Published January 15, 2025 · 4 min read
How to Remove Background on iPhone
There are two ways to remove image backgrounds on iPhone — Apple's built-in feature and free browser tools. Here's how to use both, and when to choose each.
Method 1 — iOS built-in background removal
Starting with iOS 16, iPhone has a built-in background removal feature in Photos, Safari, Mail, and Messages. It's quick but limited.
How to use it
- Open the Photos app and select an image.
- Tap and hold on the subject (person, pet, or object).
- A glowing outline appears around the subject.
- Tap "Copy" or "Share" from the menu.
- Paste into another app (Messages, Notes, Mail) — the background is transparent.
Limitations of the iOS feature
- Only works on the subject Apple's AI recognizes — usually people, pets, and prominent objects.
- No control over edges — can't adjust tolerance or softness.
- Can't save directly as a transparent PNG to Files.
- No option to add a new background color.
- Works inconsistently on complex subjects (hair, thin details, transparent objects).
Method 2 — BG Remove in Safari (free, no app)
Works on any iPhone, gives full control, and produces a downloadable transparent PNG.
How to use it
- Open Safari on your iPhone.
- Go to bgremove.site/tools/background-remover.html.
- Tap the upload zone.
- Choose "Photo Library" or "Browse".
- Select your photo.
- Wait 5–15 seconds for AI processing.
- Tap "Download Transparent PNG".
- The file saves to your Files app under Downloads.
Advantages over iOS built-in
- Works on any subject (people, pets, products, animals)
- Full-resolution output (iOS sometimes downscales)
- Downloadable transparent PNG
- Can add a new background color
- No app installation
Which method should you use?
- Quick share in iMessage or Notes: Use iOS built-in.
- Need a downloadable PNG file: Use BG Remove.
- Complex subject or high-res photo: Use BG Remove.
- Need a specific background color: Use BG Remove (profile picture maker).
Saving the PNG to your iPhone
After downloading in Safari, the PNG saves to your Files app. To save it to Photos:
- Open Files app.
- Navigate to Downloads.
- Tap and hold the PNG file.
- Tap "Share".
- Choose "Save Image".
The transparent PNG is now in your Photos library, though iOS will show it with a white background in Photos. In apps that support transparency (Keynote, Pages, Photoshop, Canva), the transparency is preserved.
Adding a background color on iPhone
Use the Profile Picture Maker on iPhone:
- Upload the transparent PNG you downloaded.
- Choose circle or square shape.
- Tap a background color from the palette.
- Adjust zoom and position.
- Download.
This gives you a professional profile picture ready for LinkedIn, Instagram, or WhatsApp.
Data and privacy
iOS built-in background removal happens on-device — nothing is uploaded. BG Remove's background remover uploads the image to our processing API and returns the result without storing it. All other BG Remove tools process images locally on your iPhone.
Frequently asked questions
Does iOS background removal work on all iPhones?
iOS 16 or later is required. This covers iPhone 8 and newer. Older iPhones don't have the feature.
Why is iOS background removal not working on my photo?
The iOS feature only detects certain subjects (people, pets, prominent objects). If it doesn't detect your subject, it won't work. Try BG Remove's AI instead.
Can I batch process on iPhone?
Neither iOS nor BG Remove supports batch processing. Process one image at a time.
Does the iOS feature work in Safari?
iOS 17 added background removal in Safari for images displayed on web pages. Tap and hold an image in Safari, then choose "Copy Subject". This is different from uploading to BG Remove.