Scratched and creased prints
Small scratches, dust marks and creases often have enough surrounding detail for a useful repair. A cleaner digital copy helps; new scanner dust can look like original damage.
Help with scratches →FROM THE FAMILY ALBUM
Restore Old Photos Online Free
The wedding portrait. A childhood summer. A face you know by heart. Give old photographs a careful restoration while protecting the people in them.
2 free credits each month · Verified account · No ads or watermarks
BeforeAfter
THE RESTORATION STUDIO
A little care for an old photograph
2 free photos a month
A photo worth keeping.
Drop an old photograph here, or take a picture of the print.
JPG, PNG, WebP or HEIC · up to 10 MB each · up to 10 photos
One credit per edit. Downloads are free.
Your photos stay privateAuto-deleted after 24 hoursNo watermark, no ads
A FAITHFUL STARTRepair the wear.
Repair the wear.
Protect what matters.
Faded family photographs
Better contrast can make a faded scene easier to read. Lost detail cannot be recovered with certainty, and a sharp invented face is not a reliable record of a person.
Help with fading →Tears and water damage
Stains and torn edges can improve, but large missing areas leave little evidence. For a unique or historically important photograph, consider a skilled human restorer.
Help with water damage →THREE SIMPLE STEPSFrom an old print
From an old print
to a copy worth keeping.
1. Make a clear digital copy
Keep the camera parallel to the print and use soft light. Save the original scan separately. Working copies are resized to a maximum long edge of 2048 pixels before restoration.
2. Mark every face
Cover the face, ears and hairline with protected areas. Those pixels stay unchanged in the working image. Scratches or blur inside the areas stay too; switch protection off only if you accept possible changes.
3. Compare, download and share
Look closely at eyes, expressions, clothing and other important details. Save the PNG within 24 hours. On supported devices, share the photo file directly with family.
GOOD TO KNOW
Old photo restoration questions
Can I restore old photos for free?+
Yes. A verified PhotoRestore account receives 2 free credits each calendar month. Each restoration or other AI tool uses one credit. Downloads have no watermark. Plus and Archive subscriptions provide more monthly credits.
Will my relatives still look like themselves?+
Mark every face with face protection before restoring. Those areas keep the exact pixels of your prepared working image, including any blur, grain or damage. Unprotected areas can change. AI cannot know what an unreadable or missing face originally looked like.
Can it restore very old or antique photographs?+
You can try scans of photographs from any era. The condition and quality of the scan matter more than its age. Reflective plates, fragile prints and historically valuable originals may need help from a professional conservator before scanning.
What damage can AI restoration repair?+
It can reduce scratches, creases, dust, staining and fading. Results depend on the visible information. Large tears and missing sections may produce invented detail. Damage inside protected face areas remains unchanged.
How long does a restoration take?+
Many edits take 30–90 seconds, but some take longer. Once uploaded, the photo continues processing if you leave. You can find the result in your account.
Should I scan the original first?+
A clear scan is a good starting point. Keep a high-resolution archival master and upload a working copy. If you use a phone, keep it parallel to the print in soft, even light and avoid flash glare. Do not force fragile or stuck photographs apart.
Are my family photographs private?+
Your working photos are private to your account and available for 24 hours. A scheduled cleanup removes expired files, normally within another 15 minutes. Runware processes the edit and may retain temporary copies for up to 7 days. Download a copy you want to keep.
Can I colorize or enlarge the result?+
Yes. Colorization and 2× upscaling are separate edits, each using one credit. Color is an interpretation rather than historical evidence. Keep the unedited scan and compare important facial details after every edit.
Keep the original. Enjoy the restoration.
A restored image is an edited interpretation, not a replacement for your family archive. Keep the unedited scan, label restored versions clearly, and make backups of the photographs you cannot replace.