Organise Your Photos with Apple Intelligence: Smart Search & Editing

Open the Photos app and initiate search

First, locate and tap the Photos app icon on your iPhone or iPad home screen. This usually looks like a colourful flower. Once open, you'll see your photo library. At the very top or bottom of the screen, look for a magnifying glass icon, often labelled "Search" or similar. Tap this icon once to activate the search function. A keyboard will appear at the bottom of the screen, ready for you to type your query.

You'll know it worked when the keyboard appears, and a blinking cursor is visible in the search bar, indicating you can start typing. If it looks different, swipe down from the middle of your screen in the Photos app to reveal the search bar, or look for a "Search" tab at the bottom.

Use smart suggestions to filter results

As you begin typing your search term, Apple Intelligence (the smart brain inside your device) will start showing "smart suggestions" just below the search bar. These suggestions, often highlighted in blue, are based on analysing what’s in your vast photo library, including dates, locations, people, and even objects it recognises. Tap on one of these suggested terms.

You'll know it worked when the Photos app instantly updates to display only the photos that match the selected suggestion. If the suggestions don't appear immediately, continue typing a few more letters, or try a more common search term.

Try natural language for specific searches

Apple Intelligence understands natural language, meaning you can type full, descriptive sentences instead of just keywords. To do this, continue typing your query directly into the search bar without tapping any suggestions for now. After you finish typing, tap the "Search" or "Go" button on your keyboard (it might look like a blue arrow or a magnifying glass).

You'll know it worked when the app displays a refined set of photos that specifically match the detailed description you provided, such as showing only your dog, in a park, from the month of March. If it doesn't quite get it, try rephrasing your sentence to be a bit clearer or more direct.

Group your search results into collections

After performing a search, your photos will appear in a long list. To make sense of many results, tap on the "Show all" text, usually located above the initial few results, to view everything found. Then, look for a row of suggested categories or "collections" at the top of the results screen, such as "People", "Places", "Categories", or "Trips". Tapping one of these will intelligently group your photos based on that category.

You'll know it worked when your photos are no longer just a flat list but are neatly organised into distinct, labelled sections within that chosen category, making it much easier to browse. If you don't see "Show all", simply scroll down to reveal more results.

Apply AI-powered enhancements with one tap

Find a photo you want to improve and tap on it to view it full screen. Then, tap the "Edit" button, usually found in the top-right corner or at the bottom of the screen. In the editing interface, look along the bottom for smart editing options. You'll likely see "Enhance", which is often represented by a magic wand icon, and "Portrait Lighting", if it's a photo of a person. Tap "Enhance" first, then "Portrait Lighting" (if available).

2. Tap "Portrait Lighting" (only for portrait photos of people) to experiment with studio-style lighting effects like "Studio Light" or "Contour Light". You'll know it worked when you immediately see visual improvements to your photo's colour, light, or how the subject's face is lit. If you don't see these specific options, ensure your device supports Apple Intelligence, as features can vary.

Remove distractions with Object Eraser

With your photo still in "Edit" mode (from Step 5), look for an "Object Eraser" tool, often represented by a brush icon or a dotted line circle. Tap this tool. You'll then use your finger to gently brush over any small, unwanted objects in your photo – perhaps a stray person in the background or an unexpected rubbish bin. After brushing, the app will process the area. Tap "Done" in the top-right corner to confirm the removal.

You'll know it worked when the brushed object vanishes from your photo, seamlessly replaced by the surrounding background, making the photo look cleaner. If the result isn't perfect, try zooming in and brushing with more precision, or undo the edit and try again.

Save your edits and organise into an album

Once you're happy with your edits, tap the "Done" button, usually in the top-right or bottom-right corner of the screen, to save all changes. Your edited photo will now replace the original in your library. To keep your photos tidy, navigate to the "Albums" tab (often at the bottom of the screen). Tap the "+" button, then select "New Album". Give your album a clear name and tap "Save", then choose the photos you want to add to it.

You'll know it worked when the "Done" button changes to "Edit" (meaning your changes are saved), and you can find your edited photo neatly inside the new album you created. If you can't find the "+" button, look for "My Albums" and then a small "+" symbol or "New Album" option.