8 Ways to Fix iOS 17/16 Photo Cutout Not Working
Photo cutoutis an interesting feature that lets youremove the background from images on iPhone. You can drag and drop the cutout between apps or copy and paste it into other apps. If, however, you are unable to extract the cutout from an image, this guide will help you troubleshoot it. Let’s check different ways to fix photo cutouts not working in iOS 17/16.
Table of Contents
1. Check Device Compatibility
The photo cutout feature is only available on iPhones running iOS 16+ and those having anA12 Bionic chip. That includes the following devices:
Please note that even though the iPhone X and iPhone 8 series are compatible with iOS 16, you won’t be able to use the photo cutout feature on them due to an older chip. Other iPhones that are incompatible with the photo cutout feature are iPhone 7 series, iPhone 6, iPhone 5, and earlier.
If you are still on iOS 15 even though your iPhone is compatible with iOS 17/16, go toSettings > General > Software Updateto update and check your phone’s software. If you are unable to update to the latest version, learn how tofix iOS not installing issue.
2. Check App Compatibility
Next, you must verify that you are trying to extract the image from its background in a compatible app. The photo cutout feature works in most Apple apps like Photos, Mail, Messages, Notes, and even Safari browser. However, you won’t be able to use it on third-party apps like Instagram, WhatsApp,Google Photos, etc. But once you have extracted an image, you can paste it into any app.
3. Check Photo Compatibility
Next, you must use the photo cutout feature on compatible photos and videos. Here are the supported file formats:
To check the format of an image or video in the Apple Photo app, swipe up on the photo and you will see the format in the Camera information section.
Furthermore, the part that you are trying to extract from the image must be different from the background. If both have similar colors or they aren’t distinguishable from one another, you will not be able to use the photo cutout feature.
4. Restart iPhone
Once you are sure that the photo cutout feature is compatible with your phone, but it’s still not working, you mustrestart your iPhone. For that, press the Power button until you see the Power off slider. Drag it to the right to turn off your phone. Wait for a few seconds and then turn on your iPhone again.
5. Follow the Correct Steps to Use the Photo Cutout Feature
There are chances that you might not beusing the photo cutout featurein the right way. Here are the correct steps to use photo cutout on iOS 17/16.
1.Open the image in any Apple app like Photos, Email, Messages, etc.
2.Touch and hold the part of the picture that you want to extract. Do not just single tap or press and hold on the background. You must hold the part whose background you want to remove. Keep holding until you see a white glow appear around the image.
3.Now, there are two ways to extract this image. Firstly, keep holding the image using your finger and slightly drag it upwards or downwards. You should see a preview of the extracted image. Keep holding the image and open the app where you want to put this image using a finger from the other hand. Drag the image to the second app and lift your finger.
Alternatively, once you press and hold the image, lift your finger when you see a white glow around the part that you want to cut out. Then, tap on Add sticker tocreate a stickerfrom the picture. Alternatively, press theCopybutton and paste it into any app of your choice. Or, hit theSharebutton and send the cutout to any app, like Telegram, e-mail, etc. Learn how toput the picture cutout on another picture on iPhone.
6. Turn off Live Photo
If you are trying to extract the cutout from aLive photo, you should first turn it off. For that, open any live photo in the Apple Photos app and tap on theLivebutton at the top-left corner. SelectOfffrom the menu. Then, try using the cutout feature. If it still doesn’t work, tap on the Off button again. Hopefully, it will work now.
Tip: Learn how topost Live photos on Instagram.
7. Enable Apple Content
Photo Cutout is a part of Apple’s Visual Lookup feature. To be on the safer side, you must enable all the settings related to Apple content. For that, follow these steps:
1. Go toSettings > Siri & Search.
2.Enable all the toggles underSuggestions from AppleandContent from Applesection.
8. Update OS
Often, issues like photo cutout not working could happen due to a bug in the currently installed iOS version. Therefore, you must update the software to the latest version. To do so, go toSettings > General > Software update.
9. Reset Settings
Finally, if nothing helps in fixing the photo cutout feature in iOS 17/16 on your iPhone, you should tryresetting the settings. Doing so will reset all the settings like notifications, permissions, etc. to their factory version. You must set them again. If a setting was making the photo cutout feature not work, resetting settings will fix it.
Go toSettings > General > Transfer or Reset.
Then, go toReset > Reset all settings.
Make Use of Photo Cutouts
After you extract images using the photo cutout feature, learn how toput two pictures side by side on your iPhone. Or,put multiple images into a PDF file on iPhone. Also, know how tocreate WhatsApp stickers from any imageincluding a cutout.
Mehvish Mushtaqis a tech lover from Kashmir. With a degree in computer engineering, she’s always been happy to help anyone who finds technology challenging. She’s been writing about technology for over six years, and her favorite topics include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, Windows, social media, and web apps. You can also find her work onMake Tech Easier,Guiding Tech, andNerds Chalk
