Asking yourself, “why is my iPhone camera blurry”, and want to get to the button of the issue? We’re going to go through some solutions and repairs that should get your camera working again in no time.
At imFixed, we believe local is best, and have repair shops in Manchester, Rochdale, Oldham, and beyond. We also keep accessories such as Apple chargers and screen protectors, and supply you with the ultimate tool – knowledge.
Learn what to do if a software update fails, and fix iPhones that won’t vibrate, detect SIM cards, charge, stay charged, or connect to Wi-Fi. We also explore issues like speaker issues, and broken power buttons, so there’s plenty to check out.
Quick Fixes for a Blurry iPhone Camera
Let’s have a look at some quick fixes to try if you are experiencing the issue, “why is my iPhone camera blurry”. These shouldn’t take more than a few minutes to try out, but they could make a huge difference in getting your iPhone camera working as it should again.
Test Both the Front and Back Cameras
First thing first, you will need to determine where you are experiencing this issue – i.e. is it the front camera or rear camera, or a particular lens (such as the wide lens) that is causing the issue. Take several test photos to see what you can determine, and you can narrow down which camera or lens you need to focus your efforts on.
Keep the Lens Clean
Over time, first and grime can easily accumulate, so you need to make sure to lean your camera lenses when they need it. Do this with a lint-free cloth like a microfibre cloth, and avoid using moisture if you are able to.
Be careful not to get any fingerprints on the glass as you clean it, as even this can affect the quality of your photos!
Tap to Zoom Instead of Pinch
Zooming in too far when taking pictures can result in the image being blurry or grainy. However, most modern phones have excellent zooming features, such as 2X or 3X optical zoom, which allows you to get up close and personal while keeping your distance – and maintain quality.
Try using the zoom buttons on the screen instead of using your fingers. These zoom options will likely get better results, and your phone will be able to deal with those requests better.
Take the Phone Case Off
Ill-fitting phone cases can result in blurry photos, so remove the case and see if this fixes the issue. You might have accidentally bought a case for the wrong model, or it’s just a faulty case. Either way, if you take it off and the pictures are clear, then you know what the issue is – get a new case!
Make sure to get phone cases from trusted stores – at imFixed, we have plenty of android cases and iPhone cases to choose from.
Quit and Re-Open the Camera App
Apps frequently glitch, and a quick force close and restart can help them to get working properly again. This could be the case with the camera app, so give it a try and see if it resolves the issue.
To force close an app on an iPhone, simply double-tap or click the home button and your recently used apps will show up. Swipe right or left to locate the app you want to close – in this case, the camera app – then swipe up on the app. After a few seconds, reboot the app and see if it is working how it should.
Use Better Lighting
Poor lighting will automatically make photos blurry or grainy, so you might just be using bad lighting! Try using more light in a picture and see if this helps – sometimes it’s the most obvious answer that we forget about.
Why is My iPhone Camera Blurry
If none of the above options have worked in resolving the blurriness of your iPhone camera, try these next fixes. These are a bit more in-depth and might take some time, but it’s worth it if you can get your iPhone camera working as it should again.
Force Restart Your iPhone
Sometimes a simple restart is all that’s needed to jumpstart the correct processes in your iPhone. Depending on the iPhone model you have, you will need to take different steps to force restart your device, but none of them require your home button to be working.
For iPhones that Support iOS 16 or Later
- Quickly press the volume up button and release
- Quickly press the volume down button and release
- Hold down the side button
- Release the side button when the Apple logo shows
For iPhones that Don’t Support iOS 16 (iPhones 6, 7, 8 and SE (1st Gen)
- iPhone 6 models and iPhone SE (1st Gen) – Hold down the home and sleep/wake button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 7 – Hold down the sleep/wake button and volume down button at the same time, then release the buttons when you see the Apple logo
- iPhone 8 and iPhone SE (2nd Gen) – Quickly press the volume up button and release, then do the same with the volume down button. Hold down the side button, and release it when you see the Apple logo
Make Sure Your iPhone is Up-to-Date
This is something that helps with a lot of tech issues – from phones that have poor sound quality on calls and other audio issues to various camera problems. Usually an iPhone will update without an issue, but if you are having trouble, you can do it manually.
You will need the latest version of iTunes on a Windows or Mac laptop/PC for this method, which we have outlined in several of our other articles.
If this doesn’t work, you can use DFU Mode, but beware that this will restore iOS to a clean slate, so back your phone up first!
Some Things for You to Check
Below are two key things that you need to check if you are getting blurry pictures from your iPhone. Both of these can have a massive impact on image quality, but might not be something that initially comes to mind when you are experiencing this issue.
Check Your RAM
When your RAM starts to fill, your device will likely start to lag. However, a full RAM will also result in pictures that are blurry because the camera just will not be able to function at its best. When you take a picture, there will be a delay between you tapping the button and the picture being taken and processed.
You can minimise this issue by holding your phone very still when this occurs – but doing that is easier said than done, and you are bound to miss out on those split-second once-in-a-lifetime photo moments.
Check for Lens Damage
Your iPhone camera lens could be damaged, or imply just defective, if nothing else seems to fix the issue. Sapphire crystals are durable, but not untouchable, and they can get damaged over time. If you drop your device, the lens can crack, which will have a negative effect on the quality of your images.
Even smaller scratches will impact image quality. If you give your phone a once-over and notice damage, you can bring it in to a trusted repair shop like us, or try to replace the component at home – though we don’t recommend this.
imFixed Can Help You
At imFixed, we can help you with replacing the front glass of your iPhone, the back of the phone, batteries, and so much more. With our technicians, we would be glad to help you with any issues you might be facing with your tech,
So, why is my iPhone camera blurry? There could be a number of issues at play, but hopefully this article has helped you resolve it. If the problem persists, be sure to take your device to a trusted repair shop.
