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Yellow/blue streaks pictures

Has anyone had this issue when taking pictures you get these yellow and blue streaks on some of your pictures? If so how was this fixed?


I recently got an iPhone XR from AT&T (2 months ago) and started noticing the issue after I take a picture. Before you take a picture everything looks great until you take the picture is when I noticed all these lines on most of my pictures.


I spoke with Apple tech support on 10/4 and they advised that I take my phone in to an Apple store for a tech to take a look at. 10/5 I walk in to my appointment to have my iPhone XR checked out and they recommended to replace the camera and so they did to fix the issue. At the store I didn’t notice any issues until later that night when I want to go have dinner at a restaurant and when I got home. I called Apple tech support again for yet another appointment. 10/11 I walk in to my appointment they recommend that it’s possibly a hardware issue so they would replace my iPhone XR at no charge to me. So I thought great that’s no problem. All weekend I didn’t have a chance to play with the camera until yesterday when I noticed the lines again!!


My IPhone 6S Plus doesn’t have these issues at all so I know my iPhone XR should not take pictures like this. It’s getting annoying have this happen very often.


How can I fix this or what can I do at this point ?


I am simply taking pictures for the native camera app with no filters applied, I don’t use any other 3rd party camera apps, I don’t have a case that covers the camera at all, the lens is clean and not smudged, never dropped the iPhone on the camera or anything.


iPhone XR

Posted on Oct 15, 2019 4:00 PM

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Posted on Oct 30, 2019 6:21 PM

That’s awesome!! Thank you figuring out a workaround! I’m and very happy to have these streaks removed.


On my camera I didn’t have the HDR option at the top but I did end up going to:

Settings > Camera & toggles off Smart HDR. This option turned on always used Smart HDR, so once it’s turned off, on your Camera you’ll be able to turn off HDR.

180 replies

Jan 21, 2020 12:23 AM in response to Chrizztopher

Hello Sranvalsi and every Xr User. I too have this issue and love this iPhone camera yet experience the camera issue of lines with HDR under certain conditions 😒😡👎🏻 which is completely UNACCEPTABLE even if it’s a flaw in their software which their millions of software developers should be looking at ! I have been able to use HDR without issues but only daytime. Night time I can sometimes get HDR to work fine but a good part of time I turn off HDR. Additionally I’ve gotten smart HDR to work during the day and it’s well pretty great. After much time and research I’ve found that it happens typically for me with LED lighting and florescent lighting. Both types of lighting are particularly bad for pictures. On a side note I bought some camera gear that will really improve and increase the iPhone XR camera’s photo capabilities and unlock camera potential! After using it can really rival the 11’s camera quality when used properly. Telephoto lense by Sandmarc includes iPhone case with camera mount, lense covers and pouch, plus a camera adapter for your own case. The price is 100$ . Best quality and price! Highly recommended by EMT on Youtube and other you tubers. I love mine and my skepticism was obliterated after using it for a month. 2nd item: hybrid Filters (130$) really help with the polarization and excessive / bad exposure , lighting, and poor saturation in iPhone pictures. I use them and combined with the iPhone editing software you can make remarkable pictures. Ps. These filters can screw onto the lenses they have. Lastly on behalf of all Xr users with this issue. I posted this tweet and Apple support responded.


without hybrid filters shot on XR


Using hybrid filters and some editing (minor) the filters help bring out the clouds and lost details due to over exposure and dull colors. ND64/PL.

Oct 28, 2019 9:23 AM in response to Chrizztopher

I am having the same issue and went two time to the Apple Store. They changed the camera and the issue still there and then, changed the cellphone and the issue continue. Now, they are pointing that the issue is with my backup (that I am using icloud and their app to do) and they are asking to reset the phone and install app by app.

I asked to them to escalated this issue and try to solve with the engineer team, because I will not install app by app.

The Apple Support becoming worse daily and only throwing the issue back to the customer, that it's really bad.

And I have asked the second thing to them as well, avoid me to pay the 3 months (for the upgrade program) that I still have with this phone and try to change my cellphone to another one. They are evaluating this as well, for looooooong time.

Oct 31, 2019 3:51 AM in response to Hey_Soup

I spent over two hours on the phone with Apple support running diagnostics and and troubleshooting. They even had me update my laptop to Catalina, and install the new version of iTunes. Not sure what this had to do with my camera issue, but I followed their advice. When we were done, they recommended I take it to the Apple store to have them look at it. At he appointment, we went over everything that was already done, and they decided to replace the camera and restore the phone to original settings. I have not taken many photos since, but they said if it continues, go back and they would evaluate further.

Oct 31, 2019 8:09 AM in response to Hey_Soup

Seems we now have a current resolution until Apple can resolve the issue in a new update (not 13.2). It works for me now and I’m happy to not see the yellow and blue lines anymore.


I understand they spent all the time they did to help resolve the issue for you but I honestly don’t think the update to Catalina would be a root cause for the issue. Hopefully the Tagged resolution works for you as well.

Nov 11, 2019 11:22 AM in response to Chrizztopher

I tried the "turning Smart HDR and HDR off" trick and I'm still getting the streaks occasionally. It really sucks! My 7 worked flawlessly (and still does). I shouldn't have to pay $800 for a faulty phone. Apple needs to address this immediately or offer us upgrades. I bought this stupid XR like 2 weeks before the 11 was released. (I didn't have a choice, I had to get a personal phone ASAP at that time) Is this the only model experiencing this issue?

Nov 11, 2019 1:42 PM in response to Chrisbones

You’re correct since I started this post the issue has not been resolved by Apple. Another user having the same issue found a work around which helped me but there are times I’ve still noticed this on a few pictures from time to time.


I’m not happy at all either. I too purchased this phone 2 weeks from when I posted this and I absolutely hate this phone and more of the fact that I paid full price for it and Apple can’t ever resolve the issue.


Apple has replaced the camera, and the issue was still there, then they replaced by phone, which didn’t not fix the issue, and I spent many hours with their tech support regarding the issue and they have no idea how to fix this.


I’m still hoping a new update resolves this but I have a feeling it probably won’t be.

Nov 11, 2019 2:28 PM in response to clfljr

I agree I had tech support tell me at first that the issue was my prior back so I restored my phone and started my phone as a new iPhone and the issue still persisted. Then they tried to pin it because I was doing my back up on a PC. It’s the worst excuse to give.


The worst part of being treated bad is that my phone carrier could not refund my money or make this issue right & giving me a different option for the horrible phone.


Anyways, I do hope Apple can fix the issue.

Nov 11, 2019 5:57 PM in response to Chrizztopher

Same issue!!! I just upgraded last night to 13.2.2, did the workaround and the issue is still there!


went to a local Apple Service Center and they said it’s the first time they’ve heard of the issue so I thought it was just my phone. But I saw this thread, a reddit thread and did a survey with my friends and it’s not just me...


I hope they fix it ASAP because the issue is becoming motte frequent and more annoying!

Yellow/blue streaks pictures

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