Photos blurry after upgrading from iPhone 6 to 2nd Gen iPhone SE

Hi allykay18,

Thank you for using Apple Support Communities. I understand you're having an issue where photos from your iPhone 6 are appearing blurry on your new iPhone SE 2nd Generation. If you are able to answer a few questions the community may be able to better support you on this issue.

• How did you transfer the information from your iPhone 6 to iPhone SE 2nd Generation?
• How long ago did this transfer occur?
• When did you disable Optimize iPhone Storage? Was it originally turned on at one point in time?

Based off your description of the issue it does sound like your iPhone SE 2nd Generation is using Optimize iPhone Storage as the photos are blurry until zoomed in. This would imply that they are a smaller version of the photo and once selected the full resolution photo is loaded.

Here is a great resource for Optimize iPhone Storage:

Manage your photo and video storage

Here is a great resource to download the original photo from iCloud.com:

Download iCloud photos and videos

Specifically, these steps:

"On your Mac or PC

1:On iCloud.com, click Photos and select a photo or video. Hold the command key on your Mac or control key on your PC to select multiple photos or videos.

2:Click and hold the download icon the iCloud download icon in the upper corner of the window. If you want to download your photo or video as it was originally captured or imported, choose Unmodified Original. For JPEG or H.264 format — including edits, and even if it was originally in HEIF or HEVC format — choose Most Compatible.*

3:Click Download."

Take care

Hey allykay18,

Thank you for answering those questions. From what you're describing it sounds like your photos haven't finished downloading to your iPhone. When you disable Optimize iPhone Storage the photos are required to download to your device via WiFi in the original quality. This can be a lengthy process depending on internet speed and the amount of photos that you have.

In having and iCloud back up from your iPhone 6, I'd recommend performing an erase all content and settings on your iPhone SE 2nd Generation. After the iPhone SE 2nd Generation has been reset you will want to transfer the information back onto the phone using your iCloud back up from your iPhone 6.

Here are a couple resources that will help:

Erase all content and settings from iPhone

Transfer data from your previous iOS device to your new iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

After you have successfully gotten the information back onto your iPhone SE 2nd Generation you will want to select Download and Keep Originals when disabling Optimize iPhone Storage.

Here is a great resource that will walk you through that process:

Get help with iCloud Photos

Specifically, this part:

"If you have Optimize Storage turned on, you might not have all of your original photos and videos on your device. To download the original photos and videos on your iOS device, go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud > Photos and select Download and Keep Originals. On your Mac, open Photos, choose Photos > Preferences, then select Download Originals to this Mac. Then you can turn off iCloud Photos. You can also select the photos and videos that you want to download from iCloud.com."

Take care