To erase people from pictures on iPhone, use Apple's built-in Clean Up tool in the Photos app, it's the most direct method available. This feature lets you remove unwanted people and other distracting objects with a simple tap, brush, or circle, but it requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model running iOS 18.1 or later with Apple Intelligence enabled.
How to erase people from pictures on iPhone with Clean Up
Apple's official Clean Up tool is the primary method for removing photobombers and unwanted subjects directly on your iPhone. It is powered by Apple Intelligence and is available only on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models running iOS 18.1 or later. Clean Up is designed to remove distracting objects from photos, it works on people, but also on any other unwanted element in your frame.
Step-by-step: Using Clean Up in the Photos app
Follow these exact steps from Apple to remove a person from your photo:
- Open the Photos app and select the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
- Tap Tools at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Clean Up.
- Use your finger to tap, brush, or circle the person you want to remove. The tool may auto-highlight items so you can simply tap them for removal.
- For precise control, use two fingers to pinch, zoom, or pan the photo.
- If you accidentally remove something you want to keep, tap that area to restore it. Apple says you can tap to restore something you removed.
- Tap Done to save your edited photo.
What to do if your iPhone doesn't support Clean Up
The solution is to use a third-party photo editing app, which can achieve similar results on unsupported iPhones.
Best third-party apps to erase people from photos
For iPhones that lack Clean Up, effective alternatives include TouchRetouch, Snapseed, and Adobe Photoshop Express. These apps use tools like healing brushes, clone stamps, and patch tools to remove unwanted people. TouchRetouch is designed specifically for object removal with a simple tap-to-erase interface. Snapseed offers a Selective tool for precise edits, while Adobe Photoshop Express includes a Healing Brush that blends removed areas with surrounding pixels. These apps are widely available on the App Store and work on older iPhone models, making them a reliable fallback for erasing people from pictures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I erase people on an iPhone 13?
No, the built-in Clean Up tool requires an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 model.
Is Clean Up only for removing people?
No, Clean Up is designed to remove any distracting object from a photo, not just people. You can use it to erase power lines, trash, or other unwanted elements in the background.
Why can't I find the Clean Up tool?
Clean Up appears only on supported devices (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or iPhone 16 models) running iOS 18.1 or later with Apple Intelligence enabled. If you meet these requirements and still don't see it, check that your device and region support Apple Intelligence, as documented by Apple.
Does Clean Up work on live photos or videos?
The tool is presented as an object-removal feature for still photos in the Photos app.
Are there any photo editing and collage apps that include object removal?
Yes, many photo editing and collage apps like Adobe Photoshop Express and Snapseed include object removal tools. These apps combine editing features with collage-making capabilities, giving you a single app for both removing people and creating photo layouts.
