Many people ask ‘’Can you remove background in mac photos? The short answer is: not directly within the Photos app. Yet, you can use other built-in macOS tools and third-party applications to get the job done.
Actually, the Photos app on Mac doesn’t have a built-in feature for background removal. But in this blog post, we’ll guide you on how to remove backgrounds on a Mac using:
- The Preview app,
- third-party software like Photoshop and Pixelmator,
- online tools like Remove.bg.
From editing family photos to creating professional content, background removal is highly useful for making transparent backgrounds. So we’ve covered and helped you find the right method for your needs.
Table of Contents
Why Remove Backgrounds from Photos?
Removing backgrounds from images is helpful for many reasons. Here are a few common ones:
- Create product images: If you have an online store, a clean white or transparent background makes your product stand out.
- Design: When creating presentations, graphic designs, or social media posts, removing the background allows you to fit images into different layouts more easily.
- Personal projects: People often remove backgrounds for fun edits, like making memes or personalized greeting cards.
Now, let’s answer the question, “Can you remove background in Mac Photos?”, and explore how to do it with available tools.
Can You Remove Background in Mac Photos: use 4 tools

To make a photo stunning and professional, you may need to make a white background or a transparent background. To do this you must need to remove the background from the images. But can you remove background in Mac Photos?
The answer is technically no, but the Preview app offers a decent alternative for simple background removal. For more complex images, tools like Photoshop or Pixelmator Pro offer professional-level background removal.
And if you’re looking for a quick solution, online tools like Remove.bg work well for basic needs. Let’s learn how to use these tools to remove a background.
1. How to remove background from image on Mac using Preview

The Preview app is pre-installed on all Macs and is often overlooked for its editing features. So, can you remove background in Mac Photos using Preview? The answer is yes, through a helpful feature called Instant Alpha.
Here’s how to use it:
Step 1: Right-click your image and choose Open With > Preview
Step 2: Once your image is open, click the small pencil icon at the top to open the Markup Toolbar.
Step 3: In the Markup Toolbar, click the magic wand icon (this is the Instant Alpha tool). It helps select areas of similar color.
Step 4: Click anywhere on the background and drag your mouse. The selected area will turn pink. Preview automatically detects the color range.
Step 5: Press the Delete key to remove the selected background. You may need to repeat this process if the background has multiple colors or gradients.
Step 6: Once the background is removed, go to File > Save As. Save the image as a PNG to preserve transparency. Other formats, like JPEG, do not support transparency.
Pros and Cons of Using Preview
- Built-in app, no need to download anything.
- Simple and quick for basic background removal.
- Free to use.
- Limited to simple backgrounds.
- Not as precise as professional tools.
2. How to remove background in Mac with Photoshop

When you ask, “Can you remove background in Mac Photos using Photoshop?”, the answer is yes, with more precision.
Photoshop offers powerful features for complex background removal tasks.
Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Background in Photoshop:
Step 1: Open your image in Photoshop.
Step 2: From the toolbar, choose the Quick Selection Tool. This tool allows you to highlight the subject by dragging over it.
Step 3: After making an initial selection, go to Select > Select and Mask. This opens a workspace where you can refine the edges to ensure accurate background removal.
Step 4: Once satisfied with the selection, click OK and press Delete to remove the background.
Step 5: Save the file as a PNG to keep the transparent background.
Pros and Cons of Using Photoshop
- Excellent for handling complex images and backgrounds.
- Offers precise control over the selection.
- Perfect for professional use.
- Requires a paid subscription.
- Learning curve for beginners.
3. Mac remove background with Pixelmator Pro

If you want a more affordable alternative to Photoshop, Pixelmator Pro is another option for removing backgrounds. So, can you remove background in Mac Photos with this tool?
Absolutely. Pixelmator Pro offers similar features and user-friendly tools for quick edits.
Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Background in Pixelmator Pro:
Step 1: Drag your image into the Pixelmator Pro workspace.
Step 2: Select the Quick Selection Tool from the toolbar and drag over the areas of the image you want to keep.
Step 3: Use the Refine Selection tool to clean up the edges and make sure the background is fully selected.
Step 4: Press Delete to remove the background, leaving the subject isolated.
Step 5: Save your image in PNG format to maintain the transparent background.
Pros and Cons of Using Pixelmator Pro
- Cheaper than Photoshop but equally powerful.
- User-friendly interface.
- Great for detailed edits.
- Not free (one-time purchase).
- Some advanced features are still limited compared to Photoshop.
4. Remove background using Online Tools
If downloading software isn’t an option, you might wonder, “Can you remove background in Mac Photos with online tools?”
The answer is yes. Online tools like Remove.bg use AI to detect and remove backgrounds automatically, making it an easy and quick solution.
Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Background with Remove.bg:
Step 1: Visit Remove.bg in your web browser.
Step 2: Click the Upload Image button and select your image from your computer.
Step 3: The tool will automatically remove the background within seconds using AI.
Step 4: After the background is removed, download the image. You can choose to download it with a transparent background or a different solid background color.
Pros and Cons of Using Online Tools
- Fast and easy.
- No software installation required.
- Free for basic use.
- Limited control over the process.
- High-resolution images may require a paid plan.
- Not ideal for complex images.
5. Remove background from image on mac: Other Tools
Aside from the tools mentioned above, there are several other background removal options available for Mac users:
- GIMP: A free, open-source alternative to Photoshop. It has a steep learning curve but offers powerful background removal features.
- Canva: Popular for online graphic design. Canva also offers background removal in its paid version.
- Fotor: Another online tool with basic editing and background removal features.
Conclusion: Best Method
So we hope we can give you a detailed answer to ”Can you remove background in Mac photos”. The Photos app doesn’t offer built-in background removal but the Preview app and third-party tools like Photoshop and Pixelmator Pro can handle the task.
Online tools such as Remove.bg also offer quick and easy options for background removal.
The best method depends on your image complexity and requirements.
- For quick edits, Preview is a great option.
- For professional-level detail, Photoshop and Pixelmator Pro are highly recommended.
- If you’re looking for fast, automatic removal, online tools work perfectly.
Need professional help with your image edits? Our image editing services specialize in background removal, color correction, and more. Contact us today to get started!