How to crop a picture on any device: phone, computer or online
Updated · 4 min read
Short answer
Open the picture in an editor, choose the crop tool, drag the frame over the part you want to keep, and save a copy. Every app works this way: crop tool, frame, confirm, save. The table below links to the exact buttons for each device.
The five steps that work everywhere
- 01Open the picture in a photo or image editor. Your phone's Photos app, Preview on a Mac, Photos or Paint on Windows, Canva and online tools all have one.
- 02Choose the crop tool. It usually sits under an Edit button.
- 03Pick a shape or go free. A fixed shape such as square, 4:3 or 16:9 keeps the proportions, and dragging the corners freely lets the shape change. Not sure which shape you need? See how to crop a photo to an aspect ratio.
- 04Drag the frame over the part you want to keep, and slide it until the subject sits where you want it.
- 05Confirm and save a copy if the app offers one, so the original stays as it was. If you change your mind later, see how to undo a crop.
Exact steps for your device
iPhone
- How to crop
- Photos, then Edit, the crop icon, drag the corners, Done
- Full guide
- How to crop a photo on iPhone
Android
- How to crop
- Google Photos, then Edit, Crop, drag the handles, the checkmark, Save
- Full guide
- How to crop a photo on Android
Windows
- How to crop
- Photos app: Edit, Crop, save a copy. Or Paint: Select, drag a box, Crop
- Full guide
- How to crop a photo on Windows
Mac
- How to crop
- Preview: Markup, Rectangular Selection, then Tools, Crop. Or Photos: Edit, Crop
- Full guide
- How to crop a photo on Mac
Word or PowerPoint
- How to crop
- Click the picture, Picture Format, Crop, drag the black handles, Crop again
Canva
- How to crop
- Click the photo, Crop in the toolbar, drag the handles, Done
- Full guide
- How to crop a photo in Canva
Photoshop
- How to crop
- Press C, pick a ratio, drag the frame, press Enter
- Full guide
- How to crop a photo in Photoshop
| Where | How to crop | Full guide |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | Photos, then Edit, the crop icon, drag the corners, Done | How to crop a photo on iPhone |
| Android | Google Photos, then Edit, Crop, drag the handles, the checkmark, Save | How to crop a photo on Android |
| Windows | Photos app: Edit, Crop, save a copy. Or Paint: Select, drag a box, Crop | How to crop a photo on Windows |
| Mac | Preview: Markup, Rectangular Selection, then Tools, Crop. Or Photos: Edit, Crop | How to crop a photo on Mac |
| Word or PowerPoint | Click the picture, Picture Format, Crop, drag the black handles, Crop again | How to crop a picture in Word and PowerPoint |
| Canva | Click the photo, Crop in the toolbar, drag the handles, Done | How to crop a photo in Canva |
| Photoshop | Press C, pick a ratio, drag the frame, press Enter | How to crop a photo in Photoshop |
Crop to a shape or size you need
- A set shape such as 4:3, 3:2 or 16:9: how to crop a photo to an aspect ratio.
- Exact pixels: how to crop and resize a photo to a specific size in pixels.
- A square: how to crop a photo to a square.
- A circle: how to crop a photo into a circle.
- Print sizes: how to crop a photo to 4x6 or 8x10.
- Shop photos: Etsy, eBay, Shopify and Amazon.
Crop many pictures at once
Cropping one picture at a time gets slow after a handful. A batch tool gives a whole set the same shape and size in one go. See how to crop multiple photos at once. SizeSpec does this in your browser for marketplace sizes, and your photos are never uploaded.
Before you crop
- Crop once, from the original. Cropping keeps the pixels you leave in exactly as they were. Quality only drops if you enlarge the crop or save a JPEG over and over. See does cropping reduce image quality.
- Crop first, resize second. If you need an exact size, crop to the shape and then scale. See crop vs resize.
- If the crop tool will not work, the picture may be locked, grouped or read-only. See why can't I crop a photo.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the fastest way to crop a picture?
- Use the crop tool in the app you already have: Photos on iPhone, Google Photos on Android, Photos or Paint on Windows, or Preview on a Mac. It takes a few taps or clicks. For a whole set of pictures, use a batch tool.
- Does cropping a picture reduce its quality?
- No. The pixels you keep stay exactly as they were, and the picture gets smaller. Quality only suffers if you then enlarge the crop or re-save a JPEG many times. See does cropping reduce image quality.
- How do I crop a picture to an exact size?
- Crop to the right shape, then resize to the exact pixels. See how to crop and resize a photo to a specific size in pixels.
- Can I crop a picture without installing an app?
- Yes. Phones, Macs and Windows PCs have a crop tool built in, and browser tools work without an install. SizeSpec crops and resizes in your browser and never uploads your photos. Its free plan covers one pack of up to 5 photos a month.
- Can I undo a crop?
- Often yes. Press Undo right after, or use Revert or Reset in the app later. See how to undo a crop.
Selling online? Do a whole batch at once
SizeSpec crops and resizes a batch of product photos to the size each marketplace asks for and gives you one ZIP. It crops from the centre or pads the image on white, and it works in your browser, so your files are never uploaded. It does not offer free-hand cropping of a single picture.
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