How to Use Photo Cutout on iPhone: Remove Backgrounds, Create Stickers & Share Like a Pro

Introduction

As someone who lives on her iPhone—between managing work projects, family photos, school updates, and the occasional social post—I’m always looking for features that save time without adding complexity. That’s exactly why Apple’s Photo Cutout feature feels like such a quiet game-changer. It’s one of those tools that doesn’t scream for attention, but once you discover it, you start using it everywhere.

Photo Cutout lets you instantly lift people, pets, or objects from photos with a simple tap and hold. No design skills. No third-party apps. No exporting files back and forth. Whether you’re trying to clean up a family photo, create fun stickers of your kids, prep visuals for a presentation, or quickly drop an image into Instagram Stories, this feature fits effortlessly into everyday life.

What I personally love is how natural it feels. You don’t need to “enter edit mode” or learn new controls—the interaction is intuitive, almost playful. It works where you already are: Photos, Messages, Safari, Notes, and more. And because everything runs directly on the device, it’s fast and privacy-friendly, which matters when you’re working with personal or family images.

In this guide, I’ve broken down how to use Photo Cutout on iPhone step by step, where it works best, what to do when it doesn’t behave perfectly, and creative ways to use it for real life—not just tech demos. If you rely on your iPhone as much as I do, this is one feature worth mastering.

If you’re anything like me—juggling work, family photos, and social posts on your iPhone—you want tools that just work. One of the most underrated (and honestly magical) features on iPhone is Photo Cutout, sometimes called Lift Subject from Background. With a simple long-press, your iPhone can isolate people, pets, objects, and turn them into shareable cutouts—no Photoshop, no apps, no tech headache.

This guide walks you through exactly how to use Photo Cutout on iPhone, where it works best, hidden tricks most people miss, and how to use it creatively for everyday life, work, and social media.

What Is Photo Cutout on iPhone?

Photo Cutout is an AI-powered feature built into iOS that automatically detects the main subject in a photo and separates it from the background. Apple’s on-device machine learning recognizes edges, faces, pets, objects, and even fine details like hair and fur.

Instead of manually erasing backgrounds, you simply tap and hold the subject—and iOS does the rest.

This feature works inside:

• Photos app

• Messages

• Safari images

• Files app

• Some third-party apps

No internet connection is required because the processing happens directly on your device.

iPhone Models & iOS Versions That Support Photo Cutout

Before we jump in, let’s make sure your iPhone supports it.

Supported iOS Version

• iOS 16 or later

Supported iPhone Models

• iPhone XS, XR and newer

• iPhone SE (2nd gen and newer)

If your iPhone runs iOS 16+ and was released in 2018 or later, you’re good to go.

How to Use Photo Cutout in the Photos App (Step-by-Step)

This is the most common and easiest way to use Photo Cutout.

Step 1: Open the Photos App

Launch the Photos app and open the image you want to edit. Portraits, pets, people, products, and food shots work best.

Step 2: Tap and Hold the Subject

Press and hold directly on the subject (not the background). After about one second, you’ll see a glowing outline appear around the subject.

Step 3: Release to See Options

Once the subject lifts, you’ll get options like:

• Copy

• Share

• Add Sticker (iOS 17+)

At this point, the background is effectively removed.

Step 4: Paste or Share Anywhere

You can now paste the cutout into:

• Messages

• Notes

• WhatsApp

• Instagram Stories

• Mail

• Canva or other design apps

It feels almost like dragging a real object off your photo.

How to Turn a Photo Cutout into a Sticker (iOS 17+)

If you love expressive messaging (I do 🙋‍♀️), stickers are where Photo Cutout really shines.

Steps to Create a Sticker

1. Open Photos

2. Long-press the subject

3. Tap Add Sticker

4. Choose effects:

   • Outline

   • Comic

   • Puffy

   • Shiny

Your sticker is now saved in your keyboard and available across Messages and supported apps.

This is perfect for:

• Kids’ photos

• Pets

• Reaction stickers

• Custom family emojis

Using Photo Cutout in Messages & WhatsApp

You don’t even need to open Photos first.

From Messages

1. Open a conversation

2. Tap the Photos icon

3. Select an image

4. Long-press the subject

5. Drag it directly into the chat

Yes—you can literally drag the cutout into the message bubble.

From WhatsApp

• Use Copy from Photos

• Paste directly into WhatsApp chat

• The background stays removed

Great for quick replies and fun conversations.

How to Use Photo Cutout on Safari Images

Found a product image or inspiration online? You can lift that too.

Steps

1. Open Safari

2. Long-press on an image

3. Tap Copy Subject

4. Paste it into Notes, Messages, or design apps

This is incredibly useful for:

• Mood boards

• Shopping comparisons

• Presentations

• Social media drafts

Using Photo Cutout in the Files App

If you store images in Files (Google Drive, iCloud, downloads), Photo Cutout still works.

1. Open Files

2. Tap an image

3. Long-press the subject

4. Copy or share

This makes the feature useful beyond just your camera roll.

Best Types of Photos for Perfect Cutouts

Not all photos are created equal. Here’s what works best:

Photos That Work Amazingly

• Clear subject with contrast

• Portrait mode photos

• Pets against simple backgrounds

• Objects on solid colors

• Good lighting

Photos That Struggle

• Crowded group shots

• Blurry images

• Low-light photos

• Subject blends into background

Pro tip: If the cutout fails, zoom slightly and try again—it often helps the AI re-detect edges.

Creative Ways to Use Photo Cutout (Real-Life Ideas)

This is where the fun begins.

For Parents & Families

• Create stickers of kids for chats

• Make birthday invites in Canva

• Remove messy backgrounds from photos

• School project visuals in seconds

For Work & Marketing

• Product cutouts for presentations

• LinkedIn post visuals

• Instagram story overlays

• Quick mockups without designers

For Social Media

• Custom reaction stickers

• Transparent images for reels

• Before/after visuals

• Aesthetic collages

As a busy working mom, this saves so much time compared to desktop tools.

Photo Cutout vs Background Removal Apps

You might wonder: why not use apps?

Photo Cutout Advantages

• Built-in and free

• No ads

• No data uploads

• Instant results

• Works offline

When Apps Might Be Better

• Complex backgrounds

• Batch editing

• Professional composites

For 90% of everyday use, Photo Cutout is more than enough.

Common Problems & How to Fix Them

Subject Not Lifting?

• Tap directly on the subject, not edges

• Try zooming in slightly

• Increase brightness temporarily

• Use a different photo

Cutout Looks Jagged?

• Use a higher-resolution image

• Avoid screenshots

• Portrait photos give cleaner edges

Option Doesn’t Appear?

• Check iOS version

• Restart iPhone

• Make sure Live Text is enabled in Settings

Privacy & Security: Why Photo Cutout Is Safe

One reason I love this feature: everything happens on your device.

• No cloud processing

• No image uploads

• No third-party access

Your family photos stay private, which matters—especially when kids are involved.

Final Tips to Get the Most Out of Photo Cutout

• Combine with Notes for quick designs

• Use Add Sticker for recurring use

• Pair with Canva for polished visuals

• Save cutouts in Notes as a mini asset library

• Experiment—tap and hold works in more places than you expect

Once you start using Photo Cutout, it becomes one of those “how did I live without this?” iPhone features.

If your iPhone is already in your hand all day, you might as well let it do the heavy lifting too.

Conclusion

Photo Cutout is one of those iPhone features that perfectly reflects where technology is headed: powerful, invisible, and designed to fit into real life. It doesn’t ask you to download anything new, learn complicated tools, or change how you already use your phone. Instead, it quietly upgrades what you can do with the photos you already have.

Once you start using Photo Cutout, it becomes second nature. You stop thinking of photos as fixed images and start treating them like flexible building blocks—something you can reuse, remix, and repurpose instantly. A quick cutout for a school project, a sticker for a family chat, a clean visual for work, or a fun social post all take seconds instead of minutes.

It’s also refreshing to see a feature that balances convenience with privacy. Knowing that your images never leave your device makes it easier to use Photo Cutout freely, especially when kids or personal moments are involved. That peace of mind is just as valuable as the time it saves.

If you haven’t tried Photo Cutout yet, start small. Lift a subject from a favorite photo, paste it into Messages, or turn it into a sticker. The more you experiment, the more uses you’ll find. And before long, you’ll wonder how you ever edited photos on your iPhone without it.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Features and availability may vary depending on iOS version and iPhone model. Apple may update or modify functionality in future iOS releases.