Remove people from photos on your phone: 4 options
To remove someone on your phone, first check the eraser in your photo app. If it is unavailable or you want manual brush selection, open People Remover in a current browser. It needs Google sign-in and purchased credits, costs 3 credits per new attempt and exports an original-size PNG without a watermark.
For a small background distraction, your phone’s own eraser may be enough. If it is not available or you want to paint the selection yourself, consider People Remover. You choose the area with a brush. Overlapping people and patterned backgrounds still need a careful review.
The options at a glance
Swipe the table to compare all details →
| Option | Works on | Cost | How you select | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People Remover | Current mobile or desktop browser | 3 credits per new edit; paid packs or monthly plans | Brush with Mark and Unmark | Same size as your original |
| iPhone Clean Up | Requires a device and system supported by Apple Intelligence | Check the options available on your device | Tap, circle or brush | Saved in the Photos app |
| Google Photos Magic Eraser | Availability depends on device, app version and account | Check the options available on your device | Tap a suggestion or brush | Saved in Google Photos |
| Samsung Galaxy AI eraser | Supported Galaxy devices; check your Gallery options | Feature and account requirements vary | Tap or draw around the object | Resolution and marking depend on editing mode; check when saving |
These tools have different device and software requirements. Check the official help links below and the options on your phone before choosing.
1. People Remover: manual selection in a browser
People Remover is a web app. You open it in Safari or Chrome, upload a photo from your camera roll, brush over the person and download the result. It needs a current browser and enough memory to open the photo. Large files may work better on a computer.
- You choose exactly what goes. Paint over one tourist and leave the rest of the crowd. Use Unmark to fix a stroke that went too far.
- Full-resolution download. The file you save has the same dimensions as your original. Only the brushed area changes.
- Sharp fills on large photos. Only the area around your selection is sent for repair, at close to its original resolution, so the fill matches the detail of the rest of the photo.
- Same editor on your computer. Start on your phone, or edit a photo someone sent you on a laptop.
The trade-off: it needs an internet connection, and each edit uses credits from a credit pack or monthly plan.
Upload from your camera roll, brush over the person and compare before and after.
2. iPhone: Clean Up in the Photos app
On supported iPhones, open a photo, tap Edit, then Clean Up. The Photos app highlights things it thinks you might want to remove; tap one, or circle or brush over something else.
Clean Up requires a supported Apple Intelligence device and system. Region and language can also affect availability. Check Apple’s current requirements rather than assuming that every iPhone includes it.
3. Google Photos: Magic Eraser
If Magic Eraser is available in Google Photos, open the photo and look for it in the editing actions. You can use suggested targets or select objects yourself. Availability and menu locations depend on your device, app version and account.
It’s a good choice if your photos already live in Google Photos. If you’d rather not install another app, or you want more control over the edges of the selection, a browser editor does the same job.
4. Samsung Galaxy: Galaxy AI eraser
Some Galaxy devices offer object removal or Generative Edit in Gallery. Check the editing options on your device. Account, network and system requirements depend on the feature you use.
Check the save notice for your editing mode. Some modes can resize the image or add a mark. People Remover downloads a PNG at the source width and height without a watermark; the generated fill still needs checking.
Check the tools available on your phone
Apple Clean Up requirements · Google Photos editing help · Samsung photo editing help
When does a browser editor make sense?
- Your phone doesn’t support a built-in eraser, or you’re not sure it does.
- The automatic suggestion keeps selecting the wrong person in a crowded shot.
- You want to print the photo or zoom in, so resolution matters.
- You don’t want a watermark on the result.
- The photo is on a computer, or someone sent it to you in a chat.
Editing uses purchased credits. No app, no watermark, full-resolution download.
How to remove a person on your phone with People Remover
- Open peopleremover.com in Safari or Chrome and tap Upload image.
- Pick the photo from your camera roll.
- Brush over the person you want gone, including their shadow. Use the zoom buttons for fine edges.
- Tap Remove and sign in with Google if you haven’t yet.
- Drag the slider to compare, then tap Download original size.
On a small screen, zoom in and use a smaller brush near hair and hands, and use Unmark if you touch someone you want to keep. Our step-by-step guide covers selection in more detail, with before-and-after examples.