How To Remove The Background From An Image In Canva
Updated: 6 days ago
Removing the background from an image in Canva is now much easier than it used to be.
On desktop, simply select the image you want to edit and click BG Remover in the toolbar above the image. Canva will automatically detect the main subject and remove the background.
If Canva gets the cutout right, you are done.
If it removes part of the image you wanted to keep, leaves part of the background behind, or struggles around hair, hands, clothing, or other detailed edges, you can open the editing tools and manually erase or restore parts of the image.
Canva’s built-in Background Remover is available with its paid plans.
How do you remove the background from an image in Canva?
The fastest method on desktop is:
Open your Canva design.
Upload or select the image you want to edit.
Click the image once to select it.
Click BG Remover in the toolbar above the image.
Wait a few seconds while Canva processes the photo.
That’s it.
Canva should remove the background automatically and leave the main subject behind.
What if Canva removes the wrong part of the image?
Automatic background removal works well on many images, but it is not always perfect.
You may notice problems such as:
part of someone’s hair disappearing
fingers or clothing being removed
a shadow or object remaining in the background
Canva mistaking two overlapping objects for one
small details around the edge looking rough
If that happens, select the image again and reopen the BG Remover editing controls.
Canva includes Erase and Restore brushes that let you manually clean up the result. The Erase brush removes areas Canva missed, while Restore brings back portions of the original image that were removed accidentally.
How do you restore part of an image after removing the background?
If Canva removes something you wanted to keep:
Select the image.
Click Edit
Open the Background Remover editing controls.
Choose Restore.
Adjust the brush size if necessary.
Brush over the part of the image you want to bring back.
Apply the changes.
This is especially useful around hair, hands, clothing, props, and objects that blend into the background.
You can also use Erase to manually remove areas that Canva failed to delete.
How do you make an image background transparent in Canva?
Removing the background and downloading a transparent image are related, but they are not exactly the same thing.
Background Remover removes the visible background from the image inside Canva.
If you want the image file itself to remain transparent when you save it, download it as a PNG with transparency enabled.
To do that:
Click Share.
Click Download.
Choose PNG as the file type.
Turn on Transparent background.
Click Download.
PNG files support transparency. JPEG files do not.
This is one reason people sometimes remove a background successfully inside Canva but then download the image and discover that it has a white background again.
If transparency matters, use PNG.
Click on the "share" tab in the toolbar.
Click on "Download".
Under "File type" click on PNG.
Under the PNG menu click the "Transparent Background" box.
Click Download and choose a location to save the image on your computer.
Is Canva Background Remover free?
Canva’s built-in Background Remover is currently included with paid plans.
If you see a crown icon beside BG Remover, that indicates the feature is tied to a premium Canva plan on your account.
Some users searching for free background removal use third-party Canva apps or remove the background somewhere else before uploading the finished transparent PNG into Canva. Discussions in the Canva community also frequently point to outside tools when users do not have Canva Pro.
Why won’t Canva let me use Background Remover?
If Background Remover appears but Canva will not let you use it, check whether your Canva plan includes the feature.
The crown icon usually indicates premium access.
Other possible problems include:
poor internet connection
an unsupported image type
a temporary Canva glitch
an image that is too large
trying to use the tool on a vector graphic instead of a supported photo
Canva says Background Remover currently works with supported photos under 9 MB, and vector images are not supported by the tool.
How do you remove a background in Canva on mobile?
You can remove photo backgrounds in the Canva mobile app too.
The exact toolbar placement may look slightly different from desktop, but the process is similar:
Open your Canva design.
Tap the image you want to edit.
Find the image editing or effects controls.
Choose Background Remover or BG Remover.
Wait for Canva to process the image.
Canva also supports Background Remover on mobile according to its current help documentation.
If your mobile interface looks different from screenshots taken on desktop, that does not necessarily mean the feature is missing. Canva regularly moves controls around depending on device and app version.
Can Canva remove the background from a video?
Yes.
Canva also includes a video Background Remover.
Select the video and choose BG Remover from the editor toolbar, then wait for Canva to process it.
Canva places limits on which videos can be processed, so very long videos may not qualify.
If you are only trying to remove the background from a still photo, the image version is much faster and simpler.
Why does my transparent Canva image still have a white background?
There are a few common reasons.
You downloaded it as a JPEG
JPEG files do not preserve transparent backgrounds.
Download the image as PNG instead.
Transparent background was not enabled
When downloading your design, make sure Transparent background is turned on.
The white area is part of the image
Sometimes what looks like a white background is actually part of the original graphic itself.
In that case, use Background Remover, Erase, or another editing tool to remove it.
The image was transparent before uploading, but Canva is displaying it incorrectly
Canva users occasionally report imported PNG files appearing with unexpected backgrounds. If that happens, try re-uploading or dragging the PNG directly into the editor.
Can you remove the background from a picture in Canva without Pro?
Canva’s official Background Remover is a paid-plan feature.
If you do not have Canva Pro, one workaround is to remove the background with another tool first, save the image as a transparent PNG, and then upload that PNG into Canva.
Another option is to search the Apps section inside Canva for third-party background-removal tools, although the quality and availability of those tools can vary. Canva users frequently mention this approach when looking for free alternatives.
What kinds of images work best with Canva Background Remover?
Background removal generally works best when the subject is clearly separated from the background.
You will usually get cleaner results when:
the subject and background have different colors
the image is sharp and well lit
hair and clothing are clearly defined
there are not too many overlapping objects
the background is relatively simple
Complex hair, transparent objects, shadows, similar colors, and busy backgrounds may require some manual cleanup.
That is where the Erase and Restore brushes become useful.
What can you use a transparent Canva image for?
Removing the background makes it much easier to reuse the same image in different designs.
Transparent PNGs are useful for:
YouTube thumbnails
Twitch overlays
social media graphics
product images
flyers
logos
websites
presentations
banners
stream graphics
profile images
promotional materials
Instead of carrying the original rectangular background everywhere, you can place the isolated subject onto almost any design.
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