Photos suddenly blurry: is the camera lens glass or the camera broken?

Above each lens sits a small cover glass, which is a separate part. If it's scratched or cracked, it scatters the light. Photos then look pale and hazy, but the camera still focuses sharply.

Underneath is the camera module with autofocus and image stabilisation. Apple describes how this works: a gyroscope detects movement, and the lens moves against it so the image stays steady. On newer iPhones, magnetic sensors also measure the position of the lens. If this mechanism is damaged, the image becomes blurry even though the glass in front of it is intact.

The distinction matters because these are two different repairs. With a glass replacement the camera stays in the device; with a module replacement the camera itself is replaced.

Start with the things that cost nothing. Sometimes the supposed defect sorts itself out along the way.

One behaviour looks like a fault but is intended. If you move close to a subject with the camera of an iPhone that supports macro photos, the Camera app switches to the ultra wide camera by itself from about 2 centimetres. The picture visibly jumps when this happens.

If this bothers you, you can turn it off. Apple describes the way via “Settings”, then “Camera”, where you turn off the “Macro Control” option. If a close-up photo is still blurry, Apple says a little more distance from the subject helps.

Hold the phone at an angle under a bright lamp and turn it slowly. Fine cracks and small chips at the edge often only become visible when the light hits them at the right angle.

In photos, cracked glass shows mainly in backlight and at night. Lamps get a halo or draw bright streaks, and the whole picture looks dull. The edges in the subject stay sharp, though, and that's exactly how you tell it apart from a fault in the module.

If the focus constantly pumps back and forth, every picture stays blurry or something rattles quietly when you move the phone, the fault is in the camera module. Damage like this is caused, for example, by a drop.

One cause many people don't know about: strong vibrations. Apple warns against mounting your iPhone on high-powered motorcycles, because the vibrations can impair image stabilisation and autofocus over time. For mopeds, scooters and drones, Apple recommends a mount that dampens vibrations and advises against using it regularly on long rides.

With damage like this, only a new module helps. What to keep in mind when replacing the camera on an iPhone is explained on our iPhone camera repair page.

A crack in the camera glass rarely stays as it is. Dust and moisture get through it into the narrow gap in front of the lens, where you can no longer reach them from outside. If a splinter comes loose and rubs on the lens, the small glass replacement becomes a module replacement.

We look at the device first and tell you whether the glass is enough. The diagnosis is free, even if you decide against the repair afterwards. After the diagnosis you get a quote. We only repair once you agree.

Most repairs are done in under an hour. How long it takes for your device, we'll tell you after the diagnosis.