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Guide · updated September 2026

How to increase the resolution of an image

Five ways to make a picture higher resolution — with AI, Photoshop, GIMP, a Mac or Windows — with the exact menus, plus why changing DPI does nothing and which method actually adds detail.

Close-up portrait of a young woman with freckles and dark curly hair (before · 300 px jpeg)
Close-up portrait of a young woman with freckles and dark curly hair (after · 4k · 3664 × 4579)
Before · 300 px JPEGAfter · 4K · 3664 × 4579
  • Exact menu paths
  • AI vs resampling
  • Windows, Mac, phone
  • Print sizes

Updated by the

Quick answer

Updated

How do you increase the resolution of an image?

To increase the resolution of an image, enlarge it with an AI upscaler, which adds pixels and rebuilds detail: upload it to Kenerate AI, choose 4K or an exact size, and download. Resampling in Photoshop, GIMP or Mac Preview also adds pixels but only interpolates, so the result looks softer. Changing DPI adds no pixels.

Key facts

Best way
AI upscaler (adds detail)
Photoshop
Image → Image Size → Resample
Mac
Preview → Tools → Adjust Size
DPI change
Adds no pixels

Method 1 · sharpest

How to increase image resolution with AI

The only method that adds detail, not just pixels. Works on any device.

  1. Step 1: Open an AI upscaler

    Go to kenerateai.com/app/tool/image-upscale (works on desktop and phone).

  2. Step 2: Upload the image

    JPG, PNG or WEBP up to 25 MB.

  3. Step 3: Pick the size

    Real-ESRGAN, or Image Upscaler → 2K/4K/8K, or Kenerate Upscale → 4–128 megapixels.

    EngineImage Upscaler4K

  4. Step 4: Download

    The higher-resolution image downloads with no watermark.

Method 2

How to increase resolution in Photoshop

Resampling in Image Size, or AI Super Resolution in Camera Raw (2× only).

  1. Step 1: Open Image Size

    In Photoshop choose Image → Image Size.

    ImageImage Size

  2. Step 2: Turn on Resample and enter the new size

    Tick Resample, then type the new width or height in pixels (keep the link on to keep the proportions).

  3. Step 3: Choose an enlargement method

    Pick Preserve Details (enlargement) — it adds a Noise reduction slider — or Bicubic Smoother (enlargement). Click OK.

  4. Step 4: Or use Super Resolution

    Open the photo in Camera Raw, right-click it and choose Enhance → Super Resolution to double the width and height with AI.

    Camera RawEnhanceSuper Resolution

Method 3 · free

How to increase resolution in GIMP

Free on Windows, Mac and Linux. Interpolation only — no new detail.

  1. Step 1: Open Scale Image

    In GIMP choose Image → Scale Image…

    ImageScale Image…

  2. Step 2: Enter the new size

    Type the new width and height in pixels, keeping the chain linked.

  3. Step 3: Choose the interpolation

    Pick NoHalo or LoHalo for enlarging (Cubic is also good). Click Scale.

Method 4 · Mac

How to increase resolution on a Mac with Preview

Built into macOS.

  1. Step 1: Open the image in Preview

    Double-click the image or open it with Preview.

  2. Step 2: Open Adjust Size

    Choose Tools → Adjust Size.

    ToolsAdjust Size

  3. Step 3: Keep Resample image ticked

    Enter a bigger width or height. With Resample image ticked Preview adds pixels; with it unticked only the print size (DPI) changes.

Method 5 · Windows

How to increase resolution on Windows

Photos has AI Super resolution on Copilot+ PCs; Paint works everywhere.

  1. Step 1: Copilot+ PC: use Super resolution

    Open the image in Photos, choose Edit → Super resolution and pick 2×, 4× or 8×.

    PhotosEditSuper resolution

  2. Step 2: Any Windows PC: use Paint

    Open the image in Paint, choose Resize (Ctrl+W), select Pixels and enter a larger size. This only interpolates, so the result is softer than an AI upscale.

    PaintResizePixels

At 100%

Resampling vs AI upscaling, zoomed in

Left: a normal bicubic resample (what Paint, Preview and GIMP do). Right: an AI upscale to the same size.

Checked 26 September 2026

Which way of increasing resolution is best?

The five methods side by side.

Which way of increasing resolution is best? — checked 26 September 2026
AI upscaler · KeneratePhotoshopGIMPMac PreviewWindows
Adds real detailYesSuper Resolution (2×)NoNoSuper resolution on Copilot+ PCs
Max size8K or 128 MPAny (resample)AnyAny8× (Photos)
Works on phoneYesNoNoNoNo
What you needBrowser, free credits to startAdobe planFreeFreeFree

Sources: Adobe — Resampling options in Photoshop · Adobe — Super Resolution in Camera Raw · GIMP 3.0 — Scale Image · Apple — Resize an image in Preview on Mac · Microsoft — Super resolution in Photos

Common mistake

Why changing DPI doesn't increase resolution

DPI (PPI) only tells a printer how densely to place the pixels you already have. Changing 72 to 300 DPI without resampling leaves the pixel count unchanged — the print just gets smaller. In Photoshop that is Image Size with Resample unticked; in Preview, Adjust Size with Resample image unticked.

To print sharp, you need about 300 pixels per inch of print: 1200 × 1800 px for 4×6 in, 2400 × 3000 px for 8×10 in, 2480 × 3508 px for A4.

Prefer one step in the browser? The increase image resolution tool adds the pixels online, with no editor.

Related

Tools for higher resolution

How it works

How it works in the app

  1. Step 1

    Add the image to upscale

    Open Image Upscaler and upload a photo, or pick one from your library or a link.

  2. Step 2

    Pick an upscaler and mode

    Choose one of the upscalers, then Precise for a faithful copy, Creative for extra detail or Restore for old photos.

  3. Step 3

    Click Upscale

    Press Upscale to create a sharper, larger copy of your image.

  4. Step 4

    Compare and download

    Slide between the original and the upscaled result, then download the full-resolution file.

1Add the image to upscale2Pick an upscaler and mode3Click Upscale4Compare and download
Kenerate AI Image Upscaler with a portrait of an old fisherman loaded as the input

Open Image Upscaler and upload a photo, or pick one from your library or a link.

1 / 4 · Add the image to upscale

FAQ

Image resolution questions

How do I increase the resolution of an image?

Use an AI upscaler: upload the image to kenerateai.com, pick a size such as 4K and download — it adds real pixels and rebuilds detail. In an editor you can resample instead (Photoshop Image → Image Size, GIMP Image → Scale Image, Mac Preview Tools → Adjust Size), but that only interpolates and looks softer.

Link to this answer

How do I increase the resolution of an image without losing quality?

Enlarge it with AI super-resolution rather than a normal resize. Normal resampling spreads the existing pixels; AI adds plausible detail as it enlarges, so edges stay sharp.

Link to this answer

Can you increase the resolution of an existing image?

Yes. Any existing image — a download, a screenshot or an old scan — can get more pixels by resampling in an editor or with an AI upscaler. Resampling only interpolates, so it looks soft; AI upscaling rebuilds edges and texture as it adds pixels. Neither can recover detail that was never captured, so start from the largest copy you have.

Link to this answer

Does changing DPI increase resolution?

No. Changing DPI (or unticking Resample in Photoshop or Preview) keeps the same pixels and only changes the print size. You need to add pixels to increase resolution.

Link to this answer

How do I increase image resolution on Windows?

On a Copilot+ PC, open the image in Photos and choose Edit → Super resolution (2×, 4× or 8×). On any other PC, Paint's Resize adds pixels by interpolation, or use an online AI upscaler in the browser.

Link to this answer

How do I increase the resolution of an image on a Mac?

In Preview choose Tools → Adjust Size and enter a bigger size with Resample image ticked. For sharper results use an AI upscaler in Safari or Chrome.

Link to this answer

Can I increase image resolution on iPhone?

Apple's Photos app has no built-in way to add resolution. Open kenerateai.com in Safari, upload the photo to the upscaler and save the result to Photos.

Link to this answer

What is the best way to increase resolution for printing?

Work out the pixels you need at 300 PPI (e.g. 2400 × 3000 px for 8×10 in), then upscale to at least that size with AI — Kenerate Upscale lets you pick an exact megapixel size.

Link to this answer

In depth

What each method does to your pixels

Why resampling looks soft, what the interpolation options mean, and where AI differs — with sources.

On this page

Resampling = averaging

Photoshop's Image Size, GIMP's Scale Image, Preview and Paint all resample: every new pixel is a weighted average of the originals [1]. Bicubic (Keys, 1981) uses the 16 nearest pixels [2]; Lanczos (Duchon, 1979) is a windowed-sinc filter that is sharper but can ring around edges [3]. None of them can create detail that wasn't captured.

Keep going

Related guides

By Last updated and reviewed

Written by the Kenerate team. Menu paths from Adobe, GIMP, Apple and Microsoft documentation; examples are real Kenerate outputs.

Sources: Adobe — Resampling options in Photoshop · GIMP 3.0 — Scale Image · Apple — Resize an image in Preview on Mac · Microsoft — Super resolution in Photos

Skip the editor

Upscale in your browser to 8K or 128 MP — free credits on sign-up, no watermark.

Open the upscaler

Tried it? Tell us how it went