How to Remove a Photo Background
The easiest free method is remove.bg — upload a photo, the AI removes the background, then download a transparent PNG. Canva also has a Background Remover. Note: Google Photos Magic Eraser does not make the whole background transparent — it removes unwanted things inside a photo.
What you'll learn in this guide
- Removing a background with remove.bg
- Using Background Remover in Canva
- Removing an unwanted object with Magic Eraser
In this guide
1Remove the background with remove.bg (free)
Remove the background in one click and get a transparent PNG.
- Open remove.bg in your browser.
- Click Upload Image or drag and drop the photo onto the page.
- Wait a few seconds; the AI removes the background itself.
- Fine-tune the edges with Edit > Erase/Restore.
- Leave the background transparent or choose a new background.
- Download the photo to your chosen destination.
2Canva Background Remover
Remove a photo background in Canva.
- In Canva, select the photo and click Edit Image.
- In the left panel choose Background Remover, then click Erase.
- After the background disappears, click Apply.
3Google Photos Magic Eraser
Remove an unwanted thing inside a photo — not the whole background.
- In Google Photos, open the photo and tap Edit at the bottom.
- Type Magic Eraser in Search and open the tool.
- Tap, circle or brush the thing to remove, then tap Erase.
💡 Pro Tip
If you want a transparent background, download the result as PNG, because JPG does not save transparency.
Frequently asked questions
Does remove.bg remove the background in one click?
Yes, remove.bg calls it a one-click free solution that removes backgrounds 100% automatically.
Is there an Android app for remove.bg?
Yes, remove.bg says an app is available for Android smartphones and tablets.
What size photo does Canva Background Remover work on?
Canva says it only works for images under 9MB, and an image over 10MP is downscaled to 10MP.
Can Magic Eraser make the whole background transparent?
No, Google Photos says it removes or edits unwanted objects; it is not for making a whole transparent-background PNG.
What does a phone need to use Magic Eraser?
Google Photos says the device must have at least 3 GB RAM and Android 8.0 and up.