Apple has upgraded the Clean Up tool in iOS 27, making it much easier to remove unwanted objects, people, and distractions from photos. The feature is powered by Apple Intelligence and now delivers more realistic results than previous versions. Apple says the improved Clean Up tool can better fill in missing areas after an object is removed, helping edited photos look more natural.
If you often find background clutter, strangers in travel photos, or distracting objects ruining a great shot, the upgraded Clean Up tool can help you fix those issues directly in the Photos app.
How to Access the Clean Up Tool
The Clean Up feature is built into the Photos app on compatible iPhones that support Apple Intelligence.
- Open the Photos app.
- Select the photo you want to edit.
- Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
- Choose Clean Up from the editing tools.
- Wait a few seconds while Apple Intelligence analyzes the image.
How to Remove Unwanted Objects
The upgraded version automatically detects distracting elements and often highlights them for quick removal.
- Open a photo and enter Clean Up mode.
- Tap a highlighted object to remove it instantly.
- If the object is not highlighted, use your finger to:
- Tap the object.
- Brush over it.
- Circle it manually.
- Let Apple Intelligence process the edit.
- Review the result and tap Done to save the changes.
What’s New in iOS 27 Clean Up?
Apple has significantly improved the quality of AI-generated replacements when objects are removed.
Key Improvements
- Better removal of people and background distractions.
- More realistic reconstruction of complex areas.
- Improved handling of detailed scenes.
- Cleaner edits with fewer visible artifacts.
- Smarter Apple Intelligence processing for difficult objects.
Tips
- Use high-resolution photos whenever possible.
- Zoom in before selecting small objects.
- Remove one object at a time in crowded scenes.
- Check the entire image after editing.
- Compare the edited version with the original before saving.
FAQs
No. The upgraded AI-powered version requires a compatible iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence features.
Yes. The tool can remove unwanted people and background distractions from images.
Your original photo remains available, allowing you to revert edits if needed through the Photos app.
Yes. Early testing shows noticeably better object removal and more realistic image reconstruction compared to previous releases.
Summary
- Open the Photos app and select a picture.
- Tap Edit and choose Clean Up.
- Tap, brush, or circle unwanted objects.
- Let Apple Intelligence process the image.
- Review the result and save the photo.
- Use Zoom and precise selections for the best outcome.
Conclusion
The upgraded Clean Up tool in iOS 27 is one of the biggest improvements to Apple’s photo editing experience. Thanks to Apple Intelligence, it can remove distracting objects with greater accuracy and create more natural-looking results.
Whether you want to clean up travel photos, remove background clutter, or improve old images, the new Clean Up tool makes the process quick and easy directly from the Photos app.
