# How to remove a background on iPhone > To remove a background on iPhone, open the photo in Photos, touch and hold the subject until an outline appears, then tap Copy or Share — you get the subject without its background. For a saved PNG with cleaner hair and fur edges, open kenerateai.com in Safari and run Cutout HD. To remove a person or object instead, use Photos → Edit → Clean Up on iPhones that support Apple Intelligence. URL: https://kenerateai.com/how-to-remove-background-on-iphone Publisher: Kenerate AI (https://kenerateai.com) Last updated: 26 September 2026 ## Key facts - Built-in: Photos: touch and hold the subject → Copy / Share - Remove people: Photos → Clean Up (Apple Intelligence iPhones) - HD option: Kenerate Cutout HD in Safari, for hair and fur - Output: Transparent PNG saved to Photos or Files ## Steps 1. Open the photo — Open it full screen in the Photos app. 2. Touch and hold the subject — Hold until a glowing outline appears around it. 3. Copy or Share — Tap Copy to paste it elsewhere, or Share to save or send it without the background. ## In depth ### Lift subject from background (iOS 16) Apple introduced lifting a subject from its background with iOS 16 in September 2022: touch and hold the subject of an image to lift it [1]. You can then copy it, share it, add it as a sticker or drag it into another app, and it works in Photos, Safari, Quick Look and paused video frames [2]. ### Clean Up (Apple Intelligence) Clean Up arrived with iOS 18.1 in October 2024 as part of Apple Intelligence [3]. It needs an iPhone 15 Pro or later (plus supported iPads and Macs) and isn't available on devices bought in mainland China [4]; in Photos you open Tools → Clean Up and tap, brush or circle the object [5]. ### What the built-in tools don't do Lifting gives a quick sticker-style cut-out; it doesn't let you choose an HD edge mode, refine hair, or place the subject on a new colour before saving. For product listings or print, a dedicated remover gives a transparent PNG you control [6]. References: [1] Apple Newsroom — iOS 16 is available today (2022): https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/09/ios-16-is-available-today/ [2] Apple Support — Lift a subject from the photo background: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lift-a-subject-from-the-photo-background-iphfe4809658/ios [3] Apple Newsroom — Apple Intelligence available today (2024): https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/10/apple-intelligence-is-available-today-on-iphone-ipad-and-mac/ [4] Apple Support — Apple Intelligence device requirements: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121429 [5] Apple Support — Clean Up, Extend and Reframe photos: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/clean-up-extend-and-reframe-photos-xy0grrlxue5w/ios [6] W3C — PNG Specification, Third Edition (2025): https://www.w3.org/TR/png-3/ ## FAQ Q: How do I remove the background from a photo on iPhone? A: In Photos, open the picture, touch and hold the subject until an outline appears, then tap Copy or Share. The subject comes without its background. Q: Which iPhones can lift a subject from a photo? A: The feature is part of recent versions of iOS; if touching and holding a subject does nothing, update iOS or use a web tool in Safari. Q: How do I save the cut-out as a PNG on iPhone? A: Share the lifted subject to Files or Photos, or use Kenerate in Safari and download the PNG. Q: How do I remove people from pictures on iPhone? A: On iPhones that support Apple Intelligence, open the photo in Photos, tap Edit → Clean Up, and tap, brush or circle the person. On other iPhones, use Kenerate's AI Edit or Magic Eraser in Safari. Q: Why are the edges of my iPhone cut-out rough? A: Busy backgrounds, similar colours and fine hair are hard for the built-in tool. Cutout HD is built for those edges. Q: Can I change the background colour on iPhone? A: The built-in tool only lifts the subject. In Kenerate you can put it on white, black, any colour or another photo before downloading. Q: Does it work on videos? A: Apple's lift-subject also works on a paused video frame. For full video background removal, use a video tool. Q: Is the Kenerate option free? A: Free to start with 25 free credits on sign-up, then one-time credit packs that never expire — no subscription. ## Related pages - Free AI background remover: https://kenerateai.com/free-ai-background-remover - Transparent background maker: https://kenerateai.com/transparent-background-maker - Free PNG maker: https://kenerateai.com/png-maker - White background: https://kenerateai.com/white-background - Remove white background: https://kenerateai.com/remove-white-background - Black background: https://kenerateai.com/black-background - Transparent logo: https://kenerateai.com/remove-background-from-logo - Signature PNG: https://kenerateai.com/remove-background-from-signature - Remove shadow: https://kenerateai.com/remove-shadow-from-photo - Remove glare: https://kenerateai.com/remove-glare-from-photo - Remove text: https://kenerateai.com/remove-text-from-image - Make an image transparent: https://kenerateai.com/how-to-make-an-image-transparent - Remove background in Canva: https://kenerateai.com/how-to-remove-background-in-canva - Remove background in Photoshop: https://kenerateai.com/how-to-remove-background-in-photoshop - Remove background in GIMP: https://kenerateai.com/how-to-remove-background-in-gimp - Remove a person from a photo: https://kenerateai.com/how-to-remove-a-person-from-a-photo - All background remover alternatives: https://kenerateai.com/background-remover-alternatives - remove.bg alternative: https://kenerateai.com/remove-bg-alternative - Photoroom alternative: https://kenerateai.com/photoroom-alternative - Pixelcut alternative: https://kenerateai.com/pixelcut-alternative - Canva BG Remover alternative: https://kenerateai.com/canva-background-remover-alternative - Adobe Express alternative: https://kenerateai.com/adobe-express-background-remover-alternative - erase.bg alternative: https://kenerateai.com/erase-bg-alternative - removal.ai alternative: https://kenerateai.com/removal-ai-alternative - Picsart alternative: https://kenerateai.com/picsart-background-remover-alternative - Pixlr alternative: https://kenerateai.com/pixlr-background-remover-alternative - Clipping Magic alternative: https://kenerateai.com/clipping-magic-alternative - PhotoScissors alternative: https://kenerateai.com/photoscissors-alternative - PicWish alternative: https://kenerateai.com/picwish-alternative - Slazzer alternative: https://kenerateai.com/slazzer-alternative - Fotor alternative: https://kenerateai.com/fotor-background-remover-alternative ## Sources - Apple — Lift a subject from the photo background on iPhone: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lift-a-subject-from-the-photo-background-iphfe4809658/ios - Apple — Clean up, extend and reframe photos on iPhone: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/clean-up-extend-and-reframe-photos-xy0grrlxue5w/ios - Apple — Requirements to use Clean Up in Photos: https://support.apple.com/en-us/121429