How to Fix Blurry Photos on iPhone (Step-by-Step)

TL;DR

The best fix is preventing blur in the first place: use more light and keep your phone stable.

For existing photos, use the "Sharpen" tool in the Photos app conservatively.

Combine sharpening with a gentle "Noise Reduction" to avoid a grainy look.

If you're digitizing old prints, a clean, well-lit scan is crucial. Learn how to scan photos on iPhone correctly.

Nothing is more frustrating than capturing a perfect moment, only to find it's blurry. A blurry photo can be caused by many things: a shaky hand, a moving subject, or simply not enough light for your iPhone's camera to work its magic. While there's no magic button to "unblur" a photo completely, there are several powerful techniques you can use to significantly improve its sharpness and clarity. This guide will walk you through the essential steps, from simple editing adjustments in your Photos app to the best practices for capturing crisp, clear images from the start. Whether you're trying to save a new snapshot or restore an old family photo, these tips will help you get much better results.

1) The Best Fix: Re-Capture with Better Technique

The most effective way to fix a blurry photo is to prevent the blur from happening at all. If you have the chance to take the photo again, focus on these three things:

More Light: The #1 cause of blur is not enough light. In low light, your iPhone has to use a slower shutter speed, which makes it highly sensitive to any movement. Find a brighter area or add a light source.
Stability is Key: A shaky hand leads to motion blur. Brace your elbows against your body, rest your phone on a stable surface like a table or a book, or use a tripod.
Tap to Focus: Before you shoot, tap on the most important part of your subject (like a person's eyes) to tell the camera exactly where to focus. Hold your finger down for a moment to lock the focus and exposure.

Pro Tip: Use the 3-second timer. This simple trick eliminates the camera shake caused by pressing the shutter button.

2) Sharpen and Enhance in the Photos App

If you can't retake the photo, you can still make significant improvements with editing.

Open the Photo and Tap "Edit": Navigate to the image in your Photos app and enter the editing mode.
Apply Gentle Sharpening: Scroll through the adjustment tools to find "Sharpen." Slide it to the right slowly. View your photo at 100% zoom (pinch to zoom in) to check the details. If you see unnatural, "crunchy" edges or halos, you've gone too far. A little goes a long way.
Use Noise Reduction: Sharpening can often exaggerate digital noise (the grainy texture you see in photos taken in low light). After sharpening, find the "Noise Reduction" tool and apply a small amount to smooth things out.
Adjust Definition/Clarity: The "Definition" tool can also improve perceived sharpness by adding micro-contrast. Again, use it sparingly to avoid a harsh, unnatural look.

3) Understanding Different Types of Blur

Not all blur is the same. Identifying the type of blur can help you decide if it's fixable.

Motion Blur: Caused by movement (either your hand or the subject). It looks like streaks or ghosting. This is very difficult to fix with editing alone.
Out-of-Focus Blur: This happens when the camera focuses on the wrong thing (e.g., the background instead of the person). It looks soft and dreamy. Gentle sharpening can help a little, but it can't restore lost detail.
Compression Blur: This occurs when a photo has been saved too many times or at too low a quality. It looks blocky or pixelated. Unfortunately, this type of blur is irreversible.

Troubleshooting

Faces still look soft: You likely need more light. If you are scanning an old print, ensure your setup is bright and even, as described in our iPhone scanning guide.
Photo looks grainy after editing: You've probably over-sharpened. Reduce the sharpening amount and slightly increase the noise reduction.
Glare on old photos: This is a scanning issue, not a blur issue. Move your light source to the side and make sure your phone is parallel to the print.

FAQs

Is there an app that can magically unblur a photo? While some advanced apps claim to "deblur" photos, they often produce mixed or unnatural results. Improving your capture technique is always the most reliable solution.

Can I fix a photo that is completely out of focus? Unfortunately, no. If the details were never captured by the lens, editing software can't invent them. You can improve the color and contrast, but the core focus issue will remain.

Does upscaling a blurry photo help? No. Upscaling (increasing the resolution) will only make the blur more obvious. It's better to edit the photo at its original size.

Editor’s note: For more tips on digitizing your family history, see our complete guide to preserving family photos.