How to Take a Passport Photo at Home (2026) — Any Phone
By Easy Photo Passport · Updated October 10, 2026
You can take a passport photo at home with any modern iPhone or Android phone — no studio needed. Stand about 3 feet from a plain white wall, face a window for soft even light, keep the camera at eye level, and turn off any beauty or portrait filters. Then crop the photo to the size your country requires (2×2 inches for the US) with the head correctly positioned. A tool can do the crop and background for you.
What you need
- Any smartphone from the last 6 years (iPhone or Android).
- A plain white or light wall with no decorations or shadows.
- Soft, even light — a window with indirect daylight is ideal.
- A tripod, a stack of books, or a helper to hold the phone steady.
Step by step
- Turn off filters and beauty mode. On iPhone, disable Smart HDR and Photographic Styles; on Android, turn off Beauty/Face Retouch and AI scene modes.
- Set the camera to a standard photo (not Portrait mode — the background must be sharp).
- Stand about 3 feet from a plain white wall, with at least 1.5 feet between you and the wall to avoid shadows.
- Face a window so light hits your face evenly from the front.
- Put the phone at eye level on a tripod or books, or have someone hold it.
- Look straight at the lens, neutral expression, mouth closed, both eyes open, no glasses.
- Use the timer and the rear camera if possible — it is sharper and applies less automatic smoothing.
- Take several shots and pick the sharpest, most evenly lit one.
iPhone vs Android
Both work. iPhones apply Smart HDR and Photographic Styles by default; Android phones apply their own AI scene enhancement and face retouch. On either, the key is to disable those features and use the rear camera. For a detailed iPhone walk-through, see our iPhone passport photo guide.
Cropping to the right size
A raw phone photo is not the right shape or head size for a passport. You need to crop it to a square 2×2 inches (for the US) with the head at 50–69% of the frame height, on a plain white background. You can do this by hand, or upload the photo to our tool, which sets the exact size, head position, and white background and gives you a digital file plus a print-ready sheet. Preview free, pay only if you are happy.
Frequently asked questions
Can I take a passport photo at home with my phone?
Yes. Any modern iPhone or Android phone has enough resolution. Use a plain white wall, soft even light from a window, keep the camera at eye level, turn off filters, and crop to the required size.
Can I take my own passport photo?
Yes. There is no rule that a passport photo must be taken by a professional in most countries. It must simply meet the size, background, lighting, and expression requirements. (Canada is an exception — one printed copy needs the photographer's details on the back.)
What background do I need for a passport photo at home?
A plain white or off-white wall with no shadows, patterns, or objects for US photos. Stand far enough from the wall to avoid casting a shadow, or use a tool that replaces the background.
What phone settings should I turn off?
Beauty/face-retouch filters, Portrait mode, and HDR/AI scene enhancement. On iPhone that means Smart HDR and Photographic Styles; on Android, Beauty mode and AI scene optimizer.
How do I get the photo to the right 2x2 size?
Crop it to a square with the head at 50–69% of the frame height. The easiest way is to upload it to a tool that sets the exact 2×2 inch size, head position, and white background automatically.
Is the front or rear camera better for a passport photo?
The rear camera is sharper and applies less automatic smoothing, so it is the safer choice. If you use the front camera, disable beauty and HDR features first.
Free photo tools
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