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How to use our X4 (360) Cameras

Setup, charging, controls, and shooting modes for the Insta360 X4 camera.

Purpose

The Insta360 X4 is the camera we use to capture high-resolution 360 video, up to 8K30fps. This guide walks through the parts of the camera, how to get one ready to use for the first time, the button and touchscreen controls, and the shooting modes available so any staff member can pick one up and use it correctly.

At a Glance

Key Components

  • Lenses: front and rear.
  • Microphones: multiple, placed to capture audio from several directions.
  • Touchscreen: for navigation and settings.
  • Buttons: Shutter (start/stop recording, take photos), Lens (switch between 360 and Single-Lens mode), Power (turn the camera and touchscreen on or off), and Quick (cycle preset shooting modes).
  • Other: indicator lights, a vent hole, a speaker, a 1/4" thumb screw mount, and the battery.

Getting Started

Lens Guards (optional but recommended)

The camera ships with Standard Lens Guards; Premium Lens Guards are sold separately.

  1. Align the mark on the guard with the slot on the lens base.
  2. Rotate clockwise until the blue mark lines up with the camera's microphone and the guard is screwed on tightly.
  3. Turn on Lens Guards Mode in the camera settings (Shortcut Menu, tap the Lens Guards icon, or Settings > Lens Guards Mode). Set it to Auto, or pick the specific type installed, Standard or Premium.
  4. Turn Lens Guards Mode back off once the guards are removed.

Avoid using the guards in water or rain, and dry them thoroughly if they get wet. Do not install or remove them while the camera is recording.

Inserting the microSD Card

  1. Remove the battery by pinching the cover latches.
  2. Insert a UHS-I V30 (or higher) exFAT formatted microSD card, up to 1TB.
  3. Reinsert the battery and make sure the cover is locked, with the orange marks fully covered, to keep the camera waterproof.

Charging

  1. Open the USB port cover.
  2. Connect the camera to a charger with the Type-C cable.
  3. With official accessories and a compatible PD adapter (36W minimum), PD fast charging reaches 80% in 26 minutes and 100% in 43 minutes. Standard charging (9V/2A) takes 38 minutes to 80% and 55 minutes to 100%.
  4. The indicator light glows solid red while charging and turns off once the battery is full.

Activation

  1. Download the Insta360 app.
  2. Turn on the camera.
  3. Turn on Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your phone.
  4. Open the app, tap the camera icon, and select the X4 (it appears as "X4 ******" by default). Follow the on-screen instructions to connect and activate it.
  5. Confirm the connection on the camera's touchscreen the first time you pair it.
  6. Update the firmware if the app prompts you to.

Finding the Serial Number

The serial number is on the product box, under Camera Settings > Camera Info on the camera itself, in the Insta360 app under Device Information, in Insta360 Studio's file properties, or on a sticker on the battery.

Basic Operation

  • Power Button: press once while off to power on. Press once while on to turn the touchscreen on or off. Long press for 2 seconds to power off. Long press for 5 seconds to force a shutdown.
  • Shutter Button: press once while off to start QuickCapture, if enabled. Press once while on and in preview to take a photo or start recording, and press again to stop. Press once on any other page to return to preview. A long press while recording cancels and deletes the recording, if that option is enabled.
  • Lens Button: press once to switch between 360 and Single-Lens Mode.
  • Quick Button: press once to cycle through preset shooting modes. Presets can be customized under Settings > Customize Button.
  • Touchscreen: tap to hide or show on-screen info. Swipe down to open the Shortcut Menu. Swipe left or right in the center to change shooting mode. In 360 Mode, swipe in the center in any direction to adjust the shooting angle. Swipe in from the left edge to open the Album. Swipe in from the right edge for shooting parameter settings. Swipe up from the bottom edge for shooting specification settings.

Shooting Modes

Tap the mode icon on the touchscreen, or swipe left or right, to switch modes.

360 Mode:

  • Video, up to 8K30fps
  • Active HDR (stabilized HDR video)
  • Timelapse (static)
  • TimeShift (hyperlapse while moving)
  • Bullet Time (slow-motion overhead rotation)
  • Loop Recording
  • Starlapse
  • Burst Photos
  • Interval Photos
  • HDR Photo
  • Photo

Single-Lens Mode:

  • Video, up to 4K60fps wide-angle
  • Me Mode (keeps the subject centered, like an invisible selfie stick)
  • Loop Recording
  • FreeFrame Video (adjustable aspect ratio, with FlowState or Horizon Lock available in post)
  • Photo

Settings & Menus

  • Shortcut Menu (swipe down): toggles for Rotation Lock, Lock Screen, Brightness, Lens Guards Mode, Screen Reader, Prompt Sound, AI Highlights Assistant, Gesture Control, Voice Control, QuickCapture, Pre-recording, Timed Capture, Indicator Light, Audio Mode (Stereo, Direction Focus, Wind Reduction), Dive Case Mode, Bluetooth Headphones/Remote, Presets, and Settings.
  • Shooting Specification Settings (swipe up): Resolution, Frame Rate, Interval, Speed, Loop Duration, Timer, and other parameters depending on the mode selected.
  • Shooting Parameter Settings (swipe right): Shutter Speed, ISO, EV, White Balance, Low Light Stabilization, Filters, Metering Mode, and Balanced Exposure, with options that vary between Auto and Manual.

Who to Ask

If the camera will not connect to the Insta360 app, confirm Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both on for your phone and that you selected the correct X4 device in the app before trying again. If a shooting mode or setting is not behaving as expected, check the Shortcut Menu and the shooting parameter settings first.

How do I escalate a camera that's frozen or won't respond to any button?

Long press the power button for 5 seconds to force a shutdown, then power it back on with a single press. If the freeze happened while inserting or removing the microSD card or battery, confirm the battery cover is fully locked, with the orange marks covered, before trying again.