Magic Eraser on iPhone: 3 Ways to Erase Things From Your Photos
Written by Mordechai Peretz · Updated: October 8, 2026 · 5 min read
Magic Eraser is Google's name for its object eraser, and it is available on iPhone through the free Google Photos app. iPhones that support Apple Intelligence also have Apple's own version, Clean Up, built into the Photos app. And in NeedPS you type what should go, for example "remove the people in the background", and the background behind them is rebuilt.
Which one to use depends on your iPhone and on the photo: a small spot, a stranger in the background, or a whole crowd. Here is how each option works and when it is the better pick.
Option 1: Clean Up, built into the Photos app
Clean Up is Apple's object eraser. According to Apple, it needs iOS 18.1 or later and an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence, which starts with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. If you do not see it in the Photos editor, your iPhone or region does not support it yet.
- 1
Open the photo and tap Edit
Use the photo from your library, not a screenshot.
- 2
Tap Clean Up
The Photos app may highlight things it suggests removing.
- 3
Tap, brush or circle what should go
Tap a highlighted item or brush over the thing you want removed, then tap Done.
Option 2: Google Photos Magic Eraser
Google made Magic Eraser available to everyone using Google Photos, with no subscription, from May 15, 2024. Google lists iOS 15 or higher and at least 3 GB of RAM as requirements, and notes that availability varies by device. Install Google Photos, open a photo, tap Edit, find Magic Eraser under the tools, and brush or circle what you want removed.
Option 3: Type what should go, in NeedPS
In NeedPS you do not brush over anything. Open Remove person/object, pick the photo and type what should go: "remove the man on the right", "remove all the tourists behind us", "remove the trash can". The background behind them is rebuilt, and the people you keep are built to stay recognizable.
It also works on iPhones that do not support Apple Intelligence, and the same app restores old photos, unblurs and upscales to 4K, changes backgrounds and makes graphics.
Which one to use
- A small spot, a wire or a stain, on a supported iPhone: Clean Up is already in your Photos app
- The same on an older iPhone: Google Photos Magic Eraser is free
- A whole person, a group of strangers or a big object, where brushing is fiddly: type it in NeedPS
- Someone who is touching or overlapping the people you keep: type exactly who should go, then zoom in and check the edges
Tips for a clean result with any eraser
- Start from the original photo in your library, never a screenshot
- Remove one thing at a time when objects overlap
- Zoom in on the area after the edit: repeated patterns such as tiles, fences and text are where fills show
- If something looks wrong, undo and try again: every attempt fills the area a little differently
Frequently asked questions
Does iPhone have Magic Eraser?
Magic Eraser is Google's tool, and it is available on iPhone in the free Google Photos app. Apple's own equivalent is Clean Up in the Photos app, on iPhones that support Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro and later) with iOS 18.1 or later.
Why don't I have Clean Up on my iPhone?
Clean Up needs an iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence and iOS 18.1 or later, and Apple notes regional limits. On other iPhones, use Google Photos Magic Eraser or an app such as NeedPS.
Is Magic Eraser free on iPhone?
Google says Magic Eraser has been available to anyone using Google Photos with no subscription since May 15, 2024, on devices with iOS 15 or higher and at least 3 GB of RAM.
What is the easiest way to remove a person from a photo on iPhone?
For one small figure, any of the three works. For a whole person or several strangers, typing is usually easier than brushing: in NeedPS you type "remove the people in the background" and the background behind them is rebuilt.
Is NeedPS free to try?
Yes. NeedPS gives you free edits to start, as a guest and when you sign up, and they work on every tool. After that there are credit packs and monthly plans, priced by your app store in your local currency.
Want to try it on your own photo?
Download NeedPS, upload a photo and type what you want, in any language. That is all.
Download NeedPS free