How can I quickly launch the camera from the lock screen?

IMPORTANT: This article applies only to specific products and/or operating systems. Check Applicable Products and Categories for details.

Overview of ways to quickly launch the camera from the lock screen

• Press the camera key
  • If your device has a dedicated camera key, you can use it to quickly launch the camera. This feature is activated by default.
    • When the screen is in sleep mode or from the lock screen, press and hold down the camera key until the camera launches.
  • You can adjust this feature so that the camera will both launch and capture a picture, or turn the feature off, by going into Photography Pro → Menu → Launch with camera key → Off.

• Swipe the camera icon from the lock screen

  1. To activate the screen, briefly press the Power key.
  2. To launch the camera, swipe the camera icon upwards.
  Note: For the following products, to launch the camera, touch and hold (Camera icon) from the lock screen.
  (Xperia 1 IV, Xperia 10 IV and Xperia 5 IV).

• Press the Power key twice

  • Android 12,13
    1. Find and tap Settings → System → Gestures → Quickly open camera.
    2. Toggle the slider on/off
    3. When the screen is in sleep mode or from the lock screen, press the Power key twice.
  • Android 11
    1. Find and tap Settings → System → Gestures → Power key behavior.
    2. Tap Launch camera
    3. When the screen is in sleep mode or from the lock screen, press the Power key twice.