Lightroom’s AI-powered Reflections tool lets you easily remove reflections in photos taken through glass windows. This tool eliminates large and prominent window reflections in just a few steps, allowing your image's subject to stand out clearly. Lightroom is analysing and removing reflections in the photo. Sometimes, the +100 setting might show the reflection. Quality determines the resolution of the result. Select a quality option from the menu. It will determine the time taken to render the results. Reflection Removal also supports Sync and Auto-sync workflows.
If you encounter the "Some AI models failed to download," it may suggest early limitations, but Lightroom’s new AI powered Remove option really can wipe away reflections in glass as if they had never existed. This is something which would be very, very difficult to achieve using regular editing tools. I’ve tried it out on a number of different images and been impressed by just how effective it is. Here’s a side-by-side before-and-after version of my main image.
To find this new tool, first swap to the Remove tool in Develop mode and then choose the Remove option (not Heal or Clone). You’ll also need to check the Generative AI box. Note: this post is based on an early version of this feature and if you can’t get the Distraction Removal options to display, try making a regular editing adjustment first, such as moving the Exposure slider. The first step is to expand the Reflections panel and click the Apply button. The Reflection tool is really simple to use - so simple that all you have to do is click a checkbox.
You can choose the quality setting for the Reflection removal and also the amount/strength (normally 100%). There are a couple of things to be aware of at this point. First, note the drop-down Quality menu offering Preview, Standard and Best modes. This may be set to Preview by default, which will give you a low-resolution ‘repair’. Use the Best option to achieve the best quality. Here’s another example. This was taken through the window of an office and the original shows strong reflections from the brightly-lit street. And here’s another (apologies if you don’t like creepy fairground puppets).
This was shot through glass in a museum, and there was no way to get a good arrangement of the puppets without also picking up some reflections from the glass. The Reflections removal tool shares a panel with the new People removal tool, but I have to say I find Lightroom’s reflection removal far more impressive. Distractions can ruin an otherwise great photograph. Reflections in glass, people walking through a scene, or unwanted elements pulling the viewer’s eye away from the subject are all common frustrations for photographers. Thankfully, Lightroom’s Distraction Removal tool makes fixing these issues easier than ever.
How to Use Distraction Removal in Lightroom for Reflections
Reflections - especially in windows and glass - can be difficult to remove convincingly. Preview vs Best Quality: When testing the effect, leave Quality set to Preview. This is ideal for situations where a main subject is important, but background people are distracting. Once removed, you’re free to finish the image creatively - convert it to black and white, increase contrast, or stylise it for social media without those distractions pulling attention away.
How Lightroom Compares to Other Photo Editing Software: Many photographers ask how to remove distractions from photos using popular photo editing software - and until recently, the answer usually involved Photoshop. While tools like Photoshop’s Content-Aware Fill and Generative Fill are still extremely powerful, Lightroom’s Distraction Removal has closed the gap significantly: no need to switch applications, faster workflow, non-destructive editing, AI trained specifically for reflections and people. For photographers who prefer an efficient, streamlined workflow, Lightroom’s approach is often more than enough for everyday distraction removal.
Learn more on Lightroom here - Learn more on Photoshop here.
Why Distraction Removal Matters
Distraction removal isn’t about “faking” photos - it’s about directing attention. Reflections in glass, people walking through a scene, or unwanted elements pulling the viewer’s eye away from the subject are all common frustrations for photographers. Lightroom’s Distraction Removal tool makes fixing these issues easier than ever.
What you’ll notice in practice is that the tool’s simplicity hides a powerful capability. The first step is to expand the Reflections panel and click the Apply button. You can set the quality (Preview, Standard, Best) and the amount/strength (often 100%). The process remains non-destructive, and you can later tweak other edits without reintroducing the reflections.
Real-World Examples and Considerations
Here’s a typical scenario: a photo taken through an office window with strong street reflections. The Best quality setting produces a clean result, while Preview offers a faster, lower-resolution repair to judge impact during editing. In a museum shot with puppets behind glass, reflections can be challenging, but the tool aims to reduce them without sacrificing subject detail.
The reflection removal tool is part of Lightroom’s broader suite, sharing a panel with other distraction-removal options. For many users, this integration makes the workflow smoother and more efficient than switching to another application for similar tasks.
In practice, you’ll often start by enabling the Generative AI option, then selecting Remove, and finally choosing a quality setting. If you’re unsure about the effect, begin with Preview to evaluate the impact before committing to Best for final touches. This approach helps ensure the subject remains clear while the background distractions fade away.
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Overall, Lightroom’s AI-powered Remove option demonstrates robust performance in removing reflections from glass. The tool’s effectiveness is highlighted by side-by-side comparisons and user experiences, showing that it can handle a range of reflection scenarios-from bright street scenes to glossier museum glass-while maintaining image integrity.
| Setting | Effect | Best Use |
|---|---|---|
| Quality: Preview | Low-resolution repair | Assess impact with important subject |
| Quality: Standard | Mid-quality repair | Regular editing workflows |
| Quality: Best | Highest quality repair | Final output with minimal distractions |
| Strength | 100% (typical) | Full removal when possible |
Note: This guidance reflects early experiences with the feature, and if Distraction Removal options don’t display, try a regular editing adjustment first, such as moving the Exposure slider. The goal is to guide attention to the subject by reducing or removing distracting reflections through a non-destructive, AI-assisted workflow.