Ever had one of those “oops” moments taking pictures? Your hand wobbles and the photo is as elusive as a Bigfoot sighting. (Or, in my case, my dog Abby doing something super cute.)
Before you rush to hit delete, hang tight! I’ve got a few helpful tricks to fix blurry photos.
Step 1: Built-in tools
Here’s the deal — most phones have a built-in “sharpness” feature. If you’re looking for the quickest fix, this is probably it! You don’t want to go overboard, but it works if your blur is minimal.
For iPhone:
- Open the Photos app and select the blurry photo.
- Tap the Edit button in the top right corner.
- Scroll through the Adjust menu until you find Sharpness.
- Now, slide your finger left or right on the bar to make the photo sharper.
- When you’re happy, tap Done in the bottom right corner.
For Android (Note: Steps vary based on your phone):
- Open the Gallery app and choose the blurry photo.
- Tap the Edit icon in the bottom row.
- Tap the Brightness icon and scroll until you find Sharpness.
- Slide your finger left or right on the bar to make the photo sharper.
- When you’re happy, tap Save in the top right corner.
FYI, newer Android phones might have an additional Unblur feature. You’ll find this in your Gallery Tools. Like the sharpness feature, simply adjust the slider to improve the image.
Step 2: Third-party apps
If your phone’s built-in tools aren’t quite cutting it, you can always give a third-party app a whirl to crank up that picture clarity.
Here’s an example using the Picsart app:
- Open the Picsart app and select the blurry photo.
- Tap Retouch, followed by HD Portrait.
- Now, use the slider to adjust the Intensity of your photo.
- When you’re done, tap Save.
💸 Quick heads up: Most third-party photo apps come with a price tag. For Picsart, you’re looking at $4.99 monthly on iPhone and Android. So, you’ve got to ask yourself, how many blurry pictures are you snapping before that fee makes sense?
Free option: Upscale on the web
AI-powered upscalers are sprouting all over the internet. The catch? Finding one that’s both reliable and safe.
DGB.LOL is a site that caught my eye. Your uploads are for your eyes only, and they vanish from the server after 24 hours (it’s also free). Here’s how to use it:
- Send the blurry picture to your computer.
- Log into DGB.LOL and create an Account.
- Click the Menu icon, then select Image upscaler.
- Drag and drop the blurry picture you want to fix.
- Choose the upscale option. (Detailed for added sharpness)
- Click Upscale.
- Go into the My Files tab to find your upscaled picture.
Note: There’s usually a short queue time when upscaling, so expect to wait a few minutes.
✅ Now you’re armed and ready to fix existing pics you want to de-blur. But really, the best solution is avoiding blurry photos in the first place. Here’s how.
Avoiding blurry pictures
Here are a few ways to dodge the blurriness bullet:
- Focus mode: Most phones have an auto-focus mode, which removes all that shaking! Just tap your screen on the subject you want to focus on.
- Clean your lens: Believe it or not, a grubby lens can be the source of your foggy pictures. Grab a soft microfiber cloth and give it a good wipe-down.
- Action mode: Always have a Plan B. Snap multiple shots at once using Live Photos (iPhone), Motion Photo (Samsung) or Top Shot (Pixel) mode. To access it, open your camera, then hold down on the shutter button. I bet at least one will turn out.
- Lighting rules: Light is the secret sauce. It can be the difference between a crisp masterpiece and a blurry blob. Aim for well-lit natural settings, or at least flick on a switch!
- Enlist help: Nope, not another person. If you’re shooting in less-than-ideal conditions (say, trying to get some nice nighttime pics), an inexpensive tripod goes a long way.