Capturing the perfect holiday snapshot or architectural vista is often spoiled by distracting background elements: accidental photobombers, rubbish bins, overhead power lines, or glare reflections. In iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia, Apple integrated Clean Up directly into the native Photos app. Powered by Apple Intelligence generative diffusion models, Clean Up allows users to tap or circle unwanted background objects and seamlessly replace them with realistic, contextually matched image textures.
How Clean Up Operates with Apple Intelligence
Unlike basic blur or stamp cloning tools, Clean Up analyses spatial geometry and lighting conditions on-device:
- Automatic Distraction Detection: When you enter edit mode, machine learning models proactively identify potential photobombers and background clutter, highlighting them with a luminous iridescent outline.
- Contextual Generative Inpainting: Generates synthetic background pixels (such as grass, brick textures, ocean ripples, or shadows) that blend seamlessly with surrounding elements.
- Subject Protection: Intelligently preserves primary foreground subjects, preventing accidental alteration of hair, limbs, or clothing when erasing nearby background passersby.
- Non-Destructive Editing: Edits are saved non-destructively; you can revert to your original, unedited photo at any time from within the Photos interface.
Requirements for Using Clean Up
Because Clean Up relies on on-device Apple Intelligence neural networks, verify device compatibility:
- Supported iPhone Hardware: Requires iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 16 series, or newer devices equipped with an A17 Pro chip or higher.
- System Software: Must be running iOS 18.1 or later with Apple Intelligence enabled in system settings.
- iPad and Mac Support: Also available on M-series iPads (iPad Air, iPad Pro) and Apple silicon Macs running iPadOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1.
Removing Objects and Photobombers Using Clean Up
Erasing unwanted elements from your snapshots takes only a few seconds:
- Launch the Photos app on your compatible iPhone and select the photo you want to refine.
- Tap the Edit button (the three adjustment sliders) at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the Clean Up icon (represented by an eraser symbol with an iridescent sparkle).
Note: On the first launch, your iPhone may take a few moments to download the local generative model assets over Wi-Fi.
- Inspect the photo. If iOS detects obvious background distractions, tap the highlighted object to erase it instantly.
- To remove custom objects manually:
- Tap: Tap directly on small blemishes, stray spots, or lens flare artefacts.
- Circle: Trace a loose circle around a person, rubbish bin, or signpost with your finger.
- Brush: Rub your finger across extensive distractions (such as power cables or fencing).
- The selected area dissolves into shimmering iridescent particles and repaints with natural background texture.
- Tap Done in the upper-right corner to save your changes.
Refining and Reverting Edits
If an initial inpainting result does not meet your expectations, use these editing controls:
- Pinch to Zoom: Pinch outward with two fingers to zoom into intricate details before brushing, allowing pixel-level precision around fine hair or branches.
- Undo and Redo: Tap the curved Undo arrow at the top of the screen to reverse the last erasure step without discarding your entire session.
- Revert to Original: If you ever wish to restore the original unretouched photograph, reopen the image in Photos, tap Edit, and tap Revert at the top of the interface.