen controls.

A greyed-out or missing RAW option means the phone isn't exposing RAW to apps. Expect some modes to stop working while RAW is on. Open Camera's own HDR, NR (noise reduction) and other multi-shot modes don't combine with DNG output, because a DNG is a single frame by definition.

## Other honest options for RAW on Android

| App | Best for | RAW type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| **Stock Pro mode** | Simplest path | Single-frame DNG (multi-frame on Pixel) | Brand and model dependent |
| **Open Camera** | Free, no ads | Single-frame DNG | Needs Camera2 RAW |
| **ProShot** | Polished manual UI | Single-frame DNG | Paid; Camera2 dependent |
| **MotionCam Pro** | RAW **video** and burst RAW stills | Multi-frame / CinemaDNG | Paid; heavy storage use |
| **Lightroom Mobile camera** | Shoot and edit in one app | DNG | Pro capture modes partly paid |
| **GCam ports** | Pixel-style HDR+ processing | Merged DNG | Only where a stable port exists for your phone |
| **SensePose** | Finished photos, no editing (not a RAW app) | None (single frame, enhanced on-device) | 5 enhanced photos free, then a one-time unlock |

On the RAW-video question, **MotionCam Pro** is the usual answer on Android. It records uncompressed RAW video on supported phones, but files get very large quickly. GCam ports can produce excellent merged DNGs on phones they support well. On many others they crash or [stop working](/blog/gcam-port-not-working-alternative). The [GCam vs AI camera app](/blog/gcam-vs-ai-camera-app) comparison explains why.

### Where SensePose fits

SensePose takes the opposite approach: no DNG to edit at all. It doesn't shoot RAW or merge a burst. It takes a single photo and enhances it on the phone as you take it, with better colour and tone in a Natural or Punchy look, a mild on-device denoise for low light, and AI face enhance on supported phones. It's point-and-shoot, so you get a finished photo instead of RAW latitude. If you specifically want DNG files to grade in Lightroom, a DNG app from the table above is the right tool. SensePose runs on Android 8.0+; the first 5 enhanced photos are free, then one small payment unlocks enhanced photos forever, with no subscription. It helps most on budget and mid-range phones; flagships with strong stock processing see a smaller gain.

## What RAW is actually good for

A [RAW photo](/blog/what-is-a-raw-photo) is the sensor data before the phone's image processor bakes it into a JPEG. That gives you:

- **Freely adjustable white balance.** Fix orange indoor light or blue shade without the colour falling apart.
- **Exposure and highlight recovery.** A bright sky that looks blown out in the JPEG often still holds detail in the DNG.
- **Shadow latitude.** You can lift dark areas further before banding shows.
- **No baked-in processing.** No over-sharpening halos, no "watercolour" noise reduction smearing hair and grass.

The costs are just as real:

- **File size.** A 12 MP DNG is around 20–25 MB, and 50 MP sensors produce bigger files still.
- **It needs editing.** Straight out of the camera a DNG looks flat and noisy. That's normal.
- **Single frames are noisy.** See the next section, because it matters most on budget phones.

## Single-frame DNG vs multi-frame RAW burst merge

This is the part that trips up most first-time RAW shooters. On a small phone sensor, **a single RAW frame is often noisier than the stock JPEG**. The stock camera usually merges several frames and then applies noise reduction. Your DNG is one frame with neither.

A multi-frame burst merge works differently. It aligns several RAW frames and averages them, which cuts random noise while keeping RAW's tonal latitude. That's how Pixel's HDR+ DNGs, Expert RAW and burst-merge apps get cleaner results than a single-frame DNG from the same sensor.

| | Single-frame DNG | Multi-frame RAW merge |
|---|---|---|
| Noise in dim light | High | Much lower |
| Highlight/shadow range | Good | Better |
| Moving subjects | Freezes one moment | Needs alignment; can ghost |
| Editing needed | Yes, always | Less |
| Best for | Daylight, still scenes, heavy grading | Indoors, night, mixed light |

My rule of thumb: on a budget sensor, single-frame RAW is a poor choice for night shots and fast motion. At night you'd need a long shutter or high ISO, and both hurt. Motion makes it worse. For those scenes, use a multi-frame approach. Our guides to [night photos on Android](/blog/how-to-take-night-photos-android) and the [best low-light camera apps](/blog/best-low-light-night-camera-app) go deeper, and [fixing blurry photos](/blog/how-to-fix-blurry-photos) covers the shutter-speed side.

## How to edit DNG files on Android

- **Adobe Lightroom Mobile.** The best all-round RAW editor on Android. It has full white balance, exposure, highlight/shadow, curves, masking and profile control. The core editing tools are free; some features need a subscription.
- **Snapseed.** Free, and it opens DNG files. Its RAW Develop tool lets you adjust exposure, white balance and highlights from the RAW data. It's a light RAW editor rather than a full one, with no profiles and limited batch work, but it's excellent for quick fixes.
- **Anything else.** Honestly, Lightroom and Snapseed cover most people.

A good starting edit: set white balance first, then pull highlights down, lift shadows, add a little noise reduction, and only then add contrast and sharpening.

## When to shoot RAW (and when not to)

Shoot RAW when the scene is still, the light is decent or tricky in colour, and you plan to edit: landscapes, architecture, product shots, sunsets. Skip single-frame RAW for kids, pets, sport and dark interiors on a budget phone. A multi-frame mode will usually give a better photo with no editing. For more on manual controls, see [what is Pro mode on a camera](/blog/what-is-pro-mode-camera).

## FAQ

### How do I shoot in RAW on Android?

Open your stock camera, switch to Pro or Manual mode, and enable RAW in settings. Look for "Image format", "Save RAW copies" or "RAW + JPEG". If your phone has no such toggle, install Open Camera, set Camera API to Camera2, and choose DNG under Photo settings > Image format. Some budget phones support neither.

### How do I shoot in RAW on Samsung?

In the Samsung Camera app, go to More > Pro, open settings, and turn on "RAW copies" (under Advanced picture options or Picture formats, depending on One UI version). Pro shots then save a DNG with the JPEG. Samsung's separate Expert RAW app gives multi-frame DNGs but is limited mostly to S-series and foldables, not Galaxy A models.

### What is the best Android camera app for shooting RAW images?

For free single-frame DNG, Open Camera is the standard choice, and ProShot is a polished paid alternative. Both need your phone to expose Camera2 RAW. If you want a finished photo without editing, a multi-frame mode (Pixel's HDR+, Expert RAW where offered) is a better fit than single-frame DNG on budget phones. SensePose doesn't shoot RAW; it enhances a single photo on the phone as you take it, for people who'd rather skip RAW altogether.

### What is the best app for editing RAW photos on Android?

Adobe Lightroom Mobile is the most complete RAW editor on Android, with full white balance, tone, masking and profile controls. Its core editing is free. Snapseed is a free, lighter option that also handles DNG well for quick edits.

### Is Snapseed a RAW editor?

Yes, in a limited way. Snapseed opens DNG files and its RAW Develop tool adjusts exposure, white balance, highlights and shadows using the RAW data. It lacks camera profiles, batch editing and advanced masking, so Lightroom Mobile is better for serious RAW work.

### What is the best Android camera app for shooting RAW video?

MotionCam Pro is the main option for RAW video on Android. It records uncompressed RAW footage on phones whose Camera2 implementation supports it. Expect very large files and a desktop editing workflow, so it suits filmmakers more than casual users.

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