How to Fix Blurry Instagram Stories: 11 Tips to Increase Quality

Simple ways to fix blurry Stories on Instagram

Co-authored by Reina LeGrand and Rain Kengly

Last Updated: January 19, 2026 Fact Checked

Do your Instagram stories suddenly look blurry? Sometimes a photo or video will look great on your phone but turn blurry when you upload it to your story. Fortunately, blurry Instagram stories can usually be fixed in a few simple steps. Whether the cause lies with the Instagram app or is related to your Android, iPhone, or iPad, this wikiHow article has you covered in getting to the bottom of why your Instagram stories are blurry.

Blurry Instagram Story Causes

If your Story is blurry, it may be due to a poor internet connection, an outdated app, or your settings. Connect to Wi-Fi when uploading stories to make sure you're getting the best quality. Take the photo or video on your built-in camera app first before uploading. Enable high-quality uploads and disable Data Saver.

1

Check your Internet connection.

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One of the most common reasons for blurry Instagram photos is a poor internet connection. A poor internet connection can affect the quality of your own story, as well as the quality of how other people's stories look in the Instagram app. Ensure you are connected to Wi-Fi when you post and view stories.^{[1]
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- If stories are blurry while you're connected to Wi-Fi, run a speed test to check the quality of your connection.
- If you indeed suspect that your internet connection is the culprit behind your blurry stories, try turning Airplane Mode on and off. This can often help your device rediscover a stronger and more stable connection.

2

Update the Instagram App.

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If you haven't updated the Instagram app in a while, check for an update using the App Store (iPhone/iPad) or Play Store (Android).

3

Use your device's Camera app.

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This is because on some Androids, the Instagram app cannot access the built-in camera app. Instead, the Instagram camera takes a "screenshot" of the camera's viewfinder, which produces a poorer-quality photo. If you have an Android, use your phone or tablet's built-in camera app to capture a photo or record video and upload it to your story instead of using Instagram's story camera.

4

Clear your cache.

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Clearing the Instagram app cache can help fix blurry stories on Android. Unfortunately, only Android users can clear an app's cache. If you are an iPhone user and believe this may be your issue, you will need to reinstall Instagram. To clear your Instagram cache on Android:
- Open your Android's Settings.
- Tap Apps or Apps & notifications, depending on your Android version.^{[2]
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- Tap Instagram. If you don't see it, tap All Apps first.
- Tap Storage or Storage & cache.
- Tap Clear cache and confirm.

5

Check for Instagram outages.

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Consider whether Instagram is up and running properly. If your Instagram stories are blurry, the problem might be on Instagram's end, not yours. If the Instagram app is bogged down, it will be unable to fully load any stories, including your own. Some places to check for Instagram outages and status updates:
- Instagram's official X account
- Down Detector
- You can also search X for the word "Instagram" to see if other users are also experiencing blurry stories.

6

Enable High Quality Uploads.

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Turn on "Upload at highest quality" to make sure your stories upload as intended. If Instagram is not set to upload at the highest quality, it will decrease the quality of your stories when your internet connection slows down. To turn on high quality uploads:^{[3]
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- Tap your profile icon at the bottom-right corner of Instagram.
- Tap the three-line menu.
- Tap Media Quality.
- Toggle on Upload at highest quality.
- Activating this setting will prevent Instagram from compressing your content, no matter how slow your connection is.
- Note that your story uploads will likely take longer, as the file sizes will be larger.

7

Turn off Data Saver.

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If Data Saver is turned on, your stories might be blurry when you upload them over cellular data. This feature is designed to help you use less cellular data on Instagram, which is helpful if you don't have unlimited data. If you do have unlimited data, turn this feature off to make sure you can always upload clear, unblurred stories from any location. Here's how:^{[4]
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- Tap your profile icon at the bottom-right corner of Instagram.
- Tap the three-line menu.
- Tap Media Quality.
- Toggle off Use less cellular data.

8

Upload smaller photos and videos.

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Instagram limits photo uploads to 30MB and stories to 4GB. If you have a really high-quality camera, it might be too high-quality for Instagram stories. When the photo or video you're adding to your story is larger than the limit, Instagram will compress it, making it appear blurry in your story. You can fix this problem by decreasing the photo and video size before uploading.^{[5]
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- Instagram recommends uploading vertical videos (such as the type you add to stories) at 1080 x 1920 px resolution and 30 fps for the best quality.^{[6]
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9

Use less media in your Stories.

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Although Instagram offers a robust set of options for customizing your story, adding too many bells and whistles to your story can limit its image quality and produce blurry stories. Try to avoid adding more than a few stickers or songs to your story.

10

Adjust camera settings.

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Tinker with your phone's camera settings. If using the Camera app on your Android or iPhone, you may be using some settings that lead to blurry photos. Of course, if this is the case, you will likely flag these issues when viewing the photos in your library.
- This wikiHow article can help you take the best possible photos with your phone's camera!

11

Uninstall and reinstall Instagram.

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If none of the above suggestions seem to fix your blurry Instagram stories, you may consider just uninstalling and reinstalling it on your phone or tablet. It's not a guaranteed fix, but it'll provide you with a clean copy of the app, potentially addressing any lingering issues in quality.^{[7]
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Expert Q&A

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How do I play around with the lighting when taking pictures?

Reina LeGrand
Photographer
Reina LeGrand is a Photographer based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She is the owner and Lead Photographer of Bougie Boudoir Studio, a luxury boutique boudoir studio with locations in Castle Rock, CO, and Scottsdale, AZ. Reina primarily shoots in the AZ studio but works out of both studios. At Bougie Boudoir, Reina and her team celebrate the beauty and spirit of women through photography and believe that a Boudoir or Glamour Portrait Shoot is one of the most fun and life-affirming things a woman can do for herself. Their goal is for every one of their clients to feel comfortable and safe.

Reina LeGrand

Photographer

Expert Answer

You should focus on using the light to shape your subject and create the mood that you want. Some people like a naturally soft look, while others go for something more dramatic. It all depends on the style you’re aiming for. Personally, I love playing with light and shadow to create a timeless vibe that doesn’t rely on trends. Pay attention to where the light falls and where the shadows land. Use this light to highlight the features you want to emphasize, like the face or curves, and let shadows minimize areas you want less attention on. For example, if your subject feels self-conscious about a specific spot, shadows can gently de-emphasize it.

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