A Guide to Removing Unwanted Objects from Photos in iOS 18.1

Removing unwanted objects, distractions or people from your photographs has become easier with the latest update to iPhone, iPad or Mac. Previously, users relied on other third-party applications like Google Photos or Snapseed just to perform spot healing and background removal. However, Apple has now included a solution natively into iOS, iPadOS, and macOS in-built Photos application.

The feature, Clean Up, is Apple’s built-in distraction eraser that comes with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later. This functionality is compatible with devices that support Apple Intelligence which covers iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all from the iPhone 16 version series. For iPad, it is supported on the iPad mini with the A17 Pro chip and any iPad model featuring the M1 chip or newer. Mac users will also need an M1 chip or later to utilize this feature.

Exclusively designed for photo editing, Clean Up allows users to efficiently remove or pixelate distracting elements, unwanted faces, and objects within their images. Through this new feature it can be possible to smooth out any imperfections, remove photobombers and to be able to blur or even remove faces or other features with much ease all in an effort to transform photographs without the need to resort to third-party apps. Be ready to bring your photography experience with this powerful new tool.

How to use Clean Up to enhance your photos?

Choose a photo in the Photos app that you wish to enhance.
Select the Edit icon, which is represented by the three horizontal sliders.
Select “Clean Up.” The initial selection of the instrument may necessitate a download, but the process is brief.
Clean Up has identified any object in the image with a luminescent glow for potential removal. To select the object, touch it, or tap, brush, or circle another object you wish to remove. Pinch to pan and zoom if it simplifies your selection.
Select “Done” to finish.

Clean Up is most effective when it is used to remove minor objects from clear, uncluttered backgrounds. Its primary function is to eliminate unwanted elements from the background of your photographs, rather than making significant alterations to the foreground, despite the fact that it can handle a variety of editing tasks.

Limitations of Clean Up tool:

It is crucial to be aware of specific limitations when using this instrument. Clean Up is incompatible with Live Photos, and its use will permanently disable the Live Photo feature. Furthermore, the instrument is incapable of being implemented with regard to videos. Nevertheless, it is applicable to all other image types, such as screenshots and older photographs that were not captured with your iPhone.