Method 2: Built-in phone tools
On iPhones with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and newer, iOS 18.1+), open the photo in Photos, tap Edit, then Clean Up, and tap or circle the person. On Android, Google Photos offers Magic Eraser.
Built-in tools are free and fast for small, simple removals. They struggle with large people in the foreground, crowds, and detailed backgrounds like windows and brickwork, where they often leave a smeared patch.
Method 3: Manual healing or clone brush
Free editors such as Snapseed (Healing) or desktop apps (clone stamp) copy nearby texture over the person. It works for a small figure on grass or sky, but takes time and tends to show repeating patterns on anything structured.
5 tips for a result nobody can spot
- Always include the shadow and any reflection.
- Brush slightly past the outline; tight masks leave halos.
- Remove crowds in several small passes, saving in between.
- Re-run a removal if the first try isn't perfect, because each generation differs.
- Start from the highest-resolution original, not a screenshot.