iPhone taking photos by itself, when a movie is playing

Has anyone else observed their iPhone taking photos when a very specific part of a movie/video is played on the television?


I have had this happen during two different movies — a few months apart. 


Fortunately, there were three other people with me during the first incident and one other person with me when it occurred the second time. 


I heard my iPhone take a photo and paused the television to question why my iPhone had taken a photo by itself.  


We discussed it and, because I had interrupted the movie, I rewound it a little and began streaming the movie again.  


My iPhone took another photo.  I remember thinking it had taken the photo at the exact same moment in the movie, both times.  I tested my hypothesis.  I rewound again and it, indeed, took another photo at the exact same moment in the movie.  


I was able to repeat this numerous times and it amused all of us. 


I am unable to locate the information regarding the first incident, but I do have the information regarding the second incident.  


I was sitting in the exact same seat in my Living Room during both incidents.  


Also, my phone was sitting face down in the same location on the armchair.


During the second incident, we were streaming:

Amazon Prime Video

Series Name:  A Small Light

Episode S1E2

Time photos are taken:  16:52


My phone info:

iPhone 16 Plus

iOS 18.6.2


Thank you for any helpful feedback.  

iPhone 16 Plus, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 5, 2025 07:19 PM

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iPhone taking photos by itself, when a movie is playing

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