Use a Freeform or Custom crop in Google Photos rather than a fixed ratio like Square – that way you’re not forced to cut someone off just to fit the shape.
What you need
- The group photo, saved to your phone or computer
- Google Photos, free, on your phone or at photos.google.com
- About two minutes
Think about fixed ratios
If you need a specific fixed ratio – for a photo book or a particular print size – check whether it’s better to leave a little extra background in rather than cut someone off.
How to crop without cutting anyone off
- Open the photo in Google Photos and tap Edit, then Crop.
- Choose Freeform or Custom rather than a fixed ratio like Square or 4:5.
- Drag the corner handles in from the outside, rather than dragging the frame edges inward.
- Check every person is fully inside the frame, including hands, feet and the tops of heads.
- Save a copy.
Check every edge of the crop
Look along every edge of the crop: nobody should be cut through an arm, a foot, or half a face, and no one’s head should be cropped at the top.
If the group won’t fit a fixed ratio
If the group is genuinely too wide for a fixed ratio you need – say, for a specific photo book template – a looser crop with more background usually looks better than an awkward cut through a person. It’s worth checking whether the template actually requires that exact ratio before forcing the crop.
Next step
If there’s still a distracting object in the background, see Remove a background object with Google Photos’ Magic Eraser.
Sources and date checked
Google Photos Help Centre, checked 22 September 2026.