Filming TikToks at night and in low light
Phones make small sensors look impressive in daylight, but in low light they have to amplify the signal, which produces grain, smeared detail and flicker. The fix is usually more light, not more settings.
Add light where it matters
Light your face, not the whole room. A small LED panel, a desk lamp bounced off a wall or even a laptop screen turned to white can be enough for a talking video.
Outdoors at night, stand under a street lamp or near a lit shop window and face the light source.
Use the best lens and settings
Stay on the main (1x) camera; it gathers the most light. Drop to 30 fps or 24 fps if your phone allows, because lower frame rates give each frame more light.
Turn off any 60 fps or Action mode for night shots. Both reduce the light each frame receives.
Keep still
Low-light video is more prone to motion blur and smearing. Brace the phone or use a tripod, and move slowly.
Lock exposure on your face so the phone does not keep brightening and darkening as lights pass.
Watch for flicker
Some LED and fluorescent lights flicker at a rate the camera picks up as rolling bands. If you see them, try a different light, or in Pro mode set the shutter speed to 1/50 in regions with 50 Hz power (such as Indonesia) or 1/60 where power is 60 Hz.
Frequently asked questions
Why does night footage look grainy on my phone?
In low light the phone has to amplify the signal, which produces grain, smeared detail and flicker. Adding light to your face usually fixes it better than changing settings.
Which lens and frame rate are best in low light?
Stay on the main 1x camera, which gathers the most light, and drop to 30 or 24 fps if possible. Turn off 60 fps and Action mode for night shots.
How do I get rid of rolling bands from indoor lights?
Try a different light, or in Pro mode set the shutter to 1/50 where power is 50 Hz, such as Indonesia, or 1/60 where power is 60 Hz.