iPhone pictures usually look blurry in texts for one of three reasons: Send Low Quality Photo Previews is on, Low Data Mode is on, or the photo was sent as an SMS/MMS message (green bubble) instead of iMessage or RCS. Fix the first two in Settings, and check which kind of message you’re sending.
This guide covers the Messages app on iPhone with the current iOS. It follows Apple’s Take and edit photos or videos in Messages guide, its Low Data Mode article, and its iMessage, RCS and SMS/MMS explainer.
1. Turn Off Send Low Quality Photo Previews
Apple says this setting sends a smaller preview first so the other person gets it right away, before the full-resolution photo arrives. When Low Data Mode is on, only the preview is sent.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Messages.
- Turn off Send Low Quality Photo Previews.
Result: Your iPhone sends the full-resolution photo instead of a preview first.
2. Turn Off Low Data Mode
Apple says Low Data Mode restricts background network use, and you can turn it on separately for Wi-Fi and cellular. Check both:
- Wi-Fi: Go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the Info button next to your network, and turn off Low Data Mode.
- Cellular (LTE/4G): Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options and turn off Low Data Mode.
- Cellular (5G): Go to Settings > Cellular > Cellular Data Options > Data Mode and turn off Low Data Mode.
- Dual SIM: Go to Settings > Cellular, tap a number, and turn off Low Data Mode.
Result: Messages can send full photos again. Apple notes the exact Low Data Mode settings can vary by carrier.
3. Check for Green Bubbles
The bubble color tells you how the message was sent. Apple says iMessage (blue bubbles) and RCS (green bubbles) can both send high resolution photos. SMS/MMS messages also appear green. Apple notes that your carrier may set size limits for attachments, and your iPhone may compress photos when necessary.
- Texting another iPhone? Make sure iMessage is on in Settings > Apps > Messages.
- Texting an Android phone? Turn on RCS in Settings > Apps > Messages > RCS Messaging. Apple says you need iOS 18 and a carrier that supports RCS. If the setting doesn’t appear, RCS might not be available. See Apple’s RCS article.
4. Give It a Moment
If previews are on, Apple says the other person may see the smaller version first, with the full-resolution photo arriving after. On a slow connection, wait a bit and tap the photo again.
How to Send a Photo in Messages
- Open a conversation in Messages.
- Tap the Add button, then tap Photos.
- Tap the photos you want to send.
- Tap Done, add a comment if you like, then tap the Send button.
Result: The photo sends as iMessage, RCS or SMS/MMS, depending on the conversation. To crop or adjust it first, tap the image in the message bubble, then tap Edit. Apple notes that iMessage uses cellular data when Wi-Fi isn’t available, so data rates might apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are only some of my photos blurry?
Check the bubble color for that conversation. Photos to people you text over SMS/MMS can be limited by your carrier, while iMessage and RCS conversations can send high resolution photos.
Does Low Data Mode affect anything else?
Yes. Apple says it turns off Background App Refresh, reduces streaming quality, pauses automatic downloads and backups, and pauses iCloud Photos updates. To manage that first setting separately, see how to turn Background App Refresh on or off on iPhone.
Related: how to share contacts on iPhone.
Related: how to turn on iMessage and how to free up storage on iPhone.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.