Why some photos are blurred on your Mac, and how to see them

Why it happens

Sensitive Content Warning checks photos and videos you receive and blurs ones that may contain nudity before you see them. It works in places like Messages and AirDrop, and the check happens on your Mac, so Apple doesn't see your photos. Now and then it blurs a picture that's perfectly fine.

How to fix it

1. To see one photo, click Show on the blurred image.

2. To stop the blurring, open the Apple menu, choose System Settings and click Privacy & Security.

3. Scroll down, click Sensitive Content Warning and turn the switch off.

   Privacy & Security›Sensitive Content Warning

4. Prefer to keep it for some apps? Leave the main switch on and turn off only the apps where you don't want it.

Sensitive Content Warning is in Privacy & Security on both macOS 26 and 27. Only Communication Safety for children moved: it's under Screen Time on macOS 26 and under Family on macOS 27.

Still not fixed?

1. If the switch is greyed out or photos stay blurred, the account may have Communication Safety, which a parent turns on for a child. On macOS 26 it's in Screen Time; on macOS 27 it's in Family. A parent needs to change it.

   macOS 26 Tahoe Screen Time›Communication Safety

   macOS 27 Golden Gate Family›Communication Safety

2. A photo that's just fuzzy, with no warning on it, isn't caused by this setting. It's usually a small, low-quality copy, for example one sent as a text message rather than through iMessage.

3. If photos are still blurred with the warning off and no Communication Safety on the account, restart your Mac and check again. If nothing changes, contact Apple Support.