[iPhone Photo Memories] How to Create Custom Movies and Manage Settings

Michael3 Sep 20265 min read

[iPhone Photo Memories] How to Create Custom Movies and Manage Settings

Learn how iPhone Photo Memories works, how to customize memory movies, create custom slide shows, and manage or disable memory notifications to tailor the experience to your preferences.

What Is the "Memories" Feature on iPhone?

The Memories feature in the Photos app uses on-device machine learning to automatically curate photos and videos into slideshow-style movies with music and transitions. The system groups media based on significant events, locations, holidays, people, or pets.

Memories appear under the "For You" or "Collections" tabs in the Photos app, occasionally triggering system notifications to highlight past moments.

How to Access and View Memories

Via "For You" or "Collections": Open the Photos app, navigate to the For You or Collections tab, and scroll to the Memories section. Tap a card to preview or play the slideshow.
View All Memories: Select See All to browse the complete library of automatically generated memory reels.
Playback Controls: Tap the screen during playback to pause, skip slides, change musical styles, or adjust audio volume.

Customizing Memory Movies

Customization Option	Details & Instructions
Title & Cover Photo	Tap the title text during playback to rename the memory (e.g., "Tokyo Trip 2024").
Memory Mixes (Styles)	Select different preset mixes to alter color filters and background music genres simultaneously.
Music Selection	Choose from default audio tracks or select songs directly from the Apple Music catalog.
Movie Length	Adjust duration settings (Short, Medium, or Long) to automatically rebalance photo pacing.

How to Create Your Own Custom Memory Movie

Create a Dedicated Album: Go to the Albums tab in Photos, tap the + icon, create a new album (e.g., "Ski Trip 2025"), and add your chosen media.
Generate the Memory: Open the album, tap the options menu (three dots), and select Play Memory Video.
Use Location/Date Selection: Select a specific date or location cluster in the Photos timeline and choose Create Memory.
Apple Intelligence Prompting: On supported iOS versions, type a text prompt (e.g., "Okinawa beach days") into the Memories search bar to let the system curate and edit relevant photos automatically.

Editing, Sorting, and Sharing Memories

Add or Remove Media: Tap Edit Photos within the memory view to remove blurred shots or add missing images from your library.
Reorder Sequence: Drag and drop photo thumbnails to adjust the narrative flow of the slideshow.
Share Video Files: Tap the Share button during playback to export the slideshow as an MP4 video file for messaging apps, AirDrop, or social media platforms.

How to Disable or Restrict iPhone Memories

If you prefer to stop receiving memory notifications or hide specific content:

Turn Off Memory Notifications: Go to Settings → Notifications → Photos → turn off Memories.
Disable Featured Content: Go to Settings → Photos → toggle off Show Featured Content to stop automated memory cards from appearing on the main tab.
Hide Specific People or Dates: Open a person's profile in the People album, select Feature [Name] Less, or choose to hide specific date ranges from being included in future memory generations.

Preserve Your Precious Memories: Capture Album Digitization Services

If you have boxes of old photos at risk of fading or damage over time, Capture HK provides album digitization services to convert physical prints into high-quality digital files for long-term storage and sharing.

Capture HK uses high-resolution scanning equipment to ensure digitized photos remain clear and detailed, accurately preserving original colors. We offer multiple file format options for viewing across devices, with secure handling to keep your original media safe throughout the process.

The Frame Digital Photo Frame

To display digital photos regularly, Capture’s The Frame offers a dedicated screen designed for showcasing personal photos.

Featuring a high-resolution display, The Frame includes photo management features to display digitized albums in your living room, bedroom, or office.