Make Mac BetterHow to remove an image background on a Mac
You don’t need Photoshop or an online service to cut out a person or a product. A Mac does it by itself in one click, and the result is a PNG with a transparent background.
Step by step
The quickest way: the Finder
Control-click the image in the Finder and choose Quick Actions › Remove Background. A new PNG without the background appears next to the original.
In Preview
Open the image in Preview and choose Tools › Remove Background. If the image isn’t a PNG, Preview asks to convert it so it can keep the transparency.
In Photos
Open the photo, Control-click the subject and choose Copy Subject. Paste it into a document, a message or a new image.
Check the edges
Zoom in on hair and fine edges. If something is missing, try with a photo where the subject stands out more from the background.
Which version of macOS do I need?
macOS 13 Ventura or later. Recognition works best with a clear subject: people, pets, objects and products.
How do I remove the background from many photos at once?
Select several images in the Finder and use the same Quick Action. In Make Mac Better, Tools › Remove background processes whole batches in the background and leaves the results in a new folder, without touching the originals.
Is it safe to use a website to remove backgrounds?
Those services receive your photos, and many limit the resolution unless you pay. On a Mac the cut-out is done on your computer, at full resolution and without uploading anything.
How do I put a different background?
Paste the cut-out over another image in Preview or in any editor. For screenshots, Make Mac Better adds a gradient background or your own image directly from its capture editor.