Quick answer
In the Photos app, touch and hold the person or object until it lifts, then tap Copy or Share. That works for quick stickers and messages. For a full-size transparent PNG with clean hair edges, or a white or colored backdrop, use a background remover in Safari.
iPhones can lift a subject out of a photo on their own, and for a quick sticker it’s all you need. When you want a cut-out you can actually use, full size, with the hair intact and a clean edge, the Background Remover works in Safari with nothing to install.
Here are both ways, and how to tell which one you need.
The built-in way
On recent versions of iOS, open the photo in the Photos app and touch and hold the person, pet or object. When a bright outline runs around it, let go and pick Copy, Share or Add Sticker. Paste it into a message, a note or another app.
In the Files app, you can also touch and hold an image file, then choose Quick Actions → Remove Background. It saves a new copy next to the original.
Both are quick and free, and both are made for one clear subject against a plain background.
When it falls short
- Hair and fur come out chopped, or with a halo of the old background
- It picks one subject when you wanted two people kept together
- Something the same color as the background disappears with it
- You need a set size or a white, black or colored backdrop for a listing or a profile photo
If any of those sound familiar, use a dedicated background remover instead.
Step by step in Safari
- 1Open the Background Remover in Safari and tap to add a photo. HEIC photos straight from your camera roll work; you don’t need to convert them.
- 2Press the button to cut it out. The price is on the button before you start.
- 3Check the edges, then keep it transparent or switch the backdrop to white, black or a color. Switching is free.
- 4Download it. A transparent cut-out comes as a PNG at the same size as your photo.
Photo
Cut outGetting clean hair edges
Edges are where every cut-out is won or lost, and the photo matters more than the tool. Hair against a bright window or a plain wall cuts out cleanly. Hair against leaves, a patterned sofa or someone else’s hair is a guess.
- Shoot with space between the person and what’s behind them, so the background is softer than the hair
- Pick a background that contrasts with the subject: dark hair against a light wall, a light coat against a dark door
- Use the biggest copy you have. If it’s small, run it through the Image Upscaler first, then cut it out, so the edge is cut at full size
Common problems
A halo of the old background around the hair
Use a photo with more contrast behind the head, or switch to a backdrop color close to the old background.
Part of the subject disappeared
That part matched the background. Try a photo where it stands out, or one taken against a plainer wall.
The transparent PNG shows a white background
Some apps show transparency as white. Open it in an app that supports layers, or place it on top of another image to check.
FAQ
Does it keep more than one person?
Yes. Everyone in the foreground is kept together as one cut-out.
Can I do this on Android?
Yes. The Background Remover runs in any phone browser, so the steps in Safari work the same way in Chrome.
What happens to my photo?
Your photos are deleted 7 days after upload and never used to train AI.
Is it free?
Free to try: every new account gets one photo trend free, no card needed. After that, start a plan, which you can cancel any time, or buy a credit pack when you need one. Each run shows its cost before you start.
Make your first one
Background Remover: Clean cut-outs, transparent PNG.
Open Background RemoverYour photos are deleted 7 days after upload and never used to train AI.
