iPhone Photos Blurry? How to Fix Camera Quality

What to Know

  • If your iPhone photos are blurry, your camera is likely shifting between lenses when it shouldn't be. 
  • To fix blurry photos, enable Macro Control and turn off Lens Correction in Settings. 
  • There's also several fixes for iPhone 15, 14, and 13 Pro Max glitches causing blurry photos.

Every new iPhone makes a splash with the promise of exciting new camera capabilities. But many users have experienced issues that made them consider returning the new phones. Before you decide to throw in the towel, let me walk you through some easy ways to improve photo quality instantly on iPhone 15 and earlier models.

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How to Turn On Macro Control & Turn Off Lens Correction

Some iPhone 15, 14, and 13 Pro and Pro Max users have noticed their iPhone camera zooming in too much, suddenly and unexpectedly. This may be due to the new auto macro mode feature rather than a camera malfunction or software glitch. While it is impossible to turn macro mode off, toggling on Macro Control makes it easier for you to understand it's on and manually turn it off. Lens Correction is another setting that can improve your photography, but it may also cause problems. 

  1. To fix blurry photos, start by opening the Settings app.

    Open Settings.
  2. Tap Camera.

    Tap on Camera.
  3. Toggle on Macro Control.

    Toggle on Macro Control.
  4. Toggle off Lens Correction.

    Toggle off Lens Correction.
  5. With Macro Control toggled on, you’ll see the macro icon pop up any time it is activated automatically. Tap the icon to turn macro mode off.

    Tap the icon to turn macro mode off.

For more iPhone tips, such as how to prevent the camera shaking issue. While you're at it, you can also sign up for our free Tip of the Day newsletter! 

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Pro Tip: These troubleshooting tips may help fix the problem, but understanding how the iPhone lenses and zoom work can also be useful.  Understanding how to use iPhone camera lenses correctly and the difference between optical zoom and digital zoom will level up your photography game big time.

Why Is My Camera Blurry: Model Specific Glitches & Solutions

If the steps above don't help, try force quitting the Camera app, restarting your iPhone, and making sure you are running the latest iOS update. Here are a few model specific issues that you might come across, although these problems can occur on any model iPhone, even if they are running the latest software.

iPhone 13 Camera Blinking Problem

Sometimes when your iPhone camera won't focus, it might start blinking, or have the screen turn black when in camera mode. This was a known bug on iPhone 13s that got fixed with an update. However, I experience the same black Camera app screen with my iPhone 15 Pro Max when I use it for longer periods and my phone gets overheated. Try these fixes if you keep experiencing problems with your iPhone camera.

iPhone 14 Camera Shaking Problem

Unfortunately, it isn't uncommon for phones with new technology to not function perfectly right off the bat. Updates to hardware and software can cause unexpected problems, which is why Apple comes out with frequent updates to fix them. iOS 16.2 helped fix a widespread iPhone 14 camera shaking problem that made taking photos using third-party apps difficult. This is why keeping your iPhone up to date with the latest iOS version is a great way to fix annoying bugs and glitches.

iPhone Camera Not Focusing on iPhone 15 Pro Max

Even the newest iPhones can experience problems. Some iPhone 15 users experience issues with autofocus, either not getting the results they hope or the app doesn't let them focus where they want. One thing to keep in mind is that the main iPhone 15 Camera lens has a minimum focusing distance of 7.8", so the object you are photographing needs to be further than this, unless you are using the Macro lens. It is also always possible that you recieved a defective unit, so I always recommend reaching out to Apple if an issue persists, if the issue is on their end, they may be able to replace your faulty device.

Macro Mode Photography Issues - Pro Versions of iPhone 13, 14 & 15

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max have a macro mode feature, like the one we've seen on the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Macro photography is close-up photography of small things such as plants or insects. To take these, your iPhone will automatically shift from the primary wide lens to the ultra-wide lens, which brings the subject closer and changes the focus. If the camera detects something within 5.5 inches of the lens, this will happen automatically. 

The automatic mode change can happen if something passes near the lens or in low light. Sometimes this happens even if there isn't anything close to the lens, and it can be frustrating. It can even cause you to miss a moment you are trying to capture because you need to take the time to refocus your camera. The two things that help are to turn on Macro Control and turn off Lens Correction.

Now you know how to fix a blurry picture on iPhone from within the Camera app! But, if you're just a shaky-handed photographer, taking photos in burst mode is a great way to ensure you capture the moment. It can take a while to get used to a new phone and all the features, including the camera options. Next, learn how to fix the front facing camera not working.

FAQ

  • Why does my iPhone 13 camera keep refocusing? If your iPhone camera won't focus and you have an iPhone with a third lens, your camera may be automatically shifting between the wide lens and ultra-wide lens (for macro photography) when it shouldn't be. To avoid blurry photos, you need to adjust two photography toggles in Settings.
  • How do I stop my iPhone 13 camera from auto-focusing? You need to adjust two settings to stop your iPhone 13 from auto-focusing: Macro Control and Lens Correction. To turn on Macro Control, open the Settings app, tap Camera, and toggle on Macro Control. Then, disable the Lens Correction toggle in your Camera settings. 
  • What does Lens Correction do on an iPhone? Lens Correction is a photography setting that is automatically enabled on your iPhone. When you use the front-facing camera or the ultra-wide lens (for macro photography), the image is automatically enhanced to avoid image distortion and make the picture look more natural. 
  • What does Macro Control do on an iPhone? When you enable Macro Control in Settings, your Camera app displays a macro button when your iPhone is within macro distance of a subject. Then, you can tap the macro button to turn off automatic macro switching, and tap it again to turn automatic macro switching back on. This gives you better control if you're struggling with blurry photos.
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Author Details

Olena Kagui's picture

Author Details

Olena Kagui

Olena Kagui is a Feature Writer at iPhone Life. In the last 10 years, she has been published in dozens of publications internationally and won an excellence award. Since joining iPhone Life in 2020, she has written how-to articles as well as complex guides about Apple products, software, and apps. Olena grew up using Macs and exploring all the latest tech. Her Maui home is the epitome of an Apple ecosystem, full of compatible smart gear to boot. Olena’s favorite device is the Apple Watch Ultra because it can survive all her adventures and travels, and even her furbabies.