Remove people from photos on your phone: 4 free options
Your phone may already have an eraser built in. Here’s what iPhone, Google Photos and Samsung Galaxy offer, where each one falls short, and how to get a full-resolution result on any phone with People Remover, right in your browser.
For a quick, casual fix, try your phone’s built-in eraser first if you have one. If your phone doesn’t support it, the eraser removes the wrong thing, or you need a full-resolution file, use People Remover. It runs in any phone browser and you decide exactly what disappears with a brush.
The options at a glance
| Option | Works on | Cost | How you select | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People Remover | Any phone or computer with a modern browser | 2 free credits, then credit packs | Brush with Mark and Unmark | Same size as your original, HD Repair available |
| iPhone Clean Up | iPhone 15 Pro and later with Apple Intelligence, iOS 18.1+ | Free | Tap, circle or brush | Saved in the Photos app |
| Google Photos Magic Eraser | Android 8+ with 3 GB RAM, iPhone with iOS 15+ | Free | Tap a suggestion or brush | Saved in Google Photos |
| Samsung Galaxy AI eraser | Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 6.1+ and Galaxy AI | Free, Samsung account needed | Tap or draw around the object | Generative Edit resizes to up to 12 MP and adds a Galaxy AI watermark |
Device requirements for built-in tools checked in September 2026. Apple, Google and Samsung update them often, so check their support pages if an option doesn’t appear on your phone.
1. People Remover: works on any phone, no install
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 doesn’t matter which phone you have or how old it is.
- 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, even on free credits.
- HD Repair for photos that matter. The brushed area is generated at 2K instead of 1K, so it stays sharp when you zoom in or print.
- 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 after the free credits 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 needs an iPhone 15 Pro or a newer model that supports Apple Intelligence, running iOS 18.1 or later. It isn’t available on iPhones bought in mainland China. If your iPhone doesn’t qualify, the Clean Up button simply won’t appear, and People Remover in Safari is the easiest alternative.
3. Google Photos: Magic Eraser
Magic Eraser is free in the Google Photos app for Android (Android 8 or later with at least 3 GB of RAM) and iPhone (iOS 15 or later). Open a photo, tap Edit, go to Tools and choose Magic Eraser. It suggests people to remove, or you can brush over them yourself.
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
On Galaxy phones and tablets with One UI 6.1 or later, open a photo in Gallery, tap Edit, then the Galaxy AI button (Photo assist), and tap or draw around the person to erase them. You need a Samsung account and an internet connection.
Keep one limit in mind: Samsung says Generative Edit resizes the photo to up to 12 MP and adds a Galaxy AI watermark. If you need the full-size file without a mark, People Remover downloads at your original dimensions with no watermark.
When a browser tool is the better choice
- 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.
Start with 2 free 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.
- Choose Standard, or HD Repair if you’ve bought credits, and tap Remove.
- 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.