If you have been using remove.bg to cut out product or profile photos, mark the date. remove.bg says on its site that its background-removal feature is moving to Canva, and that from 9:00 AM CET on December 1, 2026 (5:00 PM in Korea), the remove.bg website will no longer be available.
The good news: you can already remove backgrounds with tools you probably have, or with a free web tool. Pick the one that fits your setup.
1. Windows 11 Paint: one Remove background button
Paint, which ships with Windows 11, has a Remove background feature. Microsoft announced on the Windows Insider Blog that Paint (version 11.2306.30.0 and later) can automatically remove the background of an image in one click.
- Open the image in Paint.
- Click Remove background in the Image group at the top.
- Check the result and save it as PNG (PNG keeps the transparent background).
2. iPhone: just touch and hold the photo
On iPhone you can touch and hold the subject of a photo to lift it from the background, no extra app needed. Apple's iPhone User Guide describes these steps:
- Open the photo in full screen, or pause a video on the frame you want.
- Touch and hold the subject until an outline appears.
- Tap Copy and paste it into Notes or Messages, or choose Add Sticker or Share.
Apple says this also works in Safari, Quick Look and other apps.
3. On the web: Adobe Firefly free background remover
If you want a browser tool with nothing to install, Adobe offers a free background remover. Upload an image and download it with the background removed, then keep editing with a new background if you like.
- Supported files: JPG, PNG, WEBP, up to 50MB
- By uploading, you agree to Adobe's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and confirm you are 18 or older.
Which one to use
| Situation | Recommended | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Office PC (Windows 11) for documents and proposals | Paint Remove background | Done in a desktop app, no website upload |
| Photos on your phone, straight to chat or social | Touch and hold on iPhone | Copy, then paste |
| Mac or another PC, plus a new background | Adobe Firefly free background remover | Web upload, check the terms |
For customer photos or internal material you would rather not send outside, try the on-device options (Paint, iPhone) before uploading to a website.
There is still time before remove.bg closes, so practice once with a photo you use often.
References
- remove.bg site notice (checked 2026-10-20): https://www.remove.bg/ko
- Microsoft, Background Removal in Paint begins rolling out to Windows Insiders: https://blogs.windows.com/windows-insider/2023/09/07/background-removal-in-paint-begins-rolling-out-to-windows-insiders/
- Apple, Lift a subject from the photo background on iPhone: https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/lift-a-subject-from-the-photo-background-iphfe4809658/ios
- Adobe, Remove background from image for free: https://www.adobe.com/products/firefly/features/remove-background.html
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