How to Restore Old Family Photos with AI
We all have that shoebox of treasured photos. The black-and-white wedding picture that is cracked down the middle, or the Polaroid of the kids that is fading into a blurry orange haze. You want to save them, but professional restoration is expensive and slow.
Today, "magic" tools on the internet can fix these photos in seconds. AI looks at a blurry face and uses its knowledge of millions of other faces to fill in the missing details, sharpen the eyes, and even remove scratches.
Step 1: Digitize Your Photo First, you need to get the photo into your computer or phone. You don't need a fancy scanner.
Use the free "Google PhotoScan" app on your phone to take a glare-free picture of the physical print. Or, simply place the photo near a window with good natural light and take a steady picture of it with your regular camera. Crop it so only the photo shows.
Step 2: Find a Free Restoration Tool Go to your computer or tablet browser. Search for "free AI photo restorer." There are many easy-to-use websites like "Fotor," "Hotpot.ai," or "MyHeritage."
For this guide, we will look for a tool that offers a "face unblur" or "scratch repair" feature. Many of these sites let you fix a few photos for free to try it out. (Note: Always use reputable sites and never upload photos with sensitive personal information like ID cards).
Step 3: Upload and Enhance Look for a button that says "Upload Image." Select your photo from your gallery.
Once uploaded, you will usually see a button that says "Restore," "Enhance," or "Colorize." Click it. The AI will think for a few seconds. Watch as the blurriness vanishes and your grandmother’s face becomes sharp and clear. It feels like wiping dust off a window.
Step 4: Download and Share If you like the result, click "Download" or "Save." You now have a digital copy that looks like it was taken yesterday.
You can email this new version to your family or print it out at the drugstore. These restored photos make incredible gifts for anniversaries or reunions—bringing the past back to life in clear, beautiful detail.