How to Fix Motion Blur in Photos (Camera Shake and Moving Subjects)
Fix motion blur in photos caused by camera shake or moving people: what's recoverable, how AI deblurring helps, and tips for capturing prints without shake.
By Ayoub Farid · · 2 min read
Motion blur happens when the camera or the subject moves during the exposure. It's common in old photos (long exposures, children who wouldn't sit still) and in phone photos taken indoors. It looks different from focus blur, and it's harder to fix.
Two kinds of motion blur
- Camera shake: the whole image is smeared in the same direction, often with double edges. Common with slow shutter speeds.
- Subject motion: the background is sharp but a person or part of them (a waving hand, a turning head) is smeared.
How fixable is it?
| Blur | Fixability |
|---|---|
| Slight shake, a few pixels | Good |
| Moderate shake with visible double edges | Partial improvement |
| Strong streaks | Limited |
| One moving person in a sharp scene | Face can often be improved, streaked limbs less so |
Fix with AI
AI enhancement sharpens faces and details and can reduce mild to moderate blur. Face enhancement in particular can turn a slightly smeared face into a clear one. In Refixo, choose the photo and tap Restore, then compare closely.
For strong motion blur, results improve but may look reconstructed. Check the likeness carefully (see is AI photo restoration accurate?).
Don't add motion blur when capturing prints
Many "blurry old photos" are actually sharp prints captured with a shaky phone. Before fixing the photo, rule this out:
- Use bright light so the shutter speed is fast.
- Rest your elbows on the table or use a stand.
- Tap to focus and wait a moment before pressing the shutter.
- Take two or three shots and keep the sharpest.
See how to scan photos with your iPhone.
Look for another frame
For more recent photos, there may be other shots from the same moment. Burst photos and Live Photos on iPhone sometimes contain a sharper frame: open a Live Photo, tap Edit and choose a different key photo.
Related: fixing blurry photos, fixing out-of-focus photos.
Old long-exposure portraits
In the 19th century, studio exposures could last several seconds. Sitters used head braces and held still, but children, pets and blinking eyes often blurred. If a face is soft but the clothing is sharp, AI face enhancement can recover it well. If the whole person moved, the result will be more of a reconstruction. Ghostly, semi-transparent figures in old street scenes are people who walked through during a long exposure; those can't be recovered and are part of the photo's history.
Frequently asked questions
Can motion blur be removed from a photo?
Mild motion blur can be reduced significantly. Strong streaks can be improved but not fully undone.
Why are old photos often motion blurred?
Exposures were longer, and people, especially children, moved.
Is camera shake fixable?
Slight shake responds well to AI sharpening; heavy shake much less so.
How can I tell motion blur from focus blur?
Motion blur has direction (streaks or double edges). Focus blur is soft in all directions.
Restore it in seconds
Bring your old photos back to life
Refixo's AI removes scratches, tears and stains, sharpens faces and colorizes black & white photos in seconds. Free to download on iPhone and iPad, with a 3-day free trial.
Download on theApp Store