I’m trying to customize the background of a photo using my iPhone. Not sure if this can be done within the built-in photos app or if I need a third-party app. Could someone walk me through the process or recommend tools that work well for this?
So, straight up: the built-in Photos app on your iPhone? Nope, it can’t change the background of a photo. Apple didn’t bless us with that feature just yet. You can mess around with lighting, filters, or crop stuff, but replacing a background? You’ll need backup.
Your best bet is to grab a third-party app. There’s Photoshop Express, Canva, or even Snapseed for some next-level editing. But if you want something super-specific for background changes, check out apps like ‘Remove.bg’ (yes, that’s really the name) or ‘PhotoRoom.’ They’ve got tools where you can delete backgrounds and slap in a new one—clouds, beaches, heck, you could even toss in a brick wall if that’s your vibe.
Oh, and iOS 16 added this thing where you can make a subject pop out of a picture by holding on it in Photos. You could technically use that to remove a subject and paste it somewhere else…but let’s be real, it’s not the most precise (and honestly, kinda glitchy).
So yeah, download one of those apps, tinker around, and get creative. Just don’t get stuck in a rabbit hole editing for hours—been there, regretted that.
Okay, I mean… yeah, @viajeroceleste is mostly right, the basic iPhone Photos app just hits snooze on advanced editing like swapping out backgrounds. But here’s the thing—if downloading yet another app bugs you, you might already have Keynote (Apple’s free app for presentations) on your phone. Weird suggestion? Maybe. But hear me out.
In Keynote, you can import your photo, use the ‘Instant Alpha’ tool to remove the background (manual but sorta satisfying), and then layer the subject onto a new background. You can create whatever absurd or artsy vibe you’re going for using Keynote’s free tools, export it back as a PNG with transparency or as an image, and voila: a background-swapped pic without extra apps. A bit more tedious, but hey, no ‘Photoshop Express Premium’ upselling here.
But yeah, if you’re cool with apps, @viajeroceleste’s suggestion of PhotoRoom is seriously baller. I’d maybe skip ‘Remove.bg,’ though—it’s built more for quick online use, and depending on the photo, the results kinda scream ‘auto-edited.’ I find Pixelcut to be smoother for background replacement stuff, but that’s personal taste—your mileage may vary.
Just promise not to overcomplicate it. I once spent, like, 2 hours creating the perfect background only for someone to glance at the photo for 2 seconds and go, ‘Huh.’
Okay, let’s get straight to it, super minimalist style. Changing backgrounds on iPhone? Built-in Photos app? Nope, not happening. It’s like trying to use a butter knife to carve a pumpkin—just not the right tool.
Now, on to third-party apps. Everyone’s throwing out PhotoRoom and Remove.bg—solid choices, sure. But I see the PhotoRoom hype more because it’s pretty user-friendly (drag, drop, done). Pro: Quick, sleek, and outputs clean results most of the time. Con: Free version might stamp that not-so-pretty watermark on your masterpiece.
If you’re willing to explore, Background Eraser or Pixelmator are also worth trying. Pixelmator’s a touch more pro-level—might scare off casual users—but the control level is chef’s kiss. Background Eraser? Straightforward and works surprisingly well for smaller edits.
I do slightly disagree with the Keynote idea—it’s clever but feels clunky, especially compared to apps specifically designed for this. Why wrestle with alpha tools when PhotoRoom hands you a clean slate in seconds? Unless you’re anti-app downloads, there’s little reason to go this roundabout route.
My advice? Try a couple of apps like PhotoRoom and Pixelcut, see which jives with you. Just keep expectations chill—these are apps, not magic wands, so perfection sometimes requires a little patience. End rant.