Is your iPhone camera out of focus?Here’s how to fix it [2024 Guide]

It’s very annoying that my iPhone’s camera doesn’t focus and always takes blurry photos. What’s the point of having out-of-focus photos of your favorite moments? This is not only frustrating, but also worrying, especially if you face such a problem with a brand new iPhone. Unfortunately, this can happen with any iPhone model. Therefore, you must know how to fix iPhone camera out of focus issue. In this article, we have listed 11 proven solutions to iPhone camera out of focus issue. Let’s take a closer look!

Method 1: Clean your iPhone camera lens

If your iPhone’s camera moves in and out of focus when you try to click a photo, you should carefully inspect your camera lens. Dirt, debris, and dirt on the sensor can prevent your iPhone’s camera from focusing properly. Gently wipe the lens with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Avoid using chemical solutions, strong detergents, or compressed air on the lens during cleaning. You can use a manual air blower to remove loose debris and lint.

Second, if your iPhone suffers physical damage, the autofocus mechanism may no longer work as intended and the camera may no longer focus. So if your iPhone’s back camera appears broken or you notice cracks around the front camera, you should go to an Apple Store to have your iPhone repaired.

Method 2: Check the case and lens accessories

Many iPhone users choose to wear protective cases and camera lens protectors to protect their phones and cameras from scratches, cracks, and other damage. There’s nothing wrong with this, but some cases and lens protectors may not fit perfectly. This may partially block the camera lens or flash or cause it to malfunction. So, if your iPhone 13 camera is blurry and out of focus, try removing the case and lens protector to take photos.

Additionally, if you have magnetic lenses or other attachments paired to your iPhone, try removing them. I wonder why? This is because metal lenses and other accessories, especially magnetic ones, are known to interfere with the optical stabilization of your iPhone. So, removing them may fix the iPhone camera out of focus issue.

Method 3: Check the distance of objects

One of the most common reasons why your iPhone’s camera won’t focus is because the object you’re trying to focus on is too far away or too close to your iPhone. It’s worth knowing that the iPhone can easily focus on objects that are at least 10cm away.

Unfortunately, the iPhone camera cannot focus on objects as close as 4-6 cm. Also, objects that are too far away cannot be clearly focused on. Yes, you can zoom in on your subject, but the results may look blurry. To fix iPhone photo focus issues, try moving your iPhone further away or closer to the subject you want to capture.

Method 4: Set the focus point

Your iPhone’s camera may shift in and out of focus, resulting in blurry photos. This usually occurs when focus is not set correctly. In such cases, you can manually set the focus point. To do this, open the Camera app and tap the subject you want to take a photo of. It can be a human face, a flower, a dog, a building on the street, or any other object. By tapping, you tell your iPhone which element you want to focus on. A yellow box will appear to indicate the selected focus point. When you set a focus point, your iPhone’s camera stays focused on the object.

Also, don’t move around your subject or shake your iPhone excessively while shooting. This makes it difficult for your iPhone’s camera to focus on your subject.

Method 5: Lock autofocus

The iPhone’s camera app has some great features. One such great feature is autofocus and autoexposure lock (AE/AF lock), which comes in handy in situations where the iPhone camera is out of focus. When you lock autofocus and autoexposure, your iPhone camera remains focused on the object in your shot. Simply put, this prevents the camera from changing focus automatically.

For this, Tap and hold your subject Press and hold for a few seconds until you see (what you want to focus on). A small yellow “AE/AF lock” box.

With this feature, the camera will continue to focus on your subject even if your iPhone is moving and other objects later enter the frame.

Method 6: Disable macro controls

With the iPhone 13 Pro models, Apple introduced a macro mode that automatically switches the lens when you get close to the subject. This optional feature is designed to capture every detail with fidelity.

The camera repeatedly switches between wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses to get the best shot. However, because of the constant switching, it can be difficult to get accurate focus on the iPhone. The result is a blurry and out-of-focus photo. This is the main and often overlooked reason for camera focus issues on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. To fix this, you need to disable automatic macro mode. Here’s how:

• heading to settings app On an iPhone, scroll down a little and click camera.
• Now go to the bottom and turn it off. macro control toggle.

Alternatively, you can disable macro controls while taking photos.For this, simply flower icon when it appears in the viewfinder.

Method 7: Quit the camera app

Sometimes even complex problems can be solved with simple tricks. If your iPhone’s camera isn’t focusing on close-ups, try restarting the Camera app. This is one of the easiest and quickest ways to fix several camera-related issues such as blurry or out-of-focus photos, iPhone camera flashing, etc. Therefore, avoid skipping this step.

• For iPhones with Face ID: Swipe up on the home screen and pause in the middle. This will show you recently opened apps. Swipe up on the Camera app to close it.

• For iPhones with a home button: Press the Home button twice to see recently opened apps. Just swipe up on the camera app preview and you’re done.

Once you close the camera app, wait a few seconds before opening it and trying to take a photo.

Method 8: Restart your iPhone

In some cases, a software glitch can cause focus issues with your iPhone’s camera. This usually happens after updating iOS or when there is a temporary bug in the app. If your iPhone’s camera stops focusing after an update, the best thing to do is to restart your device. Doing this will erase minor software glitches, clear your iPhone’s cache, restore RAM, and start your system fresh.

If you are a beginner, be sure to refer to our step-by-step guide to restart your iPhone model.

Method 9: Update iOS

If your iPhone’s camera is blurry and out of focus, you need to make sure your iPhone is running the latest iOS update. Apple regularly releases iOS updates with new features, security patches, and bug fixes for stock apps to improve overall functionality. If your iPhone is running an older iOS version, it may not work as intended. To fix iPhone camera focusing issues, you need to download the latest version of iOS.

• Open the Settings app and please visit general section.
• Now, tap Software updates.
• If you see pending updates, tap Download and install.

Method 10: Factory reset your iPhone

If none of the above steps worked, we recommend factory resetting your iPhone before going to the Apple Store. A factory reset erases all downloaded content and saved settings on your iPhone. Return your iPhone to its original settings and performance. This will erase all the accumulated complex bugs and glitches that cause poor performance. However, be sure to back up the data on your iPhone before performing a factory reset. If you’re a beginner, be sure to check out our troubleshooting guide on how to factory reset your iPhone and fix an iPhone that won’t focus.

If you’ve tried everything and your iPhone’s camera still won’t focus, there may be a deep-rooted problem with the camera. Hardware issues or water exposure can damage the camera module. Additionally, if the OIS (Optical Image Stabilization) mechanism fails, your iPhone photos may become out of focus. In such a case, you should go to his nearest Apple Store and have his iPhone inspected by an expert.

These are 11 tried and tested methods to fix iPhone camera not focusing. We hope this guide will clear up those hassles and allow you to focus on the best moments again. Which tricks worked for you? Don’t forget to share your experience in the comments section below.