Look, we've all been there. You finally get that perfect shot of the Eiffel Tower – only to notice three strangers photobombing your masterpiece. Or maybe it's your kid's birthday photo ruined by Aunt Carol wandering through the background in her bathrobe. Happened to me last month at Bryce Canyon. Gorgeous sunset, perfect composition... and some guy in neon hiking gear right in the center. Sigh.
Good news? Your iPhone can fix this. And no, you don't need to be a Photoshop wizard. I've spent weeks testing every method – some worked like magic, others made the photo look like a glitchy mess. I'll walk you through what actually works in 2023, step by step.
Why Bother Removing People from Photos Anyway?
Besides saving your vacation memories? Sometimes it's practical. Maybe you're selling your couch online and your kid's toys are everywhere in the background. Or you need a professional headshot but snapped it at a crowded coffee shop. Or hey – maybe you just want privacy and don't want strangers in your personal shots.
Whatever your reason, let's get straight to the solutions.
Your iPhone's Hidden Toolkit (No Apps Needed)
Apple quietly added legit editing powers in iOS 16. I almost missed this feature myself until last Thanksgiving.
The Magic Eraser: Object Removal in Photos App
Here's the step-by-step I wish I had when deleting that photobomber from my Zion National Park shot:
| Step 1 | Open your photo in the Photos app → Tap Edit in top right |
| Step 2 | Tap the Retouch tool (band-aid icon) → Select Object Removal from bottom menu |
| Step 3 | Zoom in on the person → Trace their outline roughly with your finger |
| Step 4 | Hold your finger down for 2 seconds → Watch the AI fill the space |
| Step 5 | Tap Done → Check edges for weird artifacts |
TIP: Works best when:
- The background isn't super busy (solid walls > leafy trees)
- The person isn't overlapping important objects
- You take 2 seconds to properly trace – sloppy tracing = messy results
My honest take? It's shockingly good for simple jobs. Removed a tourist from my Rome Colosseum pic in 15 seconds flat. But when I tried it on a complex beach scene with waves? Disaster. The water looked like melted plastic.
Old School Method: Cropping and Markup
Sometimes the simplest solutions work best:
- Cropping: Just pinch and zoom in Photos → Tap crop icon → Eliminate people at edges
- Markup Hack: Edit photo → Tap three dots → Markup → Use white marker to paint over small distractions (works for logos/text too)
Seriously – don't underestimate cropping. Fixed 60% of my "people problems" without any fancy edits.
Personal rant: Why does Apple hide the retouch tool behind two menus? Found it by accident after six months. Typical Apple – powerful features buried like pirate treasure.
When to Use Third-Party Apps (And Which Won't Waste Your Time)
If your photo has complex backgrounds or multiple people, third-party apps save headaches. Tested 14 apps – here are the only three worth installing:
| App Name | Best For | Price | Real-World Test Results |
|---|---|---|---|
| TouchRetouch | Precision removal (single objects) |
$1.99 one-time | ✅ Removed a bike from my street photo perfectly ❌ Struggled with hair details |
| Snapseed | Free alternative with healing brush |
Free | ✅ Great for small removals ❌ Left ghosting effects on large areas |
| Object Removal Pro | AI-powered crowd removal | $4.99/week (steep but works) |
✅ Deleted 5 people from my Tokyo street shot magically ❌ Subscription pricing is annoying |
Step-by-Step: Removing People in TouchRetouch
This saved my Grand Canyon group photo when my ex photobombed us (long story):
- Open app → Import photo → Select Lasso Tool
- Zoom 200% → Carefully trace around the person
- Tap Go → Watch algorithm remove them
- Use Clone Stamp tool to fix any messy edges
Pro insight from my failures: Trace 2mm inside the person's outline. If you include background pixels, it clones weird patterns.
What Nobody Tells You: Why Removals Fail
After ruining 20+ test photos, I discovered the hidden rules:
WARNING: These situations cause 90% of failed removals:
- Shadows touching the person (AI duplicates shadow lines)
- Complex textures behind them (brick walls > grass)
- Low-light photos with grain/noise
- Semi-transparent objects (umbrellas, mesh fabrics)
My kitchen wall experiment proved it: Removing someone against plain drywall? Flawless. Against my floral wallpaper? Nightmare fuel.
Pro Techniques for Tough Cases
For "impossible" shots where the person blends into background:
The Clone Stamp Workaround
Available in Snapseed and TouchRetouch:
- Find a clean background area near the person
- Set that as your clone source
- Stamp over the person like digital wallpaper
Takes patience but saved my daughter's ballet recital photo.
Background Replacement Trick
When removal fails, change the scene:
- Remove person with Object Removal Pro
- Use PicsArt's background remover
- Drop photo onto new background (sky/beach/wall)
FAQs: Your Burning Questions Answered
Can I remove people from old iPhone photos?
Absolutely. The Photos app tools work on any image in your library. I successfully edited a 2018 beach photo last week. Quality depends more on photo resolution than age.
Why does my removed person leave a blurry patch?
Common with the free iPhone tool. Fix it by: 1) Using smaller brush strokes 2) Switching to TouchRetouch for precision 3) Blending edges with Snapseed's healing tool.
How to remove multiple people efficiently?
Crowded street shots need Object Removal Pro's batch AI. For manual removal: Start with distant people → Work forward → Fix backgrounds between removals. Took me 8 minutes for 5 people in a park scene.
Does this work for videos?
Mostly no. Some apps like VideoRetouch claim to do it ($14/month) but results were glitchy in my tests. Save yourself frustration.
Can I remove myself from a photo?
Tricky but doable if: 1) You're at the edge of the frame 2) Use clone stamp on another person's similar body part as source 3) Takes Photoshop-level skills. Honestly easier to retake the shot.
My Personal Workflow (Save Hours of Trial & Error)
After fixing hundreds of photos, here's my bulletproof system:
- Step 1: Try iPhone's built-in tool first (fastest solution for 70% of cases)
- Step 2: For complex jobs → Use TouchRetouch ($2) for precision work
- Step 3: Crowded scenes? Object Removal Pro → Pay for 1 week subscription ($5) → Cancel immediately
- Step 4: Final polish → Fix color mismatches in Snapseed (free)
Always save original photos! I corrupted three irreplaceable vacation shots by overwriting them. Learn from my stupidity.
Ethical Considerations (The Uncomfortable Truth)
Let's address the elephant in the room. I once removed my ex-boss from a team photo after he fired me. Felt great – but it's ethically murky. Some guidelines:
- ✔️ Okay: Removing strangers for privacy/clean composition
- ⚠️ Iffy: Altering historical/documentary photos
- ❌ Not Okay: Manipulating images to deceive or harm
When my niece asked about removing her class bully from a yearbook pic? Had to have that tough conversation.
Final Reality Check
No solution is perfect. Expect to spend:
- 15-45 seconds for simple iPhone edits
- 2-5 minutes per person in third-party apps
- 10+ minutes for complex crowd scenes
Is it worth it? For that once-in-a-lifetime shot – absolutely. For everyday snaps? Just enjoy the memory, photobombers and all. That random guy in my Bryce Canyon photo? Turned out he photobombed everyone that day. Kinda became a running joke with our tour group.
So next time someone ruins your perfect shot, don't stress. Now you know exactly how to remove people from pictures iPhone style. Got a tough photo? Email it to me – I've seen every removal disaster imaginable.
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