Fix Pet Glowing Eyes in iPhone Photos

This guide shows you how to remove the red, green, or yellow “glow” that appears in your pet’s eyes when you use your iPhone’s flash in low light. You’ll learn both quick built-in fixes and a more thorough manual method using the Photos app’s editing tools, with no third-party apps required.

What You’ll Need

• An iPhone with the Photos app (iOS 16 or later recommended for the latest editing tools)
• The photo with the glowing eyes saved in your camera roll
• Optional: a stylus or your finger for precise tapping

Step-by-Step

Method 1: Using the Automatic Red-Eye Tool (Fastest)

1. Open the Photos app and tap the photo with the glowing eyes to view it full screen.
2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
3. Tap the wand icon (Adjustments) at the bottom of the screen. It looks like a magic wand.
4. Look for the Red-Eye button. It’s usually the last option in the adjustment list. Tap it.
5. Your iPhone will automatically scan the photo for red eyes. If it finds them, it will highlight them with circles. Tap Done in the bottom-right corner.
6. If the automatic tool doesn’t find the eyes (common with green or yellow glow), tap each eye manually. The tool will attempt to correct the color.
7. Tap Done in the top-right corner to save your changes.

Method 2: Manual Brush Correction (For Stubborn Glow)

1. Open the photo in the Photos app and tap Edit.
2. Tap the wand icon (Adjustments).
3. Scroll down and tap the plus (+) icon next to the adjustments list, then select Retouch. This adds a retouch brush to your tools.
4. Tap the brush icon at the bottom of the screen. A slider will appear for brush size.
5. Adjust the brush size so it’s slightly larger than the glowing part of the eye.
6. Carefully paint over the glowing area. The brush samples the surrounding color (the iris) and replaces the glow with it. You may need to paint a few times.
7. If the result looks too dark or smudged, tap the eraser icon next to the brush size slider and erase your strokes, then try again with a smaller brush.
8. Tap Done in the top-right corner to save.

Method 3: Using the Markup Tool (For a Quick Fix)

1. Open the photo and tap Edit.
2. Tap the ellipsis (…) icon in the top-right corner and select Markup.
3. Tap the plus (+) icon at the bottom right, then choose Opacity from the menu.
4. Select a color that matches your pet’s natural eye color (e.g., brown, blue, green).
5. Set the opacity to around 50-70% so the color is semi-transparent.
6. Use your finger or stylus to draw over the glowing area. The semi-transparent color will mask the glow while letting some of the original detail show through.
7. Tap Done twice to save.

Common Mistakes

• Using the automatic tool on green or yellow eyes: The Red-Eye tool is designed for red eyes. It often fails on green or yellow glow. Use the manual brush method instead.
• Painting over the entire eye: When using the retouch brush, only paint over the glowing pupil, not the whole iris. Painting too much will blur the eye and make it look unnatural.
• Choosing a brush that’s too large: A large brush will bleed onto the eyelid or fur, creating a smudge. Always start smaller than you think you need.
• Forgetting to zoom in: Editing at full zoom makes it nearly impossible to be precise. Pinch to zoom in on the eye before you start painting.
• Saving over the original: If you’re not happy with the result, you can’t undo it after tapping Done. Instead, duplicate the photo first (tap Share > Duplicate) and edit the copy.

Tips

• Prevent it in the future: The glow is caused by light reflecting off the back of the eye (the tapetum lucidum). Turn off the flash or use a bright room light instead. You can also try the “Live Photo” feature and pick a frame where the eyes are normal.
• Use the “Vivid” filter trick: After fixing the glow, apply a subtle filter like “Vivid” or “Dramatic” to help blend the correction with the rest of the photo.
• Adjust exposure first: If the photo is too dark, increase the Exposure slightly before fixing the eyes. This gives you more detail to work with.
• For multiple pets: Fix each eye individually. Don’t try to paint both eyes in one stroke.
• Practice on a copy: If you’re new to editing, duplicate the photo first. That way you can experiment without worrying about ruining the original.

Troubleshooting

• The automatic Red-Eye tool doesn’t find any eyes: This happens when the glow isn’t red (e.g., green or yellow) or when the eyes are too small. Use Method 2 (Retouch brush) and manually paint over the glow.
• The retouch brush makes the eye look blurry or smudged: You’re painting over too large an area. Undo (tap the curved arrow at the top) and try again with a smaller brush, painting only the center of the pupil.
• The color looks wrong after using Markup: The opacity may be too high or the color doesn’t match. Try a lower opacity (30-40%) and a lighter shade of the eye color. You can also use the eyedropper tool in Markup to sample the natural iris color.
• The fix looks patchy: This usually means the brush strokes are uneven. Try using the retouch brush with a slightly larger size and paint in a circular motion over the glow, then reduce the size and touch up the edges.
• I can’t find the Red-Eye button: In some iOS versions, it’s under the “Adjustments” menu (the wand icon) but you may need to scroll down. If it’s not there, your iOS version may not support it for pet eyes—use the retouch method.
• The photo won’t save: Make sure you tap Done in the top-right corner after editing. If it still won’t save, close the Photos app completely and reopen it, then try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my pet’s eyes glow green or yellow instead of red?

Unlike humans, many animals have a reflective layer behind the retina called the tapetum lucidum. This layer reflects light back through the eye, and the color depends on the species, the angle of the flash, and the minerals in that layer. Dogs often show green or yellow, cats may show green or yellow, and some animals can even show blue or white.

Will the automatic red-eye fix work on my dog’s green eyes?

Usually not. The automatic tool is calibrated for red eyes (human). For green or yellow glow, you’ll need to use the retouch brush method described above.

Can I remove the glow without losing the natural eye color?

Yes. The retouch brush samples the surrounding iris color and replaces the glow with it. This preserves the natural eye color. The Markup method with a semi-transparent color also preserves the underlying detail.

Is there a way to prevent the glow before taking the photo?

Yes. Turn off the flash and use a brighter light source. You can also try taking the photo at a slight angle to the pet’s face, or use the “Live Photo” feature and tap the “Long Exposure” option to capture a frame where the flash didn’t hit the eyes directly.

Will these methods work on photos taken with other cameras?

Yes. As long as the photo is saved in your iPhone’s Photos app, you can use the editing tools described here, regardless of whether the photo was taken with the iPhone camera, a DSLR, or received via AirDrop.

Can I undo the edit after I’ve saved it?

Yes. Apple’s Photos app keeps a copy of the original. Open the edited photo, tap Edit, tap the “Revert” button (a circular arrow) at the bottom, and the photo will return to its original state.

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