Why Are Your TikToks Blurry? 5 Ways To Fix Video Quality

You could use the best lighting, camera, and editing tools for a video — but when you upload it to TikTok, it might still be blurry or grainy.

There are dozens of factors that could affect your video’s quality, and the good news is that many of them are in your control. Here’s why your TikToks are blurry and how to fix a blurry video to post the best content possible. 

Why Are Your TikToks Blurry?

So why does TikTok ruin video quality? Is it TikTok’s fault or a glitch? Here are the most common causes of low-quality uploads and how to fix them:

1. Uploading Glitch

TikTok, like other apps, can malfunction due to technical issues like a server crash or maintenance. For example, some TikTok users reported a glitch that caused the app to turn a high-quality video into a blurry one for seemingly no reason. 

If your videos are crisp and clear in your camera roll but get fuzzy as soon as you hit “Post,” here are a few fixes to try: 

• Restart the app — Delete the blurry post, then close the app and reopen it. Re-upload your video. If it’s still blurry, you may need to update the app to its newest and fastest version. Go to your phone’s settings and enable automatic updates, or go to the App Store for iOS or Google Play Store on Android devices to see if there’s an available update. 
• Wait a while — If your video’s blurry due to a server issue, TikTok usually fixes the issue promptly. Give it a day and try uploading again. You’ll probably find the issue is gone and your video uploads clearly. 
• Contact TikTok Support — Reach out to TikTok's support team through the app or official website. Report the issue and provide details about your device, operating system, and what you're experiencing. This feedback helps them identify and fix the problem.

2. Incorrect TikTok Dimensions and Other Specifications

TikTok requires that videos match certain dimensions to fit most users’ phones. The in-app camera films in these specifications — but if you upload a video from your device's library that doesn’t fit, the platform automatically adjusts the video to match its requirements. This usually lowers the quality.

Here are the TikTok dimensions and specifications to keep in mind: 

• TikTok resolution and dimensions — These are a video’s exact width and height in pixels (PX). The video resolution and dimensions for TikTok are 1080 by 1920 PX — the standard portrait size of most smartphone screens.
• Aspect ratio — This describes the relationship between a video’s width and its height. For example, a 1:1 aspect ratio is square. TikTok recommends an aspect ratio of 9:16 because that fills most phone screens. 
• Video file size — This is how much space the file takes up or how much data it contains. TikTok caps video file sizes at 72 MB for Android devices and 287.76 MB for iOS. They’re different because Android and iOS have different video default settings. Files that are too big or too close to the limit have a higher chance of glitching. 

Avoid blurriness by editing your videos to the right specifications before uploading with Captions. Captions scales your videos to the correct aspect ratio, compress files to TikTok’s maximum size, and quickly exports in the right format to post to TikTok — or any other social media platform.

3. Device Server Capacity

High-quality videos require more storage space because detailed frames require more data than blurry ones. If you’re using too much storage — past your device’s limited server capacity — video quality might lower automatically. Here are some ways to increase your storage: 

• Delete unused apps and files — Remove apps and files you no longer need to free up space on your device. 
• Insert a microSD card — A microSD card is a small, removable flash memory card that stores and transfers data between devices. If your device has a slot for one, inserting a microSD card gives you another storage space, increasing storage capacity.
• Transfer files to free space — Instead of storing files on your phone, save space by transferring them to your computer, an external hard drive, or cloud storage. External hard drives are a type of portable storage that plugs into your computer to store files without taking up space on your device. There are also cloud servers like Google Drive, Dropbox, or iCloud where you can transfer files to free up memory.

4. Internet Connectivity Issues

When you upload a video, it shifts from your device to TikTok's servers. If your internet connection is unstable, the data transfer might not work correctly, leading to a lower-quality image. On top of that, TikTok might adjust video quality automatically to accommodate slow internet, leading to blurriness.

To fix this, wait until you have a stronger connection to upload your videos.

How To Upload High-Quality Videos to TikTok: 5 Tips

Quality issues arise for various reasons, but these TikTok tips let you upload high-quality videos every time: 

1. Turn Off the Data Saver Mode on TikTok

TikTok has a data-saving setting to help people avoid using too much mobile data, which is problematic if you’re trying to upload a high-quality video without Wi-Fi. 

When you enable data saver mode, TikTok compresses videos to reduce internet usage, causing upload quality to decline. Turn it off to stay as close to the original quality as possible and avoid a blurry video.

Here’s how to ensure data saver mode is off:

1. Go to your profile in the TikTok app. 
2. Tap the three lines in the top right corner.
3. Tap “Settings and Privacy.”
4. Scroll to “Data Saver” and tap.
5. If the toggle switch next to “Data Saver” is blue, tap it to turn off the setting. If it’s gray, leave it as is. 

‍‍2. Switch to Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi speeds are typically faster than mobile data speeds, and the connections are more stable. When uploading on Wi-Fi, your video data transfers more smoothly from your device to TikTok and avoids blurriness. Switch to Wi-Fi whenever you can for higher-quality uploads. 

The same applies to viewers — a video might also seem unclear if you’re watching it on slow internet. It could look fine on someone else’s device and blurry on yours. If that’s the case, you might just need to switch to faster internet.

3. Use a High-Quality Editing Tool

Don't wait until you upload a video to fix quality issues. Use an editing tool that prioritizes video quality to refine content before you post.

Captions gives you more control over your content’s quality from the second you start editing to the exporting stage. Adjust the dimensions and aspect ratio, choose between HD and 4K exports, and set your bitrate and frames per second (FPS). If necessary, you can easily compress up to five videos at once so your file size always matches TikTok’s uploading requirements.

4. Allow TikTok to Post Videos in High Definition (HD)

Check your TikTok video quality settings and ensure you've given the app permission to upload high-definition (HD) videos. HD videos have more pixels, making them sharper and more detailed — and without HD enabled, the platform automatically reduces video quality to shorten upload times and data usage. 

Here’s how to check that you’ve enabled HD video uploads on TikTok:

1. Go to your TikTok profile. 
2. Tap the plus button at the bottom.
3. Hold down the record button to shoot new footage or upload a video from your device library. 
4. Tap “Next.”
5. Tap “More options.”
6. Scroll to “Allow high-quality uploads.” If the toggle next to it is gray, tap it to turn it on. It should turn blue when it’s enabled. 

5. Upload Videos Via Web Browser

Uploading videos via web browser — by visiting TikTok.com instead of using the app — might improve video quality. That’s because TikTok allows you to upload videos as large as 1GB in file size on the website, but on the app, the limits are 72 MB for Android devices and 287.76 MB for iOS. The larger 1GB file size means your video files can hold more data for a sharper and clearer image. 

Prepare Your TikTok Posts With Captions

To upload high-quality videos, you need to start with a high-quality editing app. That’s where Captions comes in. 

‍Edit your videos with Captions to make sure they fit TikTok’s requirements, and while you’re at it, add attention-grabbing elements like AI captions and effects. You’ll upload crisp, clear videos the audience wants to watch until the very end.