Support
Thank you for using Senbei. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often. If yours isn’t covered, get in touch below.
Frequently asked questions
Q.What is Senbei?
A camera app that runs the back and front cameras at the same time, so you can capture both sides at once — your subject and you, in a single photo or a single video.
Q.Which iPhones does it work on?
You need iPhone XS, XS Max, XR or later (iPhone SE 2nd generation or later), running iOS 16.0 or later. Shooting both sides at once relies on the iPhone’s multi-camera support (A12 chip and later), so it works only on those models.
iPhone X, iPhone 8 and 8 Plus and earlier, and iPhone SE (1st generation) cannot be used: their hardware cannot run the front and back cameras together. The iPhone 11 series and iPhone SE (2nd and 3rd generation) are supported.
Q.Where are my photos and videos stored?
In the app’s own gallery. Nothing leaves the app — to your photo library or anywhere else — unless you explicitly choose to save it.
Q.Is anything I shoot sent anywhere?
No. Senbei never sends your captures anywhere. Everything stays on your device.
See the Privacy Policy for details.
Q.How do I save to my photo library?
In the in-app gallery, tap the photo or video you want to keep, then press “Save to Photos” on the detail screen.
Q.Can I shoot without unlocking my iPhone?
Yes. On iOS 18 or later, add the Senbei control to your Lock Screen or Control Center and you can start shooting without a passcode or Face ID.
To add it: open Control Center, press and hold, choose “Add a Control” and pick Senbei. You can also assign it to the buttons at the bottom of the Lock Screen, or to the Action button.
Open the app once first and allow camera access. Without that permission, the control opens the app instead of the camera.
While your iPhone is locked, earlier captures are not shown — only what you just shot, from the bottom left of the screen. Those captures move into the in-app gallery the next time you unlock and open Senbei.
Once they do, they behave exactly like anything else you have shot: saving to your photo library, saving the combined version and sharing all work as usual.
Q.How do I change how long captures are kept?
Automatic deletion is off to begin with (captures are kept indefinitely). Everything stays in the app until you delete it yourself.
Tap the gear icon at the top right of the camera screen to choose how long captures are kept.
Options: 1 day / 7 days / 30 days / Forever (Forever is the default).
Q.Can I swap the picture-in-picture window while recording?
Not in the current version. While you are recording, the small window stays at the top left.
Q.The app won’t start, or the camera shows nothing
Try the following:
- Open the iOS Settings app, tap Senbei, and check that Camera, Microphone and Photos are allowed
- Restart your iPhone
- Delete the app and reinstall it from the App Store
- If none of that helps, get in touch below
Q.I denied camera access by mistake
Open the iOS Settings app and choose Senbei from the list.
Turn on Camera, Microphone and Photos, and the app will work normally.
If none of the above helps, or you have a suggestion,
we’d be glad to hear from you by email.