How to remove background from image on Mac

Looking for tips on how to remove background from a picture on a Mac? Well, look no further. It used to be a skill reserved for advanced graphic designers, but these days, anyone can do it.

If you're trying to create a professional-looking design or remove something annoying in an image background, there's no need to break the bank with costly graphic design software; it's actually pretty simple to do.

Follow along, and we'll show you how. Let's get started.

How to remove background from image on Mac

If you're looking for quick, easy ways to remove the background from an image, the good news is Apple has three native ways you can do this; let's take a look.

1. Remove backgrounds in Preview

Loads of people don't realize that you can use Apple's built-in Preview app to remove unwanted backgrounds in images; it's a feature called Extract; here's how to use it:

• Open the image you want to adjust in Preview.
• Click the pen icon to open the tool panel.
• Click the Instant Alpha icon (Magic wand).
• Start dragging this over the background you want to remove.
• Press Delete. You can repeat this section by section till the background is removed.

If you have a really detailed background, this might be tricky, but luckily, there are a few more options, so keep reading.

2. iPhoto remove background with Quick Actions

Quick Actions are designed to help you quickly perform tasks without opening apps, and the good news is, there's a background remover action; here's how to use it:

• Locate the photo you want to edit in Finder.
• Right-click and choose Quick Actions > Remove Background.
• A new image will be saved without the background in the same location as the original.

The issue with this option is you have no say or control over what is selected or removed, so this might not be for everyone.

3. Use Apple Photos to remove background

If you're running macOS Sonoma or later, you can also use your built-in Photos app to remove backgrounds; here's how:

• Open your image in Photos.
• Right-click the subject and choose Copy Subject.
• You can now paste this wherever you want: email, word doc, or other.

Don't forget, if you're creating multiple versions of images or editing and creating new versions, these will build up and not only clutter your Mac and Photo library but also consume vital storage space. We've got a tip for you on this below.

Keep your Mac clutter-free

To clear up space and keep your photo library organized, you don't need to spend hours sorting through your media if you use a purpose-built app like CleanMyMac. This Apple notarized tool comes with a pretty powerful My Clutter tool, which will help you instantly locate annoying duplicate images on your MacBook (along with tons of other clutter); here's how to use it:

1. Open the app or test it first for seven days.
2. Select My Clutter > Scan.
3. Take a look at both the Duplicate and Similar categories.
4. Review items, select images or files to delete, and click Remove.

This is a smart and quick way to keep your Mac optimized and running at its best.

Remove image background on Mac with third-party tools

Using native tools means you don't need to pay or download additional software, but they might not give you as much control as a third-party editing tool. If you need more precision, here are a few more tools that offer background removal:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Canva
• remove.bg

All three of these options offer great background removal tools, especially Canva, which harnesses AI to make it a one-click job. 

So, now you know how to use Apple Photos to remove background along with other native and third-party tools. Regularly cleaning out your duplicates and similar images will also help to keep your Mac clutter-free and running smoothly.

And before we go, let's just finish up with a couple of background removal FAQs.

FAQs: Remove background from image on Mac

How do you remove background from a picture on a Mac without affecting quality?

Removing the background of an image shouldn't reduce the image quality, but what you might find is that some details get lost.

Do I need advanced editing skills to remove an image background?

Not these days. Most tools, like Canva or remove.bg, use AI to automatically detect and remove backgrounds, making it really simple for beginners and photo editing novices.

What image formats can I use for background removal?

Most background removal tools support standard image formats like JPEG, PNG, and TIFF. PNG is often preferred because it supports transparency, making it easier to work with images after the background is removed.