How to head swap a photo with AI: free steps and examples
Quick answer
To head swap a photo, open Magic Hour Head Swap, upload the base photo, upload the replacement head photo and click Swap Heads. The current guest tool offers three free head swaps per day, no signup and no watermark. Use photos with similar head angles and lighting, then check the hairline, ears and neck before downloading.
A head swap is useful when you want the replacement person's hair and head shape as well as their face. If you want to keep the original hairstyle, start with a face swap instead.
Head swap, face swap or body swap?
What you want to change | Tool to use | What to inspect |
|---|---|---|
The face while keeping the original head and hairstyle | Facial identity, eyes, mouth and skin-tone blending | |
The whole head region, including hair and outline | Head size, hair edges, ears and the neck join | |
The person more broadly, including body or outfit | Pose, clothing, proportions and the surrounding scene | |
Different replacement faces for people in a group | Each original-to-replacement face assignment |
A generative head edit aims to retain the base photo's body and scene, but inspect those areas too. It is not a guarantee that every background pixel or clothing detail remains identical.
Try a head swap with two clear photos
Upload the base scene and replacement head, then inspect the hairline, head shape, lighting, and background before downloading.
Try Head SwapWhat you need
- A base photo: the body, pose and scene you want to keep.
- A head photo: a clear view of the head you want to add, including the hair you want to preserve.
- Similar perspective: try to match head direction, camera height and lighting between the two photos.
- Permission to use the inputs: particularly for another person's likeness or commercial work.
PNG, JPG/JPEG and WebP are supported. You can use the guest tool in a desktop or phone browser; creating an account is optional for this workflow.
How to head swap a photo, step by step
1. Open the Head Swap tool
Go directly to Head Swap. You do not need to search through the dashboard or install an app.
2. Upload the base photo
Choose Upload base photo. This is the image whose head will be replaced. For example, if you want a new head on a person wearing a jacket, upload the jacket photo here.
Use a photo where the head and shoulders are visible. Leave room around the hair so the edit is not forced against the edge of the image.
3. Upload the replacement head photo
Choose Upload head photo. This image supplies the new head. A sharp portrait at a similar angle gives the model clearer information than a distant, blurred or heavily filtered face.
If the base person is looking slightly left, start with a reference looking in a similar direction. A front-facing portrait may be a poor match for a full side profile.
4. Click Swap Heads
Confirm that the two photos are in the correct positions, then click Swap Heads. Wait for the result before submitting another attempt. Processing time can vary; there is no need to repeatedly click while the first request is running.
The account-based Head Swap workspace can show different controls and a credit estimate. Its balance is separate from the guest tool's daily allowance.
5. Review and download
Look at the full image and a closer view of the head. Check the neck join, ears, hair edges, head size and lighting. Also compare the body, clothing and background with the original. Download the result when it meets your needs.
Example from the original tutorial
The screenshot below shows the two inputs in the account-based interface used for the original tutorial: the base portrait on the left and the replacement head on the right. Its displayed controls and credit balance are historical examples; the current guest button is Swap Heads.
The original tutorial's resulting portrait keeps the base image's jacket and backdrop while changing the head. Use this as an example of the operation, not a promise that every pair of photos will blend the same way.
Fix an unnatural head swap
Problem | Likely issue | What to try next |
|---|---|---|
The head looks too large or small | Different camera distances or proportions | Choose inputs with more similar framing |
A visible seam appears at the neck | Mismatched pose, skin tone or lighting | Use a reference with similar head tilt and light direction |
Hair looks cut off or blurred | Cropped hair, compression or unclear edges | Use the original high-quality photo with space around the head |
The face no longer resembles the reference | Weak facial detail or a difficult angle | Try a sharper, less obstructed reference |
The wrong person changes in a group | The intended target is ambiguous | Use a workflow with explicit person selection or a dedicated multi-face tool |
The outfit or background changes | The edit extends beyond the intended region | Compare against the original; use a tighter editing workflow for details that must stay exact |
Change one input at a time so you can tell whether the new reference helped. Upscaling a flawed result will not reliably repair identity or replace missing source detail.
Other browser tools to consider
The current search results include both head-swap and face-swap tools, so check what each actually changes:
- Facy Head Swap: offers a full-head workflow with free credits after signup. Its paid HeadUltra model adds prompt-based selection of a particular person in a group photo.
- Pixlr Face Swap: offers a face-photo and target-photo workflow with PNG download. It is described as face swapping; do not assume that means it transfers the full hairstyle and head outline.
For a broader comparison of formats, free allowances and pricing, see our face-swap app guide.
What to do after the swap
If the still image needs a small cleanup, use the AI Image Editor with a specific instruction about the edge or background you want to change. Recheck the face after any further edit.
To add motion, use Image-to-Video. To make the portrait speak, use Talking Photo with the audio you want it to follow. Choose the next step based on the output you need.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Magic Hour's current guest Head Swap tool allows three daily generations without signup, and its photo downloads have no watermark. Account credits and paid subscription features are separate.
Magic Hour permits commercial use for paid subscribers. You also need the appropriate rights to the original images and people's likenesses. A watermark-free guest download is not itself a commercial license.
Use a tool that explicitly lets you select or describe the intended person. Do not assume a basic two-image head swap will target the right subject automatically. If you only need to change faces, Magic Hour's Multiple Face Swap is the more direct workflow.
The Magic Hour guest Head Swap form uses two image uploads and a Swap Heads button; it does not require a written prompt. Some other tools or account workflows have additional controls.
Use face swap when the original hair, head outline and overall composition already work and you mainly want to replace facial identity. Use head swap when the reference hair and head shape are part of the change you want.
