How to Fix Blurry Instagram Stories (Android + iPhone)

Is your Instagram Story photo or video bad quality after you upload it?

Instagram Stories can become blurry on iPhones and Android.

Let’s look at 9 tricks you can try to fix this issue.

The reasons why Instagram Stories are blurry
Trick #1: Send a test photo to a friend
Trick #2: Update the Instagram app
Trick #3: Test a new photo or video
Trick #4: Use your mobile data only
Trick #5: Adjust your camera settings
Trick #6: Turn off “Data” saver in the Instagram settings
Trick #7: Turn on the “High quality upload” settings on Instagram
Trick #8: Use the Instagram camera
Trick #9: Upload your Stories in Preview App

Why are your Instagram Stories blurry?

Instagram Stories can become bad quality because of one or more of these issues:

You recently backed-up your phone, some of your photos and videos might not have backed-up properly and are corrupted
Your Internet connection (most common issue)
Your phone automatically takes higher resolution photos and Instagram automatically crops or lower it
Your Instagram version could have an issue
You need to change your Instagram photo and video quality settings

Let’s look at how to fix blurry Instagram Stories.

Fix Blurry Insta Story Trick #1. Send a test photo to a friend

First, let’s check if the issue is or is not your phone.

Send the photo you want to post in your Instagram Story to a friend, as a private message.

Does your friend see the photo in good quality or bad quality?
Ask them to post the photo in their Story: is it good quality or bad quality?
If they see a good quality, then it might not be your phone’s photos fault.
If they see bad quality, then your phone needs help.

Keep reading to see what you can try.

Fix Blurry Insta Story Trick #2. Update the Instagram app

Second, let’s check if it’s an issue with your Instagram version.

Sometimes, Instagram does a new update that changes the quality of Instagram Stories.

Go in your App Store / Google PlayStore app
Search for Instagram
Check if there is an “Update” button you can press
After the update, post in your Instagram Story again
Check if it is better quality

If it is not better quality, try trick #3.

Fix Blurry Insta Story Trick #3. Test a new photo or video

This trick is for you if you recently backed up your phone.

Sometimes, a backup can change / corrupt photos and videos.

So let’s check if it is an issue with your old photos and videos.

Take a new photo or video
Post it in your Story
If it is still bad quality: go to trick #4
If it is good quality: it means your old photos and videos have been corrupted. They will always look blurry. But you can try trick #11.

Fix Blurry Insta Story Trick #4. Use your mobile data only

This is one of the most common reasons why Instagram Stories look blurry.

It happens to me so many times.

And when that happens, there’s only one solution:

Use your phone’s mobile data – not your WiFi (turn off your WiFi and make sure you are using your mobile data only).
Post in your Instagram Story
If it is good quality: congratulations, you found the solution!
If it is still bad quality: go to Trick #5

Usually, mobile data has a more stable Internet connection.

Fix Blurry Insta Story Trick #5. Adjust your camera settings

On Android:

Open the default Camera app on your phone
Press on the Settings icon (it’s the gear icon)
Adjust the picture and video size to the highest quality

On iPhone:

Open your iPhone Settings app
Find “Camera”
Adjust camera quality and toggle the “Smart DHR” on

Other iPhone trick:

Take photos using the 16:9 option, like this:

Fix Blurry Insta Story Trick #6. Turn off “Data” saver in the Instagram settings

Instagram usually automatically turns off your mobile data usage. This can make your photos and videos take longer to upload on Instagram. And it can make your Instagram Stories blurry.

Do this: