Why Are My iPhone Photos Blurry?: The Reason Your Camera Is Out Of Focus

Many Apple iPhone users have reported their devices taking blurry videos and pictures—which can be incredibly frustrating. iPhones can take some of the best pictures, but only if these pictures are in focus.

If your photos are out of focus you’re probably wondering: Why are my iPhone photos blurry? Keep reading to find out why your photos are blurry and what you can do to fix it.

Why Are My iPhone Photos Blurry?

There are a few reasons why your photos could be blurry. It could be as simple as having a dirty lens or case in the way. Or it could be more complicated like something with your settings, or that your phone is in need of a professional repair.

Before you take your iPhone to a specialist, these common problems could be why your photos are blurry.

It’s The Hardware

Before you get into the software of your phone, first make sure that the problem isn’t a simple hardware fix.

There Are Magnets Near Your Phone

Check to be sure there aren’t any magnets next to your camera. Some iPhone cases have a magnet inside them, and this magnetic pull can interfere with autofocus and optical image stabilization.

Bad Lighting

Also, know that your phone isn’t meant to take sharp pictures in low lighting or if the camera isn’t steady. So if you are shooting in the dark with an unstable hand, that could be your problem right there.

Also, know you can always tap on a person or object you’re trying to shoot on your preview screen. This will show your phone what you want to focus on.

Your iPhone Case Is In The Way

Often times it’s your iPhone case that’s in the way of your lens. This can make your photos look blurry and dark. To fix this, take off your case and try to take pictures again. Also, make sure your case isn’t on upside down.

Your Camera Lens Is Dirty

If it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned your camera lens, now would be the time. Simply a small smudge on your lens could throw off your camera’s autofocus, which would make your photos blurry.

To clean your lens, use a microfiber cloth. Do not try wiping off your lens with your fingers. The oils on your hand will just make your lense blurrier.

It’s The Software

If all of these troubleshooting hardware fixes don’t work, then your problem could be the software of your phone. Check these out before taking your phone to a professional.

There’s A Problem With Your Camera App

Your camera app is just like any other app on your phone. What do you do when your Instagram freezes? You restart the app.

Your camera app is no different, it is prone to software crashes. If your camera app crashes, your photos could be blurry or even completely black. All you might need to do is close and reopen your Camera app, and this could fix the problem.

To do this, open the app switcher on your iPhone by double-clicking your home button if you have an iPhone 8 or earlier. If you have an iPhone X, then do this by swiping up from the bottom to the center of your phone screen.

Now you can swipe the Camera app off at the top of the screen, and close it down. You can tell the Camera app is closed when it doesn’t appear in the app switcher anymore. Now you can see if there’s still blurriness when you reopen your camera app.

Your iPhone Needs To Be Restarted

If closing your Camera app doesn’t work, then you might need to restart your iPhone. There’s a good chance that your iPhone camera is blurry because a different app on your phone crashed, or because your phone is undergoing a software glitch.

Your Settings Needs To Be Reset

If you’re still having issues with the blurriness of photos after restarting your camera app, and restarting your phone, then you might need to reset all settings on your phone. It could be that your settings are off, which is why your Camera app is taking blurry photos.

You can reset all of your settings by going to General and selecting the Reset All Settings option. You will need to confirm this with your passcode.

Your iPhone Needs To Go In DFU Mode

If your pictures are still blurry, then you’ll want to put your iPhone in DFU mode. A DFU restore should fix the problem as the “F” in DFU stands for the firmware. This is the programming on your iPhone that controls your hardware like your camera.

But before you put your phone in DFU mode, make sure that you have backed up everything on your phone.

It Has Something To Do With An iOS Update

There’s also a good chance the iOS or your Camera app has a bug that is making your device take blurry photos. If this is the case, you will have to wait until Apple releases the next update to fix this glitch.

To check if there are any updates available, go to Settings, General, then Software Update. Make sure that you are connected to WiFi, otherwise, you won’t be able to update your device.

Get Your Camera Repaired

After you’ve tried all the hardware and software fixes, and your phone is still blurry, then you might have to get your camera repaired. There could be something stuck in the lens like water, dirt or other debris.

If this is the case, you’ll need to bring your phone to a professional.

Fix Your iPhone Camera Today

Still asking, “why are my iPhone photos blurry?” Try all of these troubleshooting hardware and software fixes. If your photos are still blurry, then you might not be able to fix your phone alone.

Make sure you try everything you can do before you take your iPhone to a professional. For more technological resources, be sure to check out our blog!