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By Madalina Dinita 9 comments Last updated July 11, 2023
iPhones have amazing cameras that can capture astonishing pictures and videos. The latest iPhone models feature incredible camera upgrades that allow you to take photos like a pro. But not everybody’s happy. Many iPhone users complained about iOS auto-enhancing photos to the point of making them look terrible.
Your iPhone may sometimes over-expose and over-saturate images. Unfortunately, no amount of editing can undo the damage and make your photos look normal. Let’s explore what you can do about this frustrating issue.
Can You Disable Photo Auto Enhance on iPhone?
The bad news is that you can’t directly disable photo auto-enhance on iOS. The photo enhancing algorithm is built into your iPhone’s chip. Your device automatically applies the filter to each and every photo you take. The culprit has a name: Deep Fusion.
As a quick reminder, Deep Fusion is an image processing algorithm that Apple introduced with iPhone 11. The algorithm processes your photos pixel-by-pixel optimizing texture, and other image details.
While Apple is very proud of the system, many users agree that engineers have really gone over the top with the autocorrection and enhancement. Follow the suggestions below to reduce the auto-enhance effect.
Disable Full HDR
First things first, try turning off the Full HDR option. Go to Settings, select Photos, and disable View Full HDR. Take a new photo and check the results. Hopefully, you’ll notice some improvements.
Download Halide and Shoot in RAW
To turn off Deep Fusion and photo auto-enhance on iOS, you need to download Halide and shoot in RAW. That’s pretty much the only option you’ve got where you have a distinct option to turn this feature off.
Use Noise Reduction
Some users suggested using noise reduction after you take your photos. Noise reduction should temper some of the over-sharpening effects. Use this method and check if you’re happy with the results.
Use Burst Mode
Other users suggested that using Burst mode could do the trick.
- Navigate to Camera Settings.
- Turn on Use Volume Up for Burst.
- Then take a few photos using Burst mode.
- Go to Photos, and tap Select.
- Select your recent photos and press Done and Keep.
- Check if there’s any auto enhancement visible on your photos.
Use the Key Photo Option
- Take a photo with Live Photo on.
- Then navigate to Photos.
- Select your live photo and edit it using the Key Photo option.
Basically, you’ll change the focus to a different point (frame) within the live photo. If you do that, iOS won’t auto-enhance the frame that you selected. That’s another way to access the original, unedited version of a photo.
Conclusion
To sum up, many iPhone users really hate the image processing algorithm that iOS uses to enhance their photos. While you can’t disable Deep Fusion, you can minimize the image sharpening effect. For example, you can disable Full HDR, and use Burst mode or noise reduction. You can also isolate specific frames in live photos. Another option is to download Halide and shoot in RAW.
Which of these methods worked for you? If you found other ways to reduce or block photo auto-enhance on iOS, feel free to share your ideas in the comments below.
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Reader Interactions
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Show 9 Comments
- John Hopwood says
Screenshoot you image the second it appears on screen when you open it
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- Russell says
I’m not clear on this. What I see is that I pull up a photo and it seems to apply an effect. Whether that is Deep Fusion or what, I don’t know. But I can see it change. My son just sent me a picture of a sunset and it brightened the brighter sections (and, arguably, brought out some detail). So when you first pull it up, the colors are a little more sedate, but then you can see it slowly change and they become brighter (some, at least). And some folks would probably call it oversaturated. But when I posted it on Facebook, I didn’t get that version. I got the calmer version. Not sure how much of that to blame on iOS not exporting the changes that I see going on (the finished product, that is) and how much might be attributable to whatever compression technique FB is using on their end.
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- NewsView says
So I just upgraded from a 1st Generation iPhone SE, which had a top-of-the-line camera at the time and pocket-size form factor that unfortunately Apple saw fit to discontinue.
I thought I would go to the three-lens pro series and see immense improvements. Nothing about the online reviews and comparisons prepared me to see the screen literally drawing out the “effect” (HDR) it applies to photos. As a photo enthusiast, there is no way for me to know how good the actual photo is because Apple insists on “optimizing” photos for screen view. This really messes with what I choose to export off my camera and work on in Photoshop.
I know they say on the Pro series one can bypass the file manipulation and shoot in Raw but I don’t want the Raw file sizes in the iCloud or on my phone, so that is a nonstarter for me.
Needless to say I am completely shocked to see what looks like a very bad Photoshop Elements job on the photos. Too much sharpening. Too much contrast. Too much HDR in landscapes, creating a halo effect around the sun against a blue sky. It’s utterly gross and I can’t believe I haven’t seen more people comment on how these newer iPhones are so heavy-handed on the automatic post processing.
Whomever decided at Apple to “bake in” these behaviors into the chip vs. allowing for an iOS update to modify the behavior — i.e. introduce an “off” or even minimum-to-maximum processing slider — is an idiot and should be fired. (Sorry for being harsh but this is what happens when engineers without an artistic eye get in the way.)
Perhaps this is Apple’s way of fending off the limitation of the form factor? There’s only so much one can do with an essentially flat device with no telescoping lens and limited space for elements. Everything else is presumably done in software. Perhaps some day they will back off the software and people who didn’t own (or don’t remember) that iPhones past took very *natural* looking photos will rave online about how much improved the camera is when it is no longer making the photos look visibly “digitized” right out of the starting gate?
I would be curious to know, in closing, if the iPhone 15 changes any of this heavy-handed post-processing behavior? I really don’t want to drop more than a grand on a phone only to download a third-party app to obtain control over a basic JPEG photo and I really shouldn’t forced into Raw to sidestep Apple’s tortured attempt to make “average photos” better!
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- Dari Graham says
Totally hate the camera !! Totally screws up pretty much any picture I am taking … especially the sunsets etc … ugh!!!!… Nothing quite makes the pics the way the eye sees it originally!!!
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- Junal says
Is apple removing the deep fusion in ios 16
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- Brad D says
Amazing magical sunset tonight. A storm ended around 8 pm and there was this incredible yellow hue over everything bringing out colors in a very cool way. Grabbed my iPhone 13 pro to capture the scene. Deep Fusion figured it could improve on nature. No matter what I tried, it took the golden-hued sky and turned it to a standard “pretty” blue sky. Thanks Apple. Moment lost.
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- Karen Ciccone says
I second the previous commenter’s “Deep Fusion depression.” I ended up on this page looking for a solution. I used to enjoy taking pictures with my phone camera; now I rarely do, because oversharpened photos suck. I have downloaded and am experimenting with three third-party camera apps. The best ones, like Halide, are expensive. I, too, wish I had not “upgraded” my phone, and that Apple would develop a software fix.
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- Megan says
I personally use Lens Buddy and I find it helps!! If this is an issue you are still dealing with.
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- Deep fusion depression says
I really do not applaud the engineers that created the deep fusion.
The tedium to correct an auto enhanced photo is maddening.
The nice genius at the bar and the other specialists acted surprised
when I was pointing out the lack of an HDR switch off option . They “didn’t realize” the option wasn’t there. Seriously doubt that since I had purchased the 13pro. I miss my XR that I traded in!!!!! I was told I could not have it back.
I want APPLE to keep their mitts off my photos. Deep fusion, I was told by the specialists , is helpful since most people are not photographers they said. I was also told that may I should just go get a DSLR camera by another specialist. One employee suggested I should go get a Samsung. I thought I would settle for an exchange for a plain 12, but they said there was a waiting period for that . I was so very naïve to think the 13 pro was the best ever. Third party apps are not a solution to add time to photo processing.
No fixReply
Alright, let's dive into this article about iPhone auto-enhancement and the frustration it brings to users. I've had my fair share of tinkering with iPhone camera settings, so I can share some insights.
Firstly, the article mentions the notorious Deep Fusion, Apple's image processing algorithm introduced with iPhone 11. Now, Deep Fusion works by optimizing texture and other image details on a pixel-by-pixel basis. While Apple may be proud of it, the users, as evident from the article, seem to have a love-hate relationship with it. Many find the auto-enhancement a bit too much.
Now, the disappointing part is that you can't outright disable Deep Fusion. It's ingrained in your iPhone's chip, automatically applying its magic to every photo you take. However, fear not; there are workarounds suggested in the article.
One approach is to try turning off the Full HDR option in the Settings. This might alleviate some of the auto-enhance effects. Another option involves downloading Halide and shooting in RAW. Shooting in RAW gives you more control over post-processing, allowing you to bypass Deep Fusion's influence.
Some users also recommend using noise reduction after taking photos to mitigate over-sharpening effects. Burst mode is another trick up your sleeve. By enabling Burst mode in the Camera Settings, you might escape the clutches of auto-enhancement.
The article even suggests using the Key Photo option in Live Photos. By selecting a specific frame within the Live Photo, you can avoid the auto-enhance treatment.
In conclusion, while you can't entirely disable Deep Fusion, there are ways to minimize its impact. Users are encouraged to experiment with disabling Full HDR, using Burst mode, noise reduction, and even resorting to third-party apps like Halide for shooting in RAW.
Now, if you've dealt with this issue personally or have other tricks up your sleeve, feel free to share them. The more, the merrier in the battle against unwanted photo enhancements!
