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

by Sophie Green   Updated on 2024-09-26 / Update for  iOS 18

Clean Up iOS 18 is a new tool introduced in the new software update for the iPhone.

This feature allows you to remove any distractions from your photos, like someone in the background. All you have to do is draw a circle around the distraction and it gets removed immediately.

However, many people have questions about this feature, mainly about its availability. They wonder why iOS 18 Clean Up tool is not showing up on their phone. If you’ve found yourself in a similar situation, this article will clear up everything for you.

ios 18 photo clean up tool not showing

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.
how to use ios 18 photo clean up tool

Part 2: 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.

    check iphone model iphone 15 pro max

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.

    update to ios 18.1

If the update isn’t available yet, it’s possible that iOS 18.1 is still in beta at the time you're reading this. In that case, you’ll need to wait for the official release. Once iOS 18.1 is publicly available, updating should resolve the issue and add the Clean Up feature to your device. The official iOS 18 AI features Clean Up release date is not yet known, but it should be somewhere in October 2024.

If you can’t wait for the official release, you could also update to iOS 18.1 developer beta. However, this is not recommended since developer betas are meant for developers to test their apps, not for regular users.

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.

dowmloading ios 18 clean up tool
  • 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.

Why We Choose ReiBoot iOS System Repair Tool?

  • Fix 150+ iOS system issues without data loss.
  • Enter and exit Recovery Mode with one click.
  • Safely upgrade or downgrade iOS 18 without jailbreak or iTunes.
  • Fix common iPhone and iTunes errors, like 4013 and 1110.
  • Compatible with the latest iOS 18 and iPhone 16 series.
  • Download and install ReiBoot on your computer, and open it. Connect your iPhone and click the “Start Repair” button.

    fix iphone 16 touch screen not working via reiboot
  • Choose “Standard Repair”. The standard repair will not cause any data loss on the phone.

    fix iphone 16 touch screen not working via reiboot
  • 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.

    fix iphone 16 touch screen not working via reiboot
  • 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.

    fix iphone 16 touch screen not working via reiboot

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.