C-Insta360-ACE-Pro-2-Menu-Reference
Author
Yahya
Published
May 12, 2026
Insta360 ACE Pro 2 — Complete Menu Functions Reference
Camera: Insta360 Ace Pro 2
Source: Official online manual, user manual PDF, and Insta360 documentation
Last updated: May 2026
Table of Contents
- Screen Navigation Overview
- Main Shooting Interface (Home Screen)
- Shooting Modes
- Shortcut Menu (Swipe Down)
- Shooting Specification Settings (Swipe Up)
- Shooting Parameter Settings (Swipe Left)
- Settings Menu (inside Shortcut Menu)
- Album Page (Swipe Right)
- Button Functions
- Indicator Lights Reference
1. Screen Navigation Overview
The camera has two screens: a small front screen and a large 2.5” flip touchscreen (rear). All menus are accessed via the flip touchscreen using swipe gestures.
| Gesture | Action |
|---|---|
| Tap the screen | Hide / show status overlay |
| Swipe left/right in center | Switch shooting mode |
| Swipe down from top | Open Shortcut Menu (quick settings + full Settings) |
| Swipe up from bottom | Open Shooting Specification Settings |
| Swipe left from right edge | Open Shooting Parameter Settings (exposure, WB, etc.) |
| Swipe right from left edge | Open Album page |
| Double-tap screen | Toggle Clarity Zoom (1x / 2x) |
2. Main Shooting Interface (Home Screen)
The top status bar always shows:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Storage indicator | Remaining recording time (video) or remaining shot count (photo) |
| Battery status | Current battery percentage |
| Wi-Fi / BT icons | Connection state |
| Shooting mode icon | Current mode; tap to switch modes |
| Shooting specs | Current resolution, frame rate, aspect ratio |
| Clarity Zoom icon | Current zoom level (1x or 2x); tap or double-tap to toggle |
| FOV icon | Current Field of View setting |
3. Shooting Modes
Access by swiping left/right in the center of the screen, or tapping the shooting mode icon.
| Mode | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Video | Standard video recording with FlowState Stabilization | Active HDR supported up to 4K60fps |
| PureVideo | Low-light optimized video with noise reduction | Auto exposure only; no Manual mode |
| FreeFrame Video | Records with flexible aspect ratio for post-reframing | Active HDR up to 4K60fps; requires app/Studio for export |
| TimeShift | Hyperlapse while moving (speed-ramp effect) | Can accelerate or slow down segments |
| Timelapse | Static timelapse with configurable interval | Camera must be stationary |
| Dashcam | Continuous loop recording up to a set storage limit | Active HDR up to 4K30fps; overwrites oldest footage |
| Loop Recording | Saves only the most recent fixed-duration segment | Active HDR up to 4K60fps |
| Slow Motion | High-frame-rate capture for slow-motion playback | No Active HDR |
| Starlapse | Multi-photo capture combined into star trail effects | Multiple effect types available |
| Burst Photo | Rapid-fire continuous photo sequence | Configurable burst count |
| Interval | Automatic photo at set time intervals | Configurable interval duration |
| Photo | Single photo capture | Supports RAW (DNG) + JPEG |
4. Shortcut Menu (Swipe Down)
Swipe down from the top of the touchscreen to open. Contains quick toggles (row 1–2) and a Settings entry point.
Quick Toggle Row
| # | Toggle | Function |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cloud Upload | Subscribe to Insta360+ for automatic cloud backup and sharing |
| 2 | QuickCapture | When ON: pressing Shutter from powered-off state immediately starts recording |
| 3 | Rotation Lock | Locks screen orientation |
| 4 | Gesture Control | Enable/disable hands-free photo/video via hand gestures |
| 5 | Voice Control | Enable/disable voice commands to trigger shooting |
| 6 | Pre-Recording | Buffers up to 120 seconds before you press Shutter (saves “missed” moments) |
| 7 | Lock Screen | Locks the touchscreen; swipe to unlock |
| 8 | AI Highlights Assistant | Camera auto-identifies best moments from a clip; review and merge in-camera |
| 9 | Underwater Mode | Optimizes stabilization and distortion correction for underwater use; locks screen |
| 10 | Endurance Mode | Low-power mode extending battery life; disables Gesture Control, Voice Control, and some specs |
Controls Row
| Control | Function |
|---|---|
| Brightness slider | Drag to adjust screen brightness |
| Accessories | Enter accessory connection/configuration settings |
| Bluetooth Device | Search for and pair Bluetooth accessories (remotes, headsets) |
| Audio Input Device | Select mic source, adjust gain, choose audio mode (see below) |
| Settings (gear icon) | Enter the full Settings menu (see Section 7) |
Audio Mode Options (via Audio Input Device)
| Mode | Best for |
|---|---|
| Stereo | Standard balanced stereo recording; default when external mic connected |
| Wind Reduction | Outdoor / high-speed activities; reduces wind noise via DSP |
| Voice Enhancement | Interviews, vlogging; boosts forward-facing voice clarity |
Note: When an external microphone is connected, audio mode is locked to Stereo and cannot be switched.
5. Shooting Specification Settings (Swipe Up)
Swipe up from the bottom of the touchscreen. Parameters available depend on the active shooting mode.
| Shooting Mode | Available Parameters |
|---|---|
| Video | Active HDR, Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Duration (clip limit), Resolution, Frame Rate |
| PureVideo | Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Duration, Resolution, Frame Rate |
| FreeFrame Video | Active HDR, Aspect Ratio, Duration, Resolution, Frame Rate |
| TimeShift | Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Duration |
| Timelapse | Resolution, Frame Rate, Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Interval, Shoot Length |
| Dashcam | Active HDR, Loop Space (storage cap), Time Watermark, Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Resolution, Frame Rate |
| Loop Recording | Active HDR, Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Loop Duration, Resolution, Frame Rate |
| Slow Motion | Stabilization, Aspect Ratio, Duration, Resolution, Frame Rate |
| Starlapse | Type (Star Trail / Painted World / Glowing Ocean / Dark Skies), Aspect Ratio, Duration, Resolution, Timer |
| Burst Photo | Burst count, Cache, Format (JPEG / RAW+JPEG), Aspect Ratio, Resolution, Timer |
| Interval | Interval duration, Format, Aspect Ratio, Duration, Resolution, Timer |
| Photo | Format (JPEG / RAW+JPEG), Aspect Ratio, Resolution, Timer |
Key Parameter Values
Resolution options (Video): 8K (7680x4320), 4K (3840x2160), 2.7K, 1080p, 720p
Frame rates: 8K: 30fps max | 4K: up to 120fps | 1080p: up to 240fps
Aspect ratios: 16:9, 4:3, 2.35:1 (cinemascope), 1:1, 9:16
Active HDR: Available in Video, FreeFrame, Dashcam, Loop Recording (up to 4K60fps for most)
Stabilization levels: Off, Standard (FlowState), Horizon Lock (keeps horizon level through 360-degree roll)
6. Shooting Parameter Settings (Swipe Left)
Swipe left from the right edge of the touchscreen. Controls image quality and exposure.
Exposure Control
| Parameter | Description | Modes |
|---|---|---|
| Auto / Manual toggle | Switch between fully automatic and manual exposure control | All modes except PureVideo (Auto only) |
| Shutter Speed | Manual: controls motion blur; faster = sharper motion | Manual mode only |
| ISO (Sensitivity) | Manual: sensor gain; higher = brighter but noisier | Manual mode only |
| EV (Exposure Compensation) | In Auto mode: shift overall brightness up or down | Auto mode; active when Shutter or ISO is set to Auto |
| White Balance (WB) | Auto or manual Kelvin value; higher = warmer tones | All modes |
| Exposure Preset | Anti-Flicker (recommended for daily use) / Jitter Blur Reduction (action; may be darker) | Auto mode |
| Metering Mode | Matrix Metering (whole scene) / Face Priority (biases toward detected face) | Most modes (not supported in TimeShift, Timelapse, Slow-Mo, Starlapse, Burst, Interval) |
Image / Color Settings
| Parameter | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Color Profile | Overall color rendering style | Standard, Vivid, Flat, I-Log, Leica Natural, Film, etc. |
| I-Log | Flat log profile for maximum dynamic range; for professional color grading in post | On / Off |
| Filter | In-camera color effect overlays | Natural, Vivid, Matte, Film, Leica Natural, and more |
| Sharpness | Edge definition | Low, Medium, High |
| Noise Reduction | In-camera NR processing | Off, Auto |
| FOV (Field of View) | Changes lens perspective | ActionView (widest), MegaView (wide, less distortion), Wide, Linear, Narrow |
7. Settings Menu (inside Shortcut Menu)
Open via: Swipe Down -> Settings (gear icon). Organized into tabs/sections.
General
| Setting | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Screen Auto Sleep | Time before screen turns off to save power | 30s, 1min, 3min, 5min, Never |
| Auto Power Off | Time before camera powers down when idle | 1min, 5min, 10min, 15min, Never |
| Clarity Zoom | Enable digital 2x zoom without quality loss | On / Off |
| Grid Lines | Overlay composition grid on the shooting screen | On / Off |
| Timed Capture | Countdown timer before shutter fires | Off, 3s, 5s, 10s, 15s, 30s |
| Date and Time | Set system clock; affects file timestamps and Timecode | Manual or sync via app |
| Language | UI language | Multiple languages |
| Time Watermark | Burn date/time into video footage | On / Off |
| Power Button | Customize Power Button behavior | Default / QuickCapture shortcut |
Image Settings
| Setting | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Anti-Flicker | Match shutter to local power frequency to prevent flicker | Auto, 50Hz (Europe/Asia), 60Hz (North America) |
| Video Encoding | Codec for video files | H.264, H.265 (recommended for smaller file size) |
| Bitrate | Recording data rate | Standard, High |
Audio Settings
| Setting | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Prompt Sound | Camera speaker volume for beeps and status sounds | High, Medium, Low, Off |
| Gain | Microphone input sensitivity | Low, Medium, High |
Wi-Fi Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Name (SSID) | Camera’s AP name (default: Insta360 Ace Pro 2 XXXXXX) |
| Wi-Fi Password | Randomly generated; viewable here |
| Wi-Fi Band | 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz selection |
Accessories
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| External Microphone | Detect and configure a connected USB-C or 3.5mm mic |
| Bluetooth Accessories | Connect remote triggers, SENA/Cardo headsets |
SD Card
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Storage Info | Shows used / available space on the inserted MicroSD card |
| Format SD Card | Erases all data and formats as exFAT (always do this from the camera) |
Camera Info
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Insta360 Ace Pro 2 |
| Serial Number | Unique camera identifier (last 6 digits also appear in the default Wi-Fi SSID) |
| Firmware Version | Currently installed firmware build |
| Firmware Update | Trigger update check / install via app connection |
Reset
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Reset All Settings | Restores all camera settings to factory defaults (does not delete footage) |
8. Album Page (Swipe Right)
Swipe right from the left edge of the touchscreen to browse media stored on the MicroSD card.
| Function | Description |
|---|---|
| Browse clips/photos | Thumbnail grid of all recorded media |
| Playback | Tap a clip to play; tap a photo to view |
| Delete | Delete selected files or all files |
| AI Highlights review | If AI Highlights Assistant ran, flagged clips appear here for review and merging |
| Mark important | During recording, press the Shutter Button to tag a clip as important for quick retrieval |
| File info | View file name, size, date, resolution |
9. Button Functions
Power Button (right side)
| Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Short press (camera off) | Power on |
| Short press (camera on) | Switch shooting mode (cycle through modes) |
| Long press (camera on) | Power off |
| Press from off (QuickCapture ON) | Power on and immediately begin recording |
Shutter Button (top)
| State | Action | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Preview | Press once | Start recording / take photo |
| Recording | Press once | Stop recording |
| Recording (video) | Press once during clip | Mark clip as important |
| Camera off, QuickCapture ON | Press once | Power on and start recording immediately |
Power Button + Shutter Button
| Combined Action | Result |
|---|---|
| Hold both simultaneously | Force restart / recover from frozen state |
10. Indicator Lights Reference
The camera has two indicator lights (front top and rear side).
| Color / Pattern | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Solid red | Charging |
| Off (while plugged in) | Fully charged |
| Solid blue | Camera is on and idle / standby |
| Blinking blue (slow) | Firmware update in progress |
| Blinking blue (fast) | Connecting to Wi-Fi / app |
| Blinking red (slow) | Low battery warning |
| Blinking red (fast) | Recording in progress |
| Alternating red/blue | Resetting to factory defaults |
Tip: Indicator lights can be turned Off via: Swipe Down -> Settings -> General -> Indicator Light: Off. Useful for stealth recording or to reduce battery drain.
Quick Reference: Menu Access Cheat Sheet
HOME SCREEN
|
+-- Swipe DOWN -> Shortcut Menu
| toggles: QuickCapture, Gesture, Voice, Pre-Record,
| AI Highlights, Underwater, Endurance Mode, Lock Screen
| controls: Brightness, BT, Audio, Accessories
| -> Settings (gear): General, Image, Audio, Wi-Fi,
| SD Card, Camera Info, Reset
|
+-- Swipe UP -> Shooting Specifications
| Resolution, Frame Rate, Aspect Ratio, Active HDR,
| Stabilization, Interval, Duration, Format ...
|
+-- Swipe LEFT -> Shooting Parameters
| Exposure (Auto/Manual), Shutter, ISO, EV, WB,
| Color Profile, I-Log, Filter, Sharpness, FOV, Metering
|
+-- Swipe RIGHT -> Album Page
| Browse, Playback, Delete, AI Highlights review
|
+-- Tap/Swipe CENTER -> Switch Shooting Mode
Video, PureVideo, FreeFrame, TimeShift, Timelapse,
Dashcam, Loop, Slow Motion, Starlapse,
Burst Photo, Interval, PhotoReference compiled from official Insta360 Ace Pro 2 online manual and user manual PDF.
Inst360 ACE Pro 2