Capturing the perfect photo can be frustrating when unexpected distractions sneak into the background. Whether it’s a random passerby, clutter, or stray wires, these unwanted elements can take away from an otherwise great shot. Fortunately, photo clean-up tools have advanced significantly, with AI-powered features making it easier than ever to remove distractions in just a few taps.

Apple’s new AI-powered ‘Clean Up Tool’ is one of the latest options available, giving iPhone users a simple way to enhance their photos without needing advanced editing skills. In this guide, we’ll show you how to use the iOS ‘Clean Up Tool’ and highlight other AI tools that can help remove objects, enhance details, and optimize your images for social media.

Table of Contents

• What is Clean Up on iPhone Photos?
• What iPhone do you need to use Clean Up?
• How to Clean Up Photos (Remove People and Objects)
• 3 Other Essential Image Editing Tools (Not on iPhone)

What is Clean Up on iPhone Photos?

The Clean Up Tool is one of Apple’s latest AI-powered features introduced to iOS, designed to help users remove unwanted people or objects from their photos.

Using intelligent spot correction, the tool fills the erased area with a background or pattern that blends naturally with the rest of the image, preserving visual consistency.

By enabling users to make these adjustments directly on their iPhone, the Clean Up Tool makes it simple to refine photos for personal, professional, and social media use.

What iPhone do you need to use Clean Up?

Apple 'Clean Up' is only available on select devices and requires the latest software updates. To use this feature, you'll need an iPhone 15 Pro (not the base iPhone 15) or newer.

Additionally, your device must be running at least iOS 18 to access the Clean Up Tool and other Apple Intelligence features.

How to Check Your iOS Version

If you're unsure which software version your iPhone is currently using, follow these steps:

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and select About.
3. Your current iOS version will be listed near the top of the screen.

If your device hasn't been updated to iOS 18 yet, consider checking for available updates by going to Settings → General → Software Update.

When to Use the Clean Up Tool

The Clean Up Tool has practical applications for all types of content creators from business owners to social media managers. Here are a few suggestions for when to use this tool to expedite your workflow.

• For Professional Images: Clean up headshots by removing distracting background elements or blemishes.
• For Business Events: Remove sensitive documents or classified project details from event photos without compromising the rest of the image.
• Group Photos: If you have a group photo with friends or coworkers but want to remove someone, the Clean Up Tool can quickly erase them while preserving the rest of the image.
• For Content Creators: Erase clutter from product photos or improve social media posts by eliminating unwanted objects or people from the backdrop.
• For Video Makers: Improve thumbnails and behind-the-scenes images by removing unwanted elements.

How to Clean Up Photos (Remove People and Objects)

To remove photos and objects from photos using the Clean Up tool on an iPhone 15 Pro, follow these four steps:

1. Start by opening your photo in the Camera Roll and tapping the Edit icon.
2. Then, select the Clean Up Tool from the options on the right side of the editing menu.

3. To remove a person or object from your image, tap directly on smaller items or draw a circle around larger ones.
4. The selected area will be highlighted with a white, iridescent glow before being automatically removed from the photo.

If you’re not satisfied with an edit or want to quickly compare changes, use the undo and redo arrows located in the top left corner of the screen.

When you’re happy with the results, tap the Done button, highlighted in yellow, to save your edits.

For users who want to remove objects from images but don’t have access to Apple’s required hardware, several alternatives are available. The free app Snapseed offers a straightforward Healing tool for spot correction.

For a more advanced editing experience, TouchRetouch provides powerful spot correction features designed to remove distractions like power lines, photobombers, or small unwanted objects. However, this tool requires a subscription, as these features are not available to free users.

3 Other Essential Image Editing Tools (Not Included on iOS)

While Apple’s Clean Up Tool is a useful addition for iPhone users, there are many AI-powered image editing tools not available on iOS. These three essential (and advanced) editing tools help you optimize images for social media and boost visual quality.

Image Extending

Social media platforms require specific image sizes — but resizing doesn’t have to mean cropping. Whether you’re switching from landscape to portrait or adjusting for a new aspect ratios, Kapwing’s free tool lets you expand images using AI-generated visuals that seamlessly match your original photo.

To use the AI Image Extender, upload your image to the receive editor and open the AI Tools menu in the bottom toolbar.

Select the Magic Fill tool, then choose your desired aspect ratio.

Enter a prompt to guide the generator and you will receive four expanded versions of your image.

From there, you can select any or all of the results to export or continue editing as needed.

The AI Image Extender is the perfect tool for resizing images without losing key visual details. Unlike traditional cropping, which can cut off important parts of your design, the tool intelligently expands your image by generating background elements that blend naturally with the original content. It’s perfect for content creators, marketers, and businesses that repurpose images across multiple platforms.

For example, if you’ve designed a square graphic for Instagram but need to post it as a vertical Story or Reel, the AI Image Extender can fill the extra space while keeping your main content centered and clear. Your text, logos, and visuals stay fully visible — no awkward cropping or empty gaps.

Background Removal (Green Screen)

For projects that require full background replacement rather than minor object removal, an automatic background remover is the perfect solution. Kapwing's Background Removal tool enables users to quickly isolate subjects with precision.

Simply upload your image, navigate to AI Tools in the bottom toolbar, and select the Erase tool to remove the background automatically.

This feature is great for creating personalized marketing assets, professional headshots with custom backgrounds, or high-quality PNG cutouts for use in other designs and visual content.

Social Media User Interface Templates (Safe Zones)

When uploading content to social media, it’s essential to account for platform-specific UI elements that may overlay your photos or videos. This is especially common with video content but also applies to image ads on platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where vertical images appear in-feed and are subject to the same overlays.

To add a safe zone overlay in Kapwing, select Project, then choose Zones from the bottom toolbar.

Select the relevant app icon to apply the appropriate safe zone template. A graphic will appear on your project, showing where UI elements may obscure your content, allowing you to adjust your design for optimal visibility.