Google Camera Lens Blur: How to Blur Photo Backgrounds (2026)

Want to blur the background in your photos? In April 2014 Google released the Google Camera app for Android with a new Lens Blur mode that did exactly that, making the subject pop out against a soft, defocused background. This article covers what Lens Blur did, what happened to the Google Camera app, and how to blur photo backgrounds on any phone today.

Quick answer: Google Camera’s 2014 Lens Blur mode let Android phones fake the shallow depth of field of an SLR, with a slider to change the blur after you took the shot. The app was renamed Pixel Camera in 2023 and now only works on Pixel phones. On other phones, use the built-in Portrait mode or an editing app such as Snapseed.

Google Camera Lens Blur in 2014

This example photo shows how lens blur makes the subject stand out from the blurred background:

I always wanted to do this from my smartphone, but until then it seemed impossible without an SLR camera or professional image editing software. Lens Blur gave SLR-like photos with a shallow depth of field.

Google Camera used the same phone camera but added processing after the shot. You tapped the subject to keep it sharp, then moved a depth-of-field slider to simulate different aperture sizes and get a pleasing bokeh effect. The app also took Photo Spheres with 360° views and high-resolution panoramas, which made it a must-have for photo enthusiasts at the time.

What happened to the Google Camera app

Google Camera started as a free download for many Android phones, but over time it became the camera for Google’s own Nexus and then Pixel phones. In October 2023 Google renamed it Pixel Camera on the Play Store, and the latest version only works on Pixel phones running Android 14 or later.

The idea behind Lens Blur lives on as Portrait mode, now built into the camera app on most smartphones, Pixel included.

How to blur the background in photos today

• Pixel phones: open the Pixel Camera (external site) app and choose Portrait mode.
• Other Android phones: most have a Portrait or Live focus mode in the built-in camera app. Look in the camera’s mode list.
• iPhone: use Portrait mode in the Camera app on supported models.
• After the shot: Google’s free Snapseed (external site) editor has a Lens Blur tool that adds blur to any photo.

Tips for a better blurred background

• Keep some distance between your subject and the background; the further away the background, the stronger the blur.
• Get reasonably close to your subject and tap on it to focus.
• Check the edges around hair and glasses, where software blur often makes mistakes.

For more ideas, see our phone photography tips and these photo editing tips for beginners.

FAQ

Can I still download Google Camera?

The app is now called Pixel Camera, and the latest version only works on Pixel phones running Android 14 or later.

What was Lens Blur in Google Camera?

A 2014 mode that simulated shallow depth of field. You tapped the subject and used a slider to blur the background after taking the photo.

How do I blur the background on a non-Pixel phone?

Use the Portrait mode in your phone’s camera app, or add blur afterwards with an editing app such as Snapseed.

Is Portrait mode the same as Lens Blur?

It does the same job, keeping the subject sharp and blurring the background, using newer depth sensing and processing.