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Old Photo Restoration with AI

Restore old photos online with free AI old photo restoration. Reduce scratches, fading and mild blur in a scan or phone capture, then compare faces and details with the original before you save.

  1. 1Upload
  2. 2Restore
  3. 3Compare & save

Photo Restoration

Start with a photo worth keeping.

Static JPG, PNG or WebP · up to 10 MiB

A gentle touch for an old favorite

  • Repair scratches and fading
  • Bring back natural clarity
  • Keep faces, framing and original tones
No brushing. No instructions to write.

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Cost per edit2 credits

Your original stays safe. Check restored details before saving.

Examples
A moment worth keepingAI-generated example
AI example: a scratched, faded black-and-white garden portrait of a mother and daughterPicOnTap result: the same mother and daughter portrait with scratches repaired and clearer detailOriginalRestored
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Slide to see the years fade away

How to restore an old photo

  1. Scan or photograph the print

    Use a scan, or a phone photo taken square to the print in soft, even light. PNG, JPEG and WebP are supported.

  2. Restore in one click

    Check the cost and generate. Old photo restoration repairs scratches, creases and fading and keeps black-and-white photos monochrome.

  3. Compare, download and keep the original

    Slide between the original and the result, check faces and readable details, then download. Keep your unedited scan as well.

What old photo restoration changes

Compare the same areas before and after. Look at the edit, then check the details you want to keep.

Scenes are AI-generated; results are actual GPT Image 2.5 edits in PicOnTap, without manual retouching. AI may change nearby details, so compare the original before using a result.

AI example: a scratched, faded black-and-white garden portrait of a mother and daughter
Original
PicOnTap result: the same mother and daughter portrait with scratches repaired and clearer detail
PicOnTap result

A familiar expression

Compare eyes, smile and face shape. Extra sharpness is useful only when the person still feels like the person in the original.

AI example: a scratched, faded black-and-white garden portrait of a mother and daughter
Original
PicOnTap result: the same mother and daughter portrait with scratches repaired and clearer detail
PicOnTap result

Wear, without erasing the photograph

Look at scratches crossing the cardigan and garden. Fine grain and the original tonal character belong to the photograph too.

Restore family photos and old prints

Brand anniversaries & history pages

Let an early shop photo tell its story again.

Fictional faded black-and-white photograph of two adults outside a small shopPicOnTap result: the fictional storefront photo restored, keeping black and whiteOriginalPicOnTap result
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An old storefront photo can anchor an anniversary story. Reduce visible wear, then ask someone who knows the history to check the sign, people and building. This is a fictional demonstration.

The edit
Gently restore scratches and fading while keeping the original tones.

Take a closer look

  • Compare the readable sign and storefront structure.
  • Check faces and clothes against the original.

Loads the original and suggested settings. Review the cost before generating your own result.

Family albums & shared memories

Bring back a little of the color.

Faded vintage color photograph of a family at the seasidePicOnTap result: the seaside photo with gentle color and scratch repairOriginalPicOnTap result
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An old color print need not look like a new digital photo. Tidy light wear and fading, compare faces and clothes, and keep some of the original grain and feeling.

The edit
Gently improve fading and dust using the existing color clues.

Take a closer look

  • Compare expressions and clothing colors.
  • Check that the shoreline and composition stay familiar.

Loads the original and suggested settings. Review the cost before generating your own result.

Tips to restore old photos faithfully

  1. Start with the clearest copy

    A scan is a good starting point. For phone captures, face the print squarely and use even light without reflections.

  2. Keep the original

    Retain the unedited scan. The restored version is a new interpretation of damaged detail, not a replacement for your source.

  3. Ask someone who knows the photo

    Compare age, expression, clothes and any readable signs. For a brand history page, have the owner verify the people and storefront.

Current rules and image limits

Model and access
GPT Image 2.5 · Available · No sign-in required. Use any available model with enough credits.
Per edit
2 credits
Maximum input
10 MiB · PNG, JPEG, WebP

File size, pixel count, edge length and aspect ratio are separate limits. Use a static PNG, JPEG or WebP; GIF and animated images are not supported by the editor.

Photos that already meet the model's requirements are sent as they are; others may be converted once to a format the model accepts. The result comes back in the model's own format and size, which may differ from your original. Background replacement does not create a transparent cutout. Photo restoration may reconstruct details.

Browsing and loading examples do not spend editing credits. A technical failure returns the credits charged for that attempt; a delivered result you dislike is not a technical failure. Check pending returns in the editor.

Current allowances · Getting started · Writing editing instructions

Old photo restoration FAQ

Could restoration change a face?

It aims to preserve the original, but AI may infer damaged details differently. Compare eyes, mouth, face shape and hands before saving.

Will a black-and-white photo be colorized?

The default restoration aims to keep black-and-white photos monochrome and preserve colors already present. Automatic colorization is not offered; still compare the result.

Can I use a phone instead of a scanner?

Yes, use a clear capture with the camera parallel to the print. Keep lighting soft and even, without glare or shadows across the photo. If a glossy print still reflects light, you can try reducing it before restoring: Remove glare from photos

Can missing or completely blurred faces be recovered?

Missing information cannot be reliably recovered as historical fact. Generated detail may be plausible but different; do not treat it as proof of the original appearance.

Can I restore an old photo for free?

Yes. Old photo restoration is free within the daily allowance, without signing up. Upload a clear scan, review the cost shown in the editor, and keep your original file alongside the restored version.

Do I need an account, and when am I charged?

Guests can use available models when they have enough credits. Your allowance and the cost of this edit appear in the editor. Browsing examples, loading an original and adjusting settings do not submit a generation.

Which files can I use and download?

Use a static PNG, JPEG or WebP up to 10 MiB. The selected model's file, geometry, aspect-ratio and color requirements are checked before submission. Results retain the provider's supported native format and dimensions.

What if generation fails or I want another result?

A technical failure returns the credits charged for that edit; follow the status in the editor. A delivered result you dislike is not a technical failure. Compare the result with the original before downloading. Each new generation is a separate edit with its own cost.

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What would you like to try next?

Give an old photograph another careful look.

Start with your own photo, or load an example above. Your current draft stays in place.

Back to the editor