Lightroom on iOS, iPadOS and Android can now use generative AI to open closed eyes. When the app spots shut eyes in a photo, it offers a one-tap fix. You then check the result and keep it or discard it.
Gather what you need before starting
The Verge reports that Adobe has added the feature to the mobile version of Lightroom on iOS, iPadOS and Android. Before you start, make sure you have:
- A supported device running one of those three systems, with Lightroom installed from the official app store.
- The latest version of the app. New features only appear after an update. The exact version number that includes this tool has not been confirmed in the material available here.
- An Adobe account signed in to the app. Adobe usually ties its generative AI features to an account. It has not been confirmed whether this tool needs a paid subscription or uses generative credits, so check the app’s own plan information before you rely on it.
- A suitable photo. The feature is meant for pictures where one person, or several people, have their eyes closed. The face should be reasonably sharp and large enough in the frame for the app to detect it.
- A network connection. Generative AI editing is often processed online. It has not been confirmed whether this tool works offline, so connect first to avoid problems.
- A backup of the original. Keep an untouched copy of the photo somewhere outside Lightroom, especially if it matters to you.
Update the Lightroom app
Open the App Store or Google Play and check for updates to Lightroom. If an update is waiting, install it and reopen the app. Adobe sometimes releases features gradually, so they may not reach every account or region on the same day. If the tool does not appear straight after updating, wait a short while and check again.
Import the photo into Lightroom
Add the photo you want to fix to your Lightroom library. You can import it from your device’s camera roll or gallery, or take it with Lightroom’s built-in camera. If the photo comes from a burst or a group session, pick the frame where everything else is right: focus, expressions, composition. Closed eyes should be the only problem. The tool changes eyes only. It will not rescue a frame that is blurred or badly exposed.
Open the photo in the editor
Tap the photo to open it in the editing view. This is where Lightroom looks at the image and offers suggested edits. Give the app a moment to finish loading the full image, particularly if it is stored in the cloud and has not yet been downloaded to the device.
Look for the closed-eyes suggestion
According to The Verge, when Lightroom detects a person, or a group of people, with their eyes closed, it automatically offers a fix. You do not need to find a tool and draw a selection by hand. The report describes the edit as available through a single tap. It does not set out exactly how the option is labelled or where it appears on every device. Look among the suggested or quick edits shown when the photo opens. If nothing appears, the app may not have recognised the faces. This can happen when faces are small, turned away, partly covered or poorly lit.
Apply the fix with a single tap
Tap the suggested fix and let the app process the image. Generative AI creates new pixels to replace the closed eyelids with open eyes, so processing may take a few seconds. Do not leave the editing screen while it works. In group photos, look at whether the fix applies to everyone it detected. The available material does not say whether you can choose individual faces.
Inspect the result at full size
Zoom in on every face that was changed. Generated eyes can look convincing at a glance and still be wrong in detail. Check:
- Direction of gaze. Both eyes should look the same way, and towards where the person was actually facing.
- Eye colour and shape. Compare them with other photos of the same person if you have any.
- Lighting and reflections. Catchlights (the small reflections of light in the eyes) should match the light sources in the scene.
- Skin and lashes. Look for smudging, odd textures or mismatched sharpness around the eyes.
Compare, then save or export a copy
Use Lightroom’s before-and-after view to compare the edit with the original. If the result looks right, finish any other adjustments and export a copy. If it looks wrong, undo the step. Lightroom’s editing is generally non-destructive, but exporting a separate file still keeps the edited version clearly apart from the original.
Avoid the mistakes people commonly make
- Judging the result on a small screen only. Errors that are invisible on a phone become obvious in a print or on a large monitor.
- Using the fix on the wrong frame. If an alternative shot exists where the person blinked less, a real photo is usually better than a generated repair.
- Forgetting group photos. In a group shot it is easy to check the main subject and miss a strange result on someone at the edge of the frame.
- Not keeping the original. Without an untouched copy you cannot compare later or start again with a different tool.
- Assuming it is free and unlimited. Plan and credit terms for this feature have not been confirmed, so check before batch-editing a large set of photos.
- Leaving the edit undisclosed where it matters. Some uses need an honest account of how an image was changed.
Recognise when this approach is the wrong choice
Generative eye repair invents detail that was never captured. That makes it unsuitable whenever a photo has to be an accurate record. Examples include news and documentary photography, evidence, insurance claims, identity documents and official applications. Competitions and publications often have strict rules on generative editing, so read them before submitting.
It is also a poor fit when the closed eyes are part of the moment, such as laughter, prayer or a candid expression. Opening them would change the meaning of the picture. If you have other frames from the same moment, combining a real open-eyed expression from a nearby shot in desktop software may give a more faithful result. Professional retouching may be worth the cost for important portraits. In those cases a person can match the subject’s real features more reliably than an automatic tool.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Lightroom closed-eyes fix available on Android?
Yes. According to The Verge, Adobe has added the feature to the mobile version of Lightroom on Android as well as on iOS and iPadOS. Make sure the app is updated to its latest version from Google Play. If the option still does not appear, the rollout may not yet have reached your device or account. Check again later before assuming your phone is not supported.
Does Lightroom open closed eyes automatically?
Lightroom detects closed eyes automatically and offers the fix, but you still have to apply it. The Verge reports that when the app spots one or more people with their eyes closed, it suggests the repair, which you then apply with a single tap. You should still inspect the generated eyes closely before saving, because AI-created detail can contain errors.
Do I need a paid Adobe plan to fix closed eyes in Lightroom?
The available reporting does not confirm whether a paid subscription or generative credits are needed. Adobe often ties its generative AI features to account plans, so check the plan and credit details shown in the Lightroom app or on your Adobe account page. Do this before relying on the tool for a large number of photos or for paid work.
Can I use AI-opened eyes in official or competition photos?
Generally, you should not. Opening eyes with generative AI creates detail the camera never captured. That makes the image unsuitable for identity documents, evidence, journalism and other uses where accuracy matters. Many photography competitions also limit or ban generative edits. Always read the relevant rules first, and keep the unedited original so you can show what was actually photographed.
Sources and further reading
- The Verge: report on Adobe adding a one-tap closed-eyes fix to Lightroom mobile
- Adobe: official Lightroom help pages and release notes for the mobile apps
- Apple App Store and Google Play: Lightroom listings showing version history and update notes
- Photography competition and press-association guidelines on generative AI editing
Surfaced from the rss:verge signal “photo editing app update”. AI-assisted draft, editorially reviewed.
