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# preferredVideoStabilizationMode

The stabilization mode that’s the most appropriate for a video connection.

```
var preferredVideoStabilizationMode: AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode { get set }
```

## Discussion

The property only applies to a video connection, and defaults to [`AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode.off`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode/off).

You can enable video stabilization by setting it to an available stabilization mode (other than [`AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode.off`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode/off)). Video stabilization introduces additional latency into the video capture pipeline and may consume more system memory, depending on the stabilization mode and format. If a stabilization mode isn’t available, the connection sets its [`activeVideoStabilizationMode`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureConnection/activeVideoStabilizationMode) property to [`AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode.off`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode/off). You can make the connection use an appropriate capture format and frame rate by setting the property to [`AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode.auto`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureVideoStabilizationMode/auto).

> Note:
> Devices with a video stabilization feature may only support a subset of available source formats.

Use key-value observing with the [`activeVideoStabilizationMode`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureConnection/activeVideoStabilizationMode) property to determine which stabilization mode is in use.

You can monitor the [`activeVideoStabilizationMode`](/documentation/AVFoundation/AVCaptureConnection/activeVideoStabilizationMode) property to detect which stabilization mode the connection’s using. See <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/ObjectiveC/nskeyvalueobserving> and <doc://com.apple.documentation/documentation/Swift/using-key-value-observing-in-swift> for more information.

---

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