Choose the method for your image
| Image | Best method | Tool |
|---|---|---|
| Photo of a person, pet or product | AI subject detection | Remove background |
| Logo, icon, signature on a plain background | Remove one solid colour | Logo background remover |
| Screenshot or simple graphic | Remove one solid colour | Logo background remover |
Step by step for photos
- Open Remove background and drop in your photo.
- Wait for the AI to cut out the subject — the checkerboard shows transparent areas.
- Click Refine if something is missing or a bit of background remains, and paint with Restore or Erase.
- Keep the background set to Transparent, choose PNG or WebP and download.
Save in a format that keeps transparency
Only some formats store transparency. PNG is the safe choice that works everywhere. WebP also supports it and produces much smaller files for websites. JPG does not support transparency — transparent areas turn white or black when you save as JPG, which is the most common reason a “transparent PNG” suddenly has a background again.
If you need to change formats later, use the image converter and pick PNG or WebP. Read more in JPG vs PNG vs WebP.
Common problems
- A white halo around a logo on dark backgrounds — the edge pixels still contain the old background colour. The logo tool removes that colour from edges automatically.
- The checkerboard is part of the image — some websites offer “transparent PNG” downloads that are actually flattened with a fake checkerboard. Run them through the background remover.
- Hair looks cut off — use a higher quality setting and refine with a small brush; see cutting out hair and fur.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make a JPG transparent?
You can remove the background from a JPG, but the result must be saved as PNG or WebP, because the JPG format cannot store transparency.
Does Windows or macOS have a built-in tool?
Yes, recent versions of Windows 11 Paint and macOS Preview/Photos can remove backgrounds from simple photos. A dedicated tool gives you refinement, batch processing and more output options.