Why do we need to remove people from photos?

According to research from Adobe, over 68% of regular users wish to perform post-processing on at least one or two distracting elements in their photos after taking them. Especially at popular tourist spots, it's almost impossible to take a photo with no people in it.

Whether it's to achieve a neat appearance when posting on social media or to remove discordant elements when printing commemorative photos, mastering how to remove a person from a photo has become an essential photo editing skill for everybody.

Best methods to remove people from photos

From one-click AI online tools to built-in iPhone features and professional desktop software, there are now multiple practical ways to delete unwanted people from images, catering to different needs for speed, convenience, device compatibility, and editing precision. Below we’ve sorted out the most effective and easy-to-use methods, so you can pick the one that fits you best.

AI remove person from images with UltraPic - Fastest

If you prefer speed and effectiveness, I recommend directly using UltraPic's Magic Eraser feature. AI-based content-aware fill and object removal tools can automatically reconstruct backgrounds using surrounding pixels, making edits more realistic than manual cloning.

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UltraPic is a completely online person remover tool, no software download is required; just open your browser to use it, making it especially suitable for desktop users.

Step 1: Upload Your Image

Go to UltraPic Magic Eraser and upload the photo you want to edit.

Step 2: Select the Person

Choose People from smart Remove catagory directly (auto-detection) to erase all person from photos.

Or manually brush over the unwanted subject.

Step 3: Remove the Person

Click HD Removal for better detail reconstruction. Or Standard Removal for free result.

Step 4: Download the Result

Export the edited image in high quality.

💡 This is the easiest way to erase people from photos without technical skills.

How to remove people from photos on iPhone

If you want to directly remove unwanted people from photos using your iPhone, there are now various convenient solutions available. Depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, you can choose the most suitable method to remove people.

Way 1. Clean Up people from photos in Ios 18.1+

Clean Up is Apple’s built‑in AI eraser, available on iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max and newer with iOS 18.1 or later. It works offline and is incredibly easy to use.

Steps to erase people frpm photos:

1. Open the Photos app and select your image.

2. Tap Edit in the top right corner.

3. Look for the Clean Up icon (an eraser) at the bottom. (First‑time use may require a quick download.)

• Auto mode: The system may highlight people with a pink glow – tap them to remove.
• Manual mode: Use your finger to paint over the person you want to erase.

4. Tap Done to save.

✨Note: Clean Up is not available on Chinese‑market iPhones and requires a supported device.

Way 2. Remove people from background in iOS 16+

If your iPhone does not support Clean Up, you can stillerase people from photosby using the subject lift feature. This works best when you want to separate a person from the background.

Steps to remove a person or object from a photo:

1. Open the photo in the Photos app.

2. Touch and hold the subject until a white outline appears.

3. Tap Copy from the pop‑up menu.

4. Open Notes, long‑press the canvas, and select Paste.

5. Tap the pasted image, then use the share icon to Save Image – you now have a version without the background.

How to remove a person in Canva

For users who frequently use design tools, you might be wondering if canva remove person from photo is feasible. Canva, as the world's most popular online design platform, indeed offers the "BG Remover" and "Magic Eraser" features.

Steps to remove a person in Canva:

1. Enter the Canva editor and upload your photo. Click on the photo and select "Edit Image."

2. In Eraser, select "Magic Eraser" tool. Adjust the brush size and apply it to the person you want to erase.

4. Waiting for the AI to automatically erase and remove

It is important to note that Canva's Magic Eraser feature usually requires a Canva Pro subscription (paid version) to use. If you only edit photos occasionally, tools like UltraPic, which are free and specialized, might be more suitable for you.

How to remove people from photos in Photoshop

For those pursuing the ultimate image quality and precise control, Adobe Photoshop has always been a professional choice. If you are familiar with the Adobe system, you can remove a person from a photo in Photoshop. Although it doesn't have the one-click convenience of online tools, its powerful content-aware and intelligent fill technologies are more than capable of removing any complex background.

If you are a Creative Cloud subscriber, you can use the latest "Generative Fill" feature, which is essentially the official implementation of AI removing a person from an image, resulting in a more natural effect.

1. Use the selection tool to select the person. It is recommended to use the "Object Selection Tool." Hover the mouse over the person, and Photoshop will automatically recognize and select the entire person.

2. Find "Edit" → "Generative Fill" in the menu bar.

3. In the pop-up dialog, you can leave the prompt blank and click "Generate." Photoshop will automatically analyze the background, remove the person, and fill in the scene. You can also input prompts like "remove person" or "keep background" to help the AI understand your intention.

4. You can choose the one you like best from the "Properties" panel. The entire process usually takes just a few seconds and integrates seamlessly with the surrounding light and shadows.

While Photoshop is incredibly powerful, it requires a subscription (starting at around $20.99/month) and a learning curve. For quick, everyday removal tasks—like cleaning up a travel photo or preparing a social media post—online AI tools often offer a more convenient alternative.

Which person remover is right for you?

No matter which tool you choose, removing unwanted people from your photos has never been easier. Simply pick the method that matches your workflow, and enjoy clean, distraction‑free images every time.

For the majority of everyday users:

✏ UltraPic offers the best balance of quality, speed, and cost. It works on any device, requires no installation, and its HD Removal mode handles even complex backgrounds with impressive accuracy.

✏ If you already use an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, the Clean Up feature is a fantastic free alternative.

✏ For professionals who need ultimate control, Photoshop remains the go‑to.

✏ While Canva fits well for designers working within its ecosystem.

Conclusion

Whether you want to remove background pedestrians from your travel photos or make your family portraits cleaner and more perfect, there are already many excellent tools on the market that can help you easily achieve the goal of removing people from photos.

There is no "absolute best" tool, only the "most suitable for your current needs" tool. For the vast majority of regular users, an online, free, and efficient person remover like UltraPic is already sufficient to handle everyday photo editing scenarios. You can achieve professional results in seconds, completely free.