How to Export iPhone Portrait Photos with Depth Data Preserved

IntroductionPermalink

As an iPhone 15 user, I frequently use Portrait Mode for my photos. It allows me to adjust the focus and depth of field after taking the shot. However, I encountered some difficulties when trying to export these photos to an external hard drive for backup, as the depth data would be lost after exporting. What’s even more frustrating is that I couldn’t find a clear solution online. After trying various methods, I discovered two ways to export portrait photos with depth data intact, allowing them to be re-imported to an iPhone for further editing.

Device: iPhone 15 Pro

iOS Version: 17.2.1

TL;DR: Export unmodified original image, or export “All Photos Data” to a MacBook.

Method 1: Export Unmodified Original ImagePermalink

This is the easiest way to preserve depth data in the exported image. However, any edits—such as adjustments, filters, or cropping—will be lost. Here are the steps:

1. Export Unmodified Original

   Export the image by selecting Export Unmodified Original, and saving it to files.

   

   This version of the image is larger because it includes depth data. You can then transfer it to an external hard drive or upload it to cloud storage.

   

2. Re-import the Image into the Photos App for Editing

   Choose Save Image or download it from cloud storage to re-import it into the Photos app.

   Note that the portrait effect will be disabled in the re-imported image.

   

3. Re-enable Portrait Effect

   You can re-enable portrait effect simply by using either of the following methods:

   1. Tap Edit to open the photo editor. Tap the Portrait button at the top, or drag the aperture slider to your preferred value, and then tap Done.
   2. Alternatively, you can tap the portrait dropdown menu at the upper left corner and select Portrait to quickly re-enable the effect.

   The original aperture setting and focus point are preserved. In edit mode, the white dot indicates the original aperture value, and the yellow box marks the focus point.

   

Method 2: Export “All Photos Data” to a MacBookPermalink

This method allows you to preserve depth data by exporting two versions of the image: one with depth data and the other without it. However, this method only works when exported via AirDrop. It does not work when saving to files.

1. Export the Image

   Select Options and choose All Photos Data.

   

2. Export to MacBook via AirDrop

   Choose the device you want to export to in AirDrop contacts. On your Mac or MacBook, accept the file transfer and select Save to Downloads.

   

3. Locate the Image File

   In the saved folder, you will find two files:

   • A smaller image with the portrait effect and edits applied, but without depth data.
   • A larger image file without the portrait effect or edits, but containing the depth data.

   	Portrait Effect	Edits (Adjust/Filter/Crop)	Depth Data
   Smaller Image	✓	✓	✗
   Larger Image	✗	✗	✓

   

By following this guide, you can easily export iPhone portrait photos with the depth data preserved for future editing. Feel free to contact us if you know of better ways to achieve this on iOS 17.2.1 or newer versions.

This is a guest post written by @J1soon.