Open the photo in Google Photos, tap Edit, then Adjust, and raise the Sharpen (or Definition) slider a little – it can bring back some crispness to a slightly soft phone photo.
What you need
- The photo, saved to your phone or computer
- Google Photos, free, on your phone or at photos.google.com
- About one minute
Add sharpening gradually
Sharpening works best in small amounts. Pushed too far, it can add a harsh outline around edges or make the photo look grainy, so add it gradually.
How to sharpen the photo
- Open the photo in Google Photos and tap Edit.
- Open Adjust and find Sharpen or Definition.
- Increase the slider gradually, checking the preview as you go.
- Stop as soon as edges look crisper – if you start seeing a white outline around objects or extra graininess, pull it back a little.
- Save a copy.
Check detail looks crisper
Zoom in on a detailed area, like hair or text. It should look a little crisper than before, without a harsh outline or obvious grain that wasn’t there originally.
If the blur is from camera movement
If the blur comes from camera movement rather than general softness, sharpening won’t fix it – it can only add back a small amount of clarity, not remove genuine motion blur. Be cautious of any app or website that claims it can fully “un-blur” a photo; that’s not something photo-editing tools can reliably do.
Next step
If the photo also looks grainy rather than just soft, see Reduce grain in a low-light photo.
Sources and date checked
Google Photos Help Centre, checked 22 September 2026.