How to Remove a Background From an Image on iPhone
Part of the guide: Background remover
Your iPhone can already cut a subject out of a photo, with no app to install. It is quick for a single picture. Here is how it works, and where it stops being the right tool.
The built-in way: lift the subject
Apple added a feature in iOS 16 that lifts the main subject out of a photo. Exact wording and availability can change between iOS versions and devices, so check the iPhone User Guide for your version (search it for "lift subject").
- Open the photo in Photos.
- Touch and hold the subject (a person, a pet, an object) until a thin white outline runs around it.
- Lift your finger. Buttons such as Copy and Share appear.
- Tap Copy, then paste the cutout into a message, note, email or design app. Or tap Share and choose where to send it. You can also drag the subject into another app.
The feature works in other places too, such as Safari images and screenshots, according to Apple and third-party guides. It needs a supported iPhone running a recent iOS.
What it is good for
- A quick cutout for a message, a note or a social post.
- A single subject with a clear edge.
- Pasting a subject straight into another app.
Where it falls short
- One image at a time. There is no batch mode, so a catalogue of 100 photos is a lot of touching and holding.
- You do not choose the model or edge handling. It may lift the wrong thing, or grab several people when you want one.
- Fine detail is hit and miss. Hair, fur and glass can look rough, and there is no setting to improve them.
- Output control is limited. If you need PNG files with transparency, saved in a folder in bulk, it is awkward.
When to use a Mac instead
Move the photos to a Mac when you have many images, need to compare results, want to choose between models, or want PNG, JPEG or WebP files exported in one go. You can send photos from iPhone to Mac with AirDrop or iCloud Photos.
BG Remover Pro is the Mac app we make for this: it removes backgrounds in bulk, shows a before/after slider on every result, offers five AI models plus alpha matting for hair and fur, and runs on your Mac with nothing uploaded. It is our own app, so take that as a disclosure. It does not run on iPhone or iPad, and it needs an Apple Silicon Mac with macOS 14 or later. You can process 20 images free first.
Quick comparison
| You want | Use |
|---|---|
| One cutout, right now | iPhone's built-in lift subject |
| Cutouts for many photos | A batch background remover on a Mac |
| Better hair and fur edges | A tool with an edge-refining mode |
| A transparent PNG file | Check the format you save as, or export from a Mac app |
For the Mac side of the story, see how to remove a background on Mac.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove the background from a picture on my iPhone?
Open the photo in Photos, touch and hold the subject until it is outlined, then tap Copy or Share. It needs a recent iOS and a supported iPhone.
Can I remove backgrounds from many photos at once on iPhone?
The built-in feature works on one image at a time. For batches, use a batch background remover on a Mac or computer.
Why did my iPhone pick the wrong subject?
The feature chooses the subject automatically, with no setting for it. Try a photo with a clearer subject, or use a tool that lets you choose the model and check the result.
Does BG Remover Pro work on iPhone?
No. It is a Mac app for Apple Silicon Macs (M1 and newer) running macOS 14 or later.
Need to do this for a whole folder?
BG Remover Pro is the Mac app we make. It removes backgrounds in bulk, on your Mac, with nothing uploaded, and you can try 20 images free. See pricing or what it does.
