In iOS 27, Apple gave special attention to only a handful of apps – and the Photos app is one of them. Alongside noticeable performance improvements and numerous quality-of-life features, AI editing tools based on Apple Intelligence make their debut. That shifts what you can get out of an image directly on the iPhone.
Apple unveiled iOS 27 in early June alongside the rest of the software lineup at WWDC 2026, and the Photos app ranks among the apps with the most extensive changes. It now combines generative AI tools with classic management features such as star ratings, new folders, and more flexible Shared Albums. Some of the new features are available on nearly every current iPhone, while the AI section remains reserved for newer models.
New AI Tools for Photo Editing
At the center of the new features is a set of AI editing tools. They're accessible via the icon with the three sliders and then the Apple Intelligence icon labeled "Tools." The features build on the next generation of Apple Intelligence and draw on generative models for photo editing. What previously circulated as a rumor about three new AI features for the Photos app is now officially confirmed.
"Clean Up" Removes Objects More Convincingly
The familiar "Clean Up" tool relies on new AI models in iOS 27 and removes objects far more reliably. While the original version delivered good results mainly for small elements set against a less complex background, the new variant also reconstructs more demanding backgrounds using generative AI. Three modes are available: "Fast" works more quickly and is enough for simple corrections, "High Quality" delivers better results in detail-rich scenes, and "Auto" leaves it to the Photos app to decide which option fits.
"Extend" Expands the Frame
With "Extend," the frame can be changed after the fact: the edges of a photo are expanded beyond the original content, so you can zoom out of the subject or adjust the composition. Generative AI fills in the missing areas, and the edges can be adjusted with a pinch gesture. Apple also uses the same method to extend Lock Screen wallpapers that don't fit the display exactly.
"Reframe" Changes the Perspective
"Reframe" goes one step further and adjusts a photo's perspective – such as the viewing angle on a person or an object. The tool draws on the spatial information the iPhone captures when taking a picture and combines it with AI to change the camera angle after the fact. The spatial data is used to adjust the subject, and AI then fills in any missing pixels. It's operated by tapping and dragging for the perspective, and with two fingers for panning, zooming, or rotating.
Image Playground for Realistic Composites
Strictly speaking not part of the Photos app, but closely tied to it: photorealistic edits can be made via the Image Playground app. Anyone wanting to add a hat or an accessory to a friend's photo, for instance, can make it look realistic here. Specific areas of an image can be selected and edited using natural language, and there's also an option to combine multiple images. Use is free in principle, but with daily limits – additional capacity can be unlocked through iCloud+ plans.
Save a Single Frame from Videos
A small but practical addition: in iOS 27, a single frame from a video can be saved as a standalone photo. This removes the detour via screenshots or third-party apps when you want to pull a specific still frame out of a video recording.
Keywords and Star Ratings
Apple noticeably expands the management features of the Photos app. Photos and videos can now be tagged with keywords and star ratings. One to five stars can be assigned, after which the shots can be filtered by rating. This gives the library an organizational layer of the kind usually found in professional photo management software.
More Control Over Shared Albums
Bei der Album-Organisation hat Apple in iOS 27 ebenfalls nachgelegt, vor allem bei den geteilten Alben. Eine Übersicht der wichtigsten Änderungen:
| Function | What changes |
|---|---|
| Filtering | Shared Albums can be filtered by photos or videos |
| Saving | Images from Shared Albums can be saved more easily |
| Expiration | Shared Albums can automatically expire after 30 days – handy for sharing without a permanent album |
| Inviting | A dedicated "Create Shared Album" option in every album menu simplifies inviting |
| Upload link | A link lets others upload images, with new permissions requiring explicit approval |
| Activity log | Shared Albums keep a log of recent activity |
| Reactions | You can react to images with any emoji |
On top of that comes an opening beyond the Apple ecosystem: people with Android or Windows devices will also be able to contribute to iCloud albums in the future.
Slideshows from Any Album
Slideshows were previously tied to the "Memories" section – in iOS 27, a slideshow can be created from any album or collection of images. To do so, tap into an album, choose the corresponding icon in the upper right, and then "Start Slideshow." Alternatively, you can select several photos from the Library and take the same route. Slideshows can be customized via transition styles, the display duration per image, and background music. The finished file can be shared on social media or saved as a video.
Two New Folders for Captures and Documents
The Photos app gains two new folders in the "Utilities" section. "Captured by Me" bundles all images taken with the Camera app on your current or a previous iPhone. "Identity Documents," in turn, collects pictures of passports, driver's licenses, and similar documents in one place – helpful when such images would otherwise get lost in the library.
iCloud Sync Right Away If You Want
The Photos section of Settings now includes a "Sync Immediately" option, which lets you prioritize the immediate upload to iCloud for the given day. When the setting is active, iCloud Photos uploads new images as soon as they enter the library, instead of holding back the upload to preserve battery life. In addition, photos and videos can be added to Shared iCloud Albums at full resolution, in all common photo and video formats.
Further Detail Improvements
Beyond the major features, there's a range of smaller improvements that make everyday use of the Photos app smoother:
- For the "Photo Shuffle" wallpaper, a specific pet can be selected.
- Search returns more appealing shots of people and pets in the top results.
- The "Collections" tab renders faster.
- New captures from the Camera app appear in the Photos app more quickly.
- Your own shots can be included in Photo Shuffle.
- A "Show Selected" option in the Library reveals all checked photos so their metadata can be edited.
Which iPhones Support the Features
The AI editing tools require devices that support Apple Intelligence – this includes the iPhone 15 Pro and newer models. The performance and management features, by contrast, are available on all devices running iOS 27, that is, from the iPhone 11 onward. Apple didn't drop a single model from support in this cycle: if you could use iOS 26, you'll get iOS 27 as well. This creates a clear divide – the full system including the convenience features for a broad device base, while the AI editing part is reserved for newer iPhones.
The Photos App Becomes an Editing Hub
With iOS 27, Apple shifts the focus of the Photos app: what used to be pure management increasingly becomes an editing and organization hub directly on the iPhone. The generative tools approach functions that previously required separate apps, while star ratings, new folders, and more flexible Shared Albums make the sheer volume of shots easier to handle. For owners of an Apple Intelligence-capable iPhone, the update is the most generous, but older models also benefit from the performance and convenience improvements.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The Photos App in iOS 27
New are an improved "Clean Up" for removing objects, "Extend" for expanding the frame after the fact, and "Reframe" for adjusting the perspective. All three are based on Apple Intelligence and work with generative AI.
Yes. The AI tools run only on Apple Intelligence-capable devices, that is, from the iPhone 15 Pro onward. The remaining new features are available on all models from the iPhone 11 onward.
The tools in the Photos app itself are free. Image Playground can also be used for free, but it has daily limits – more capacity is available through iCloud+ plans.
Yes. In iOS 27, a single frame from a video can be saved directly as a standalone photo, without the detour via screenshots.
Shared Albums can be filtered by photos or videos, can expire after 30 days, keep an activity log, and allow emoji reactions. On top of that, Android and Windows users can contribute to iCloud albums for the first time.
You tap into any album, choose the icon in the upper right, and then "Start Slideshow." Transitions, display duration, and background music can be customized, and the result saved as a video.
With it, iCloud Photos uploads new shots right away instead of delaying the upload to preserve battery life – useful when you want images available quickly across all your devices.
