How to Edit Photos on iPhone (Built-In, Free)

To edit a photo on iPhone, open it in the Photos app and tap Edit — then use the crop, adjust, and filter tools at the bottom. The built-in editor is free, powerful enough for most people, and non-destructive (you can always revert). Here’s how to use each tool.

Open the editor

1. Open the Photos app and tap the photo.
2. Tap Edit (top-right).
3. You’ll see three tool groups at the bottom: Adjust, Filters, and Crop.

Crop, rotate, and straighten

1. In Edit, tap the crop icon (bottom-right).
2. Drag the corners to crop, or pinch to zoom.
3. Drag the straighten wheel (bottom) to level a tilted photo.
4. Tap the aspect-ratio button (top) to force a ratio like Square or 16:9.

Adjust lighting and color

1. Tap the adjust icon (a dial).
2. Swipe left/right through the options: Exposure, Brilliance, Highlights, Shadows, Contrast, Brightness, Saturation, Warmth, and more.
3. Tap an option and drag the slider to change it.
4. Tap Auto (the magic wand) to let iOS improve the photo in one tap.

Apply a filter

1. Tap the filters icon (three overlapping circles).
2. Swipe through filters like Vivid, Dramatic, Mono, and Silvertone.
3. Tap a filter, then drag the intensity slider below it.

Mark up (add text, draw, highlight)

1. Tap the markup icon (pen tip) — this opens annotation tools.
2. Add text, draw, add a signature, or draw shapes.

Remove the background (cut out a subject)

On iOS 16+, long-press a subject (a person, pet, or object) to lift it from the background — then copy or drag it into another app. For more background tricks, see how to blur the background on iPhone.

Undo or revert

• Tap Revert (top-left) to discard all edits and get the original back.
• Edits are non-destructive — you can re-enter Edit anytime and tweak or undo individual changes.

Want more power? Third-party apps

The built-in editor covers basics; for more control, try:

For resizing to exact dimensions, see how to resize an image on iPhone. For removing an image’s background in a design tool, see how to remove a background in Canva.

Tips for better photo edits

• Edit a copy, not the original — tap the share icon → Duplicate first, so you always keep the untouched original.
• Don’t overdo it — a little exposure and warmth goes further than maxing every slider.
• Use Auto first — the magic wand gets you 80% of the way there; fine-tune after.
• Straighten before cropping — level the horizon first, then crop to composition.
• Compare as you go — hold your finger on the photo (or tap and hold) to preview the original and see your changes.

What each adjustment does

FAQ

Does editing a photo reduce its quality?

No for the built-in editor — edits are non-destructive and keep the original resolution. The original is always recoverable via Revert.

How do I undo edits on iPhone?

Open Edit → Revert to discard all edits and restore the original. You can also re-enter Edit to undo individual adjustments.

Can I remove the background of a photo on iPhone?

Yes — long-press the subject to lift it (iOS 16+), then copy or drag it. For a full guide, see how to blur the background on iPhone.

Can the iPhone editor open RAW photos?

Yes — the Photos app can open and edit RAW (ProRAW/DNG) photos. Edits apply on top of the RAW file, and you can still revert to the original.

How do I edit a Live Photo on iPhone?

Edit it like any photo — the Live portion usually stays attached, and cropping keeps it Live. Some edits can turn off the Live effect; you can keep or discard the Live version using the Live Photo controls at the top of the editor.