RetroPro Support

A little help. Then back to making things.

New to RetroPro? Looking for a setting? Accidentally made your footage look like a television falling down the stairs?

You’re in the right place.

Explore the guides below to get recording, save your favourite looks and find your way around.

Some features depend on your device and app version. Your buttons may also look different depending on the selected skin.

Getting started

Record your first video

Open RetroPro and allow access to your camera and microphone when prompted.
Choose Retro, TV, FX or Clean.
Select a look and frame your shot.
Tap Record to start. Tap it again to stop.
Allow access to Photos when requested so RetroPro can save your recording.

Start with a built-in look, then open Settings to make it your own. A little distortion goes a long way. A lot of distortion is also an entirely valid artistic decision.

What do the main modes do?

Retro
Camcorder-inspired looks, including VHS and Hi8. Expect tape character, imperfect colour and plenty of ways to make a perfectly good picture misbehave.

TV
Television-inspired treatments, from CRT character to damaged signals.

FX
Creative effects such as Fragments, masks, depth effects, Slit Scan and Datamosh. Available options vary by device.

Clean
A cleaner camera workflow without the Retro or TV treatment. Use it for straightforward recording and supported camera, colour and LUT controls.

Where are the settings?

Tap the gear icon, or swipe up on the main controls to open Settings.

Use the Back button to return, or swipe down from the settings header area.

Settings change to match the selected effect. If you cannot find an effect’s controls, select that effect on the main screen first.

Save a preset

Set up your look and frame the scene you want for its thumbnail.
Open Settings → Presets.
Start saving a preset.
Enter a name, choose a destination if prompted and confirm.

RetroPro captures the thumbnail when you start the save action, so get your picture ready before pressing it.

A preset remembers your look. Its thumbnail helps you find it again.

Save from the quick preset menu

Press and hold an empty preset slot to save your current look there.

Enter a name in the pop-up and confirm. Empty slots appear greyed out so they are easy to recognise.

Apply a saved preset

Open the preset picker, then tap a thumbnail.

The included RetroPro presets are grouped separately from your own saved looks. Expand that group to browse them.

A preset can look different in another scene: lighting, exposure, camera choice and the colours in your shot all contribute to the result.

Import and share presets

Use the Import, Export, Send and Receive options in the preset menus.

Import / Export lets you exchange preset files through Files, email or another sharing app.

Send / Receive lets compatible devices exchange presets nearby. Keep RetroPro open on both devices and allow Local Network access if requested.

Sharing a preset shares its settings. Separate media files used by a look may also need to be supplied.

Find more looks

Visit the RetroPro presets page for more presets.

You can also follow @retropro.cam on Instagram for updates, inspiration and featured looks.

Open the extended view

Double-tap the preview to open the extended view, with a larger picture and transparent controls.

Double-tap again, or use Full mode, to return to the main interface.

In extended view, you can:

Start and stop recording.
Adjust camera zoom.
Change the camera and aspect ratio.
Open saved presets using the star button.
Use Undo to return to the settings you had before entering extended view.

Browse presets in extended view

Tap the star, or swipe up on the preview, to reveal the preset thumbnails.

Scroll through the thumbnails and tap one to apply it. Swipe down or tap the preview to dismiss the tray.

Inspect the details

While Settings are open, use two fingers to enlarge the preview and drag around the picture.

This is for inspecting your image while adjusting effects. It is separate from the camera zoom rocker, which changes the framing of your recording.

Turn the OSD on or off

Tap OSD on the main screen.

OSD means “on-screen display”: the dates, timecodes and camera-style graphics that give your footage its camcorder character.

Choose individual OSD elements

Press and hold OSD to open its quick controls.

From there, switch individual elements on or off and use the available date and timecode randomisation options.

For further adjustments, open Settings → OSD.

Enabled OSD elements are included in your recording. Hide anything you do not want in the finished video.

Add your own text

Find the text overlay controls in Settings and tap Edit text.

Enter your wording in the text pop-up, then confirm. Overlay controls are hidden when Clean is selected.

Import a video

Tap Import.
Choose Library or Files.
Select your video.
Choose a look and adjust its settings.
Record the processed playback to save a new version.

Keep the original file until you have checked the new recording.

If a file is stored in iCloud or another online location, download it to your device before importing.

Playback controls

Use the playback controls to play, pause, seek, fast-forward or rewind.

The F1 control can hold the video frame while repeating an audio segment. Release it to return to playback.

Options for damage during fast-forward and rewind are under Settings → Imported Media, where available.

Why does an imported clip look different?

Imported footage already has its own exposure, colour and compression. Applying the same preset to two different videos will not necessarily produce identical results.

If the picture looks unusually contrasty or strangely coloured, check whether the selected LUT matches the source footage.

What is a LUT?

A LUT changes how colours and brightness are displayed. It can convert Log footage into a more familiar image or apply a creative look.

Which LUT bank should I use?

RetroPro uses L1–L5 for the standard Rec.709 workflow and P1–P5 for the Apple Log workflow.

The bank follows your selected camera colour mode. Apple Log availability depends on your device and recording configuration.

For imported footage, make sure the selected colour treatment matches the actual file.

What does “Bake” mean?

Bake enabled: the selected LUT look is included in the saved recording.

Preview only: the LUT helps you judge the image on screen, while the recording retains the underlying colour output.

Check this setting before recording something important. A preview can look finished while the saved file is intended for grading.

View without the LUT

Double-tap the selected L or P button to bypass the LUT.

This lets you view and record without that external LUT treatment.

Audio and microphones

Find the audio controls under Settings → Camera → Audio.

Depending on your setup, you can adjust:

Recording level: raise or lower the recorded audio level.
Limiter: control loud peaks.
Wow / flutter: introduce tape-style pitch movement.
Hiss: add background tape noise.
Audio dropouts: introduce interruptions and instability.
Monitoring: listen to the audio through a supported output.

The active microphone name helps you check which input is being used.

Using an external microphone

Connect your microphone before recording, then check the active input shown in the audio settings.

Make a short test recording and listen back. Connecting a Bluetooth headset can also change which microphone the phone uses.

Bluetooth monitoring

Enable Monitoring in the audio settings when using a supported connection.

Bluetooth can introduce a delay between the action and what you hear. This is especially noticeable when listening to your own voice.

Audio sounds distorted

Try a short comparison with:

Audio effects switched off.
The recording level reduced.
The limiter switched off.
The original imported file played outside RetroPro, if applicable.

If distortion remains, contact support and say whether it happens with the live microphone, imported media or both.

World-anchored Fragments

Choose FX → Fragments and use the live rear camera.

Move the phone gently to help tracking settle, then tap the preview to use the fragment capture controls.

Fragments place pieces of the video in the scene. Move sideways to reveal their position in space.

A well-lit room with visible detail is easier to track than a blank wall or a very dark scene.

Use the Fragments settings to adjust placement, size, shape, rotation and capture behaviour.

Masks

Masks let you treat a subject and its surroundings differently.

Select the available Person or Object mask option, then adjust its edge and effect controls.

Try a small amount of edge softness first. Strong settings can look wonderful, but they can also make a subject look as though they have been cut out with enthusiastic scissors.

Why is a depth option unavailable?

Some depth features require specific hardware, such as LiDAR or TrueDepth. Camera choice and device compatibility can affect which options are available.

Where do I subscribe?

Open:

Settings → About → Legal and Support → Subscription and Access

Choose an available plan and follow the Apple purchase confirmation.

Prices, billing periods and any eligible introductory offer are shown before you confirm.

Free use, trials and paid access

Free use includes a limited recording allowance. Recordings in processed modes include a watermark; Clean recordings do not.

An eligible free trial gives access to the subscription features without the watermark during the trial.

An active paid subscription removes the free-use recording limit and watermark.

The purchase screen shows the current offer and its terms.

Already subscribed?

Open Subscription and Access and tap Restore Purchases.

Use the Apple Account that originally made the purchase.

If access still does not return, check that the subscription is active and send support the exact message shown.

Why does an old video still have a watermark?

Activating a subscription does not change previously saved videos.

Record a new short clip after access becomes active to check the result.

Plans are not loading

Check your internet connection, close and reopen RetroPro, then try again.

If the problem continues, send support a screenshot and mention whether you are using the App Store or TestFlight version.

Manage or cancel a subscription

RetroPro subscriptions are managed through your Apple Account’s subscription settings.

You can review the plan, renewal date and available cancellation options there.

Deleting RetroPro does not cancel a subscription.

The camera preview is black

Check RetroPro’s camera permission in your device’s Settings.

If you were using imported media, return to the live camera. Close and reopen RetroPro if necessary.

My recording has no sound

Check microphone permission and the active audio input.

If headphones or an external microphone are connected, disconnect them temporarily and make a short test recording.

For imported media, check that the original file contains audio and that a playback hold or loop control is not active.

My recording did not save

Check Photos permission and available device storage.

Try a short recording, wait for saving to finish, then check Photos again.

The phone feels warm or the preview slows down

Live effects can ask a lot of your device, particularly when several are combined.

Try a lower recording resolution or frame rate, reduce demanding effects and allow the phone to cool.

The three coloured dots are a quick temperature-status indicator. They are not a precise temperature reading.

A setting is missing or greyed out

Select the relevant mode and effect first.

Some settings depend on your device, camera, recording format or access level. Certain controls may also be unavailable while recording.

Text is hidden behind the keyboard

Use the dedicated text-entry pop-up where available.

If a field remains covered, send support a screenshot showing the field and keyboard, along with your device model and orientation.

A button looks misplaced

Rotate the phone back to portrait and reopen the relevant menu.

If it happens again, send screenshots of both orientations and tell us which skin you are using.

Replay the walkthrough

Open Settings → About → Show Walkthrough.

It is a quick reminder of the main controls, gestures and views.

Restore the default settings

Open Settings → About → Restore Defaults, then confirm.

This resets the app’s settings while keeping your saved presets and selected skin.

You can also press and hold the Back button in Settings for five seconds to bring up the same confirmation.

Export any important presets before deleting or reinstalling the app.

Email hurcanemre@hotmail.com with a short description of the problem.

Please include:

Your iPhone or iPad model.
Your iOS version.
Your RetroPro version or TestFlight build number.
Whether you were using the live camera or imported media.
The selected mode, effect and skin.
What you expected to happen and what happened instead.
A screenshot or short screen recording, if useful.

For recording problems, include the resolution, frame rate and codec. For audio problems, mention any connected microphone or headphones.

Please hide personal information before sending screenshots. We will never need your Apple Account password or payment-card details.

Have an idea rather than a problem? We would love to hear that too.