iOS 18 Photo Clean Up Not Showing/Working (Working Fixes Below!)

Part 1: Why Is iOS 18 Photo Clean Up Now Showing on My iPhone?

There may be a few reasons why you can’t see the Clean Up tool on your iPhone after the iOS 18 update. Here are the top ones:

• You’re not using an eligible iPhone (eligible iPhones are listed in the following section. In short, only iPhone 15 pro/pro max and iPhone 16 series are eligible for clean up tool.)
• You’re running iOS 18.0, and not iOS 18.1. You need to be on iOS 18.1 (which is currently in beta) for it to work.
• Clean Up (Apple Intelligence Features) is not available in EU countries and China Mainland as of now. So if you’re in these countries, you will not be able to use it.
• Clean Up tool is still downloading.
• There may be a temporary bug or glitch in the system.

Eligible Devices for Clean Up Tool iOS 18

Clean Up tool is powered by Apple Intelligence, so it only works on iPhones that support AI. Here’s the full list of iPhones that support it:

• iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max
• iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max

Note:

Be noted the regular iPhone 15 and 15 Plus don’t support AI. Furthermore, to get the iOS 18 AI features photos edit (Clean Up), you need to be on iOS 18.1. AI is not included in iOS 18.0.

Part 2: How to Use iOS 18 Photo Clean Up tool [Quick Guide]

If you have an iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 16 series running iOS 18.1/18.1 beta, and you're in a region where Apple Intelligence is supported, you can follow these steps to use the iOS 18 Photo Clean Up tool:

• Open the Photos app.
• ⁠Select the photo you want to clean up.
• Tap the Edit icon.
• Select Clean Up at the bottom, like in the image above.
• ⁠Draw over the subject you want to erase.

Part 3: How to Fix iOS 18 Photo Clean Up Not Showing

Fix 1: Make Sure You’re Using an Eligible iPhone

If the iOS 18 Clean Up feature isn’t showing, the issue could be that your iPhone model doesn’t support this feature. The Clean Up feature is only available on certain iPhone models. Here’s how to check if your device is eligible:

• Go to Settings > General > About.

• Look at the "Model Name" to verify your iPhone model.

  

The Clean Up feature is available only on the following iPhones:

• - iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max
• - iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
• - iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

If your device is not one of these models, the Clean Up feature won’t be available. If you have an eligible device and the feature still isn’t showing, consider the next steps for troubleshooting.

Fix 2: Update to iOS 18.1

If the Clean Up feature is missing on your iPhone, it could be because you’re not running the latest version of iOS 18. Apple has introduced this feature in iOS 18.1.

Here’s how to update to the latest version of iOS 18:

• Go to Settings > General > Software Update.

• If iOS 18.1 is available, tap "Download and Install." Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.

  

iOS 18.1 has been released and you can now update via iOS software update to enjoy the iOS 18 photo clean up tool.

Fix 3: Wait for Clean Up to Download

If the Clean Up feature appears on your device but isn’t working, you might see a “downloading” alert when trying to access the tool. This means the feature is still downloading in the background.

• Be patient and give your iPhone some time to complete the download. Larger tools or features can take a bit longer, especially if your internet connection is slow.
• Ensure your device is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network and has sufficient battery life or is plugged in to charge.
• You can continue using your iPhone while the Clean Up tool finishes downloading.

Fix 4: Solve iOS System Glitches With Tenorshare ReiBoot

If you’re on an eligible iPhone, running iOS 18.1, but the feature is still not showing up or working correctly, there may be a software glitch causing the issue. In this case, you’d have to fix this with a repair tool, like Tenorshare ReiBoot.

With ReiBoot, you can easily your repair your iOS system without any technical knowledge, and you don’t even have to erase your data.

• Download and install ReiBoot on your computer, and open it. Connect your iPhone and click the “Start Repair” button.

  

• Choose “Standard Repair”. The standard repair will not cause any data loss on the phone.

  

• Select “Download” to download the iOS installation file. The download process typically takes about 10 minutes, depending on the network speed. Once the firmware is downloaded, click “Start Standard Repair” and wait.

  

• Wait for a few minutes, and you’re done! After the process is complete, your iPhone will restart. Check to see if the Clean Up feature is now showing up and working correctly. If you’re on an eligible iPhone running iOS 18.1, you should be able to see the Clean Up feature just fine now.

  

The Bottom Line

The photo Clean Up feature is only available in iOS 18.1 (which is currently in beta) on iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, and iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. If you align with those specs but still not seeing the feature on your phone, consider repairing it with Tenorshare ReiBoot.