Why your iPhone is enough
Modern iPhone cameras can capture old prints at high enough resolution to feed an AI restoration model. You do not need a flatbed scanner, a desktop app, or a subscription to start.
The whole flow runs in Safari (or any browser). RestoreBunny accepts uploads from your camera, your Photos app, or your Files app.
Step-by-step: restore a photo from iPhone
- Step 1: Capture the print well. Lay the print flat on a surface near a window with soft, even daylight. Hold the phone parallel to the photo and avoid shadows.
- Step 2: Use the Notes scanner trick. Open the Notes app, tap the camera icon, choose Scan Documents, and capture the print. Notes auto-crops, deskews, and saves a clean version to your Photos.
- Step 3: Open RestoreBunny in Safari. Visit restorebunny.com, sign in or sign up, and tap the upload button.
- Step 4: Pick the scan. Choose Photo Library, then select the scan you just made. Run restoration.
- Step 5: Download the result. Tap and hold the restored image, then choose Save to Photos. The file is saved at full resolution.
HEIC vs JPG: what to upload
iPhones save photos as HEIC by default. RestoreBunny accepts HEIC, JPG, PNG, and WebP. If you ever hit an upload issue with HEIC on an older iPhone, you can switch your camera format under Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible to save as JPG instead.
If you only need to convert one file, share the photo from Photos and choose Save to Files - iOS converts to JPG automatically when sending.
Tips for sharper iPhone captures
- Tap the print on screen to lock focus and exposure before shooting.
- Wipe the lens with a microfiber cloth - smudges look like soft noise.
- Avoid the flash - it bounces back off glossy prints and creates a hot spot.
- Capture each photo individually - multiple photos in one frame share resolution.
- If the print is glossy, angle slightly to avoid reflections, then deskew in Notes.
Final thoughts
Restoring photos on iPhone is the easiest way to digitize a shoebox of family prints without buying any equipment. Capture, upload, restore, save - all in your pocket.
Open RestoreBunny in Safari and restore your first photo now.
FAQs
Do I need a separate app to restore photos on iPhone?
No. RestoreBunny runs in Safari (or any iOS browser). You upload from your Photos or Files app and download the result back to Photos. No App Store install required.
Why does my HEIC photo not preview correctly somewhere else?
HEIC is an Apple format. Most modern services support it, but older Windows and Android apps may not. To convert, share the HEIC photo and choose Save to Files - iOS converts to JPG when needed.
Can I restore photos using Notes scans?
Yes - Notes scans auto-crop and deskew the print, which actually improves restoration accuracy compared to a tilted handheld photo.
Will restoring on mobile use a different result than desktop?
No. The same model runs server-side regardless of the device you upload from. Mobile and desktop produce identical results.
Related
Ready to restore your photos?
Upload an image, choose your settings, and preview results with a before/after slider.