The Apple Photos app on iPhone uses on-device machine learning to automatically curate delightful Memories collections, slideshows, and Featured Photos widgets celebrating past holidays, anniversaries, and family events. However, life changes: relationships end, loved ones pass away, or certain locations evoke painful memories. Having an ex-partner or difficult place flash unexpectedly on your iPhone Home Screen widget can be an emotional shock.
Rather than permanently deleting cherished historical photos from your camera roll, Apple Photos includes a thoughtful privacy control: Feature Less. This feature allows users to instruct the Photos algorithm to minimize or completely hide specific people, pets, dates, and locations from automated Memories, widget carousels, and search suggestions while keeping the underlying photos safely in your library. This guide explains how to use Feature Less on iPhone.
Feature Less vs Block / Delete
Understanding how Feature Less handles your photos:
- Photos Remain in Your Library: The original photos are not deleted or moved. You can still view them whenever you manually scroll to their date in the Library tab or search for them.
- Suppresses Algorithmic Highlights: The person or location will never appear in the For You tab, Home Screen widgets, Lock Screen photo shuffle, or automated video montages.
- Two Strictness Levels: You can choose between Feature This Person Less (shows them only in group photos) or Never Feature This Person (completely suppresses all appearances).
Step-by-Step: Featuring a Person Less in Apple Photos
- Open the Photos app on your iPhone.
- Tap the Albums tab (or scroll down to People & Pets in iOS 18).
- Tap the People & Pets album.
- Tap the profile card of the person you wish to feature less.
- Tap the More options button (the three dots in the top-right corner).
- Select Feature [Name] Less.
- Choose your preferred restriction:
- Feature This Person Less: Photos of this person will not appear in individual Memories, but may occasionally appear in large group family photos.
- Never Feature This Person: Completely blocks this person from ever appearing in any automated Memory, slideshow, or widget highlight.
- Tap Confirm.
Featuring a Specific Location or Date Less from an Active Memory
If an existing Memory slideshow displays a specific place or anniversary you do not want to see:
- Tap the For You tab in Photos.
- Locate the Memory card and tap to open it.
- Tap the three dots in the top-right corner while the video plays.
- Select Feature Less.
- Choose between:
- Feature this day less: Prevents that specific calendar anniversary from appearing in future years.
- Feature this place less: Blocks photos taken at that geographic location from being highlighted.
Resetting Feature Less Settings
If you ever reconcile or change your mind in the future, resetting restrictions is simple:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Photos.
- Tap Reset Suggested Memories (or manage Blocked People).
- Tap Reset to restore default algorithmic curation.