Search without scrolling. Remove distracting passersby from your vacation photos. Create a finished movie from thousands of snapshots in seconds. Apple Intelligence transforms the Photos app from a simple image archive into a tool that understands what's happening in your photos - and iOS 27 adds even more.
The smart features of the Photos app are part of Apple Intelligence and run on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Three components form the basis: natural language search, the creation of custom memory movies, and the "Clean Up" tool for removing unwanted objects. This requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled device with a current operating system version and Apple Intelligence enabled. Apple Intelligence is enabled by default on iOS 27; on iOS 26, it must be activated via the central switch. These features are available in Germany, and Apple will significantly expand the editing capabilities with iOS 27 in fall 2026.
Find photos and videos via description
Instead of scrolling through hundreds of photos, you simply describe what you're looking for. Apple Intelligence analyzes your input and displays relevant results – the search can even find a specific moment in a video.
- Open the Photos app and tap the search field.
- Enter a description in natural language, such as "dog on the beach" or "Maya on a skateboard in a tie-dye shirt".
- Clicking "Show all" displays all results; using "Select" allows you to share photos or add them to an album, and the filter allows you to sort by time period or media type.
The more specific the description, the more precise the result – the search also understands combinations of location, clothing or activity.
Create your own flashback videos
From a short description, Apple Intelligence creates a finished film: It selects the appropriate photos and videos, organizes them into chapters with a narrative arc, and adds music to the whole thing.
- Open the Photos app and tap on "Collections", then on "Reminiscences".
- Tap "Create" and enter a description, such as "Summer vacation 2025" or "Mia's first year".
- Tap "Done" – the movie will be compiled automatically.
The result can then be adjusted: using the flashback mixes you can change music and style, flashback looks apply a uniform color scheme to all shots, and individual photos can be added or removed.
Remove unwanted objects using "Clean up"
A passerby in the background, a trash can at the edge of the picture, a sign that distracts from the subject: "Clean up" allows you to remove such distractions without altering the actual subject.
- Open a photo and tap "Edit".
- Select the "Clean up" tool.
- Tap or swipe on distracting objects; zoom in on the image for precise work.
- Tap "Done" to save the changes.
Apple Intelligence often detects potential interference automatically and highlights it – then a single tap is all it takes.
What iOS 27 brings for the Photos app
With iOS 27, expected in fall 2026, the Photos app will be among the apps with the biggest changes – most notably the introduction of generative AI editing tools. "Clean Up" works noticeably more reliably with newer models and offers three modes: "Quick," "High Quality," and "Auto." "Expand" allows you to enlarge the image beyond its original edges, with generative AI filling in the missing areas. And "Reorient" even adjusts the perspective of a photo after the fact by combining the spatial data captured during the shoot with AI.
Closely integrated with this is the revamped "Image Playground": It creates photorealistic montages, allows users to edit individual image areas using natural language, and can combine multiple images. In addition, there are convenient features that don't require Apple Intelligence - such as keywords and star ratings for organizing the photo library, slideshows from any album, and the ability to save a single frame from a video as an independent photo. Noticeable in everyday use: Photos open up to 70 percent faster after being taken. Furthermore, the Photos app in iOS 27 introduces more flexible shared albums, new storage locations for photos and identification documents, and an option for instant iCloud synchronization.
This creates a clear division: AI processing requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or later, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro, while the speed and management features work on all devices that support iOS 27. These tools are available as normal in Germany.
Requirements and Availability
These features require an Apple Intelligence-enabled device: iPhone 15 Pro and later, as well as iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models, iPads with A17 Pro or M1 chipset and newer, and Macs with Apple Silicon. Siri and the device language must be set to the same supported language. "Clean Up," Search, and Memories have been available in the EU since iOS 18.4, as has Image Playground. Because Apple Intelligence relies on generative models, results may vary - a critical review of edited photos or automatically generated videos is still advisable.
The photo library becomes a creative tool
Search, Review, and Clean Up take the hassle out of managing a flood of photos – and with the iOS 27 tools, the Photos app is moving closer to being a fully-fledged image editor. Anyone with a compatible device now has a tool at their fingertips that not only saves photos but also understands what's in them.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Apple Intelligence in the Photos app
An Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone (iPhone 15 Pro or later, as well as iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 models), iPads with A17 Pro or M1 chipset and newer, and Macs with Apple Silicon are required. A current system version and activated Apple Intelligence are also necessary.
Yes. All three are among the Apple intelligence features that have been available in the EU since iOS 18.4 – as has the "Image Playground".
The issue usually lies with the device: "Clean up" requires an Apple Intelligence-enabled model. The option does not appear on older iPhones without Apple Intelligence support. Additionally, Apple Intelligence must be enabled and the correct language selected.
Yes. Natural language search not only finds photos, but also individual scenes within videos based on your description.
Yes. The flashback mixes allow you to change music and style, flashback looks unify the color scheme, and individual photos and videos can be added or removed.
New generative AI editing: an improved "Clean Up" function with three quality modes, "Expand" to enlarge the image area, and "Reorient" to adjust the perspective. Also included is a revamped "Image Playground" for photorealistic montages, slideshows from any album, keywords and star ratings, and up to 70 percent faster photo opening.
Yes. The new editing and management features of the Photos app are available in this country as usual. AI editing requires an iPhone with Apple Intelligence enabled, starting with the iPhone 15 Pro; the speed and convenience features work on all iOS 27 devices.
