MeCam Support
MeCam is a film camera for iPhone by HomieLab: pick a film, press the shutter, and the photo is saved to Photos with the look of old film. Free, no ads, no account.
Contact
Write to mecam@homielab.com. In MeCam, Settings → Send feedback opens an email with your app version, iOS version and iPhone model already filled in, which helps us answer faster. We reply in English or Vietnamese.
Common questions
Where are my photos?
Every photo is saved to your Photos library. MeCam also keeps a copy in its own gallery: tap the album button left of the shutter to browse, share or delete your shots. Deleting a photo there leaves the one in Photos untouched.
What does MeCam ask permission for?
When you first open MeCam, a "Before you shoot" screen lists three permissions. Camera is required: it shows the viewfinder and takes photos. Photos is optional: MeCam only adds photos and never reads your library. Location is optional and only used by Save Location. You can allow Photos and Location later. To change any of them, open the iPhone Settings app → Apps → MeCam.
MeCam says it can't use the camera.
Open the iPhone Settings app → Apps → MeCam and turn on Camera.
My photos aren't saved to Photos.
Open the iPhone Settings app → Apps → MeCam → Photos and choose "Add Photos Only". MeCam never needs to read your library. Your shots are still in MeCam's own gallery meanwhile.
Does Clear Gallery delete my photos?
No. Settings → Photos → MeCam Gallery → Clear Gallery only removes the copies MeCam keeps in its own gallery to free up space. Every photo stays in Photos. Clear Gallery never touches Photos.
How do I change the film?
Swipe left or right on the viewfinder, or tap a camera in the film strip below it. The look you see is the look you get.
How do I adjust colour and exposure?
Tap the menu button right of the shutter, then Adjust: temperature, exposure and the film's strength.
Can I keep a version without the film look?
Yes: Settings → Also save the original saves a second, unedited photo to Photos.
Can I add the date to my photos?
Settings → Date stamp prints the date on every film. Disposable '98 always prints it.
How does the photo booth work?
Tap the menu button, then Booth. Choose a 2×2 grid or a strip, press the shutter once, and Mimi counts down four shots with a pose for each. They are saved as one print with the date. The booth switches to the front camera, and you can share the print right after it is saved.
What are the secret cameras and how do I unlock them?
Brainy 64, Postcard 120 and Party 400 start locked and show as "?" in the film strip. Tap one to unlock it: Brainy 64 by answering 3 camera questions right (try as often as you like), Postcard 120 by sharing MeCam with a friend, Party 400 by joining the MeCam group. Once unlocked, the camera stays on your film strip.
What is Film of the day?
Tap the menu button, then Daily. Turn the crank once a day to get one of your films and a small dare to try. Tap "Done!" when you have shot it to build a daily streak. Tap "Load it" to shoot with that film right away.
How do I turn the daily reminder on or off?
Open Settings → Remind me daily, or the Film of the day sheet, and use the switch. Pick the time you like (18:00 to start). MeCam asks to send notifications the first time. You get at most one reminder a day, and none on a day you have already turned the crank. Tap it to open Film of the day. If you said no to notifications, turn them on for MeCam in the iPhone Settings app → Notifications. Switch it off and no reminder is sent.
How do I share a film with a friend?
Touch and hold a camera in the film strip (not the one already selected) and choose Share Film. You can also touch and hold a film in Settings → Films. MeCam makes a card and a link: a friend who taps the link sees that film's page, and on an iPhone with MeCam it opens MeCam on that film. Locked cameras can't be shared.
What is the monthly recap?
In the gallery, tap Recap to see your month as one picture: how many shots you took, your top films, rolls finished and stickers. Choose This month or Last month, then Share or Save to Photos. A month with no shots shows a short note instead. Rolls finished before MeCam 1.8 have no date, so they don't count.
What does Develop later do?
Tap the menu button, then Develop later. While it is on, new shots stay sealed for an hour, like film at the lab. The gallery shows the sealed shots with a countdown, and when the hour is up they appear in the gallery and in Photos. MeCam can send a notification when they are ready if you allow notifications. Turn it off in the same menu: new shots are then saved at once.
How do I keep favourite photos?
Open a photo in the gallery and tap the heart. In the gallery, the Favourites chip shows only your hearted photos, and you can also heart or unheart several at once with Select. Favourites are a mark in MeCam's gallery: the photo in Photos is not changed.
What are Mimi's film suggestions?
When the light changes, for example when it gets dark, Mimi shows a small bubble with a film that suits the scene, such as "Try Neon 500T?". Tap it to switch to that film, or ignore it. Suggestions are about the light only. Turn them off in Settings → Film tips from Mimi.
What is Your year on film?
From 1 December, tap Recap in the gallery and choose Year to see your year as one card: how many shots you took, your top films, rolls finished, stickers and your best month. Share it or Save to Photos. Earlier years that have shots appear in the year menu too. The card is made on your iPhone from your gallery and goes nowhere unless you share it.
How do I add the My shots widget?
Touch and hold the Home Screen, tap the + button, find MeCam and choose My shots. The small size shows your newest shot, the medium one three and the large one six. Touch and hold the widget, then tap Edit Widget to show your newest shots or a shuffle of your last 30. Tap a photo to open it in the gallery. The widget keeps small copies of your latest shots on your iPhone and nothing is sent anywhere.
Where does the Develop later countdown show?
While shots are sealed, a countdown to the next reveal shows on the Lock Screen and, on iPhones that have it, in the Dynamic Island. Tap it to open the gallery. It ends when the last sealed shot has appeared. To stop sealing new shots, tap the menu button and turn Develop later off: new shots are saved at once, and shots already sealed still appear when their hour is up.
How do I put my name on the camera?
Tap "+ Your name" at the top left of the viewfinder, type a name (up to 16 characters) and the tag reads "Linh's MeCam". You can also set it in Settings → Photos. Clear the name to remove the tag. Each shot remembers the name in the gallery's info; it is not written into the photo's data in Photos. The Lock Screen camera does not show the tag.
Can I open MeCam from the Lock Screen?
On iOS 18 or later, add the "MeCam Camera" control to the Lock Screen, Control Center or the Action Button. It opens the camera without unlocking your iPhone, with the film and settings you last used.
I took photos from the Lock Screen and they aren't in Photos yet.
If MeCam can't add to Photos from the Lock Screen, it keeps the photos safe and shows "Open MeCam to add these photos to Photos". Open MeCam and they are saved to Photos. If you never allowed Photos, MeCam asks then.
What does Save Location do?
Settings → Photos → Save Location writes where you took each photo into the photo, so Photos can show it on a map. It is off by default, asks for location access when you turn it on, and the place never leaves your iPhone. Photos taken from the Lock Screen carry no location.
Does MeCam collect my data?
No. MeCam works without an internet connection and collects nothing. See the privacy policy.