Source: https://mactoolbox.app/how-to-remove-a-background-from-an-image-on-mac

# How to remove an image background on Mac

By Nikhil Barik · Published November 3, 2026

## Quick answer

macOS can remove a background from one image: in Preview, open the Markup toolbar and click Remove Background, or use the Quick Actions menu in Finder. For a whole batch, or a white or colored background instead of transparent, use Remove Background in Toolbox.

## The built-in way: Preview and Finder

Recent versions of macOS can lift a subject out of a photo.

1. Open the image in Preview.
2. If you do not see Remove Background in the toolbar, click the Markup button to show the Markup toolbar.
3. Click Remove Background (Apple does not state which macOS version added it to Preview, so it may be missing on older Macs), then File > Export or Save to keep the result.

In Finder you can also right-click an image, choose Quick Actions, then Remove Background. It saves a new copy next to the original. Both work one image at a time.

## The Toolbox way: Remove Background

Remove Background lifts the main subject out of a photo and saves it as a PNG with a transparent, white or custom color background. It uses Apple's Vision framework on your Mac, so your photos are not sent to a server. You can process many photos in one go.

1. Open Remove Background and drop your photos.
2. Choose Transparent, White or a custom Color background.
3. Turn on Crop to subject if you want the image trimmed to the cutout.
4. Click Remove Background. PNGs are saved to a dated folder in Downloads.

## Which one to use

Use Preview or Quick Actions for one picture. Use Toolbox when you have a folder of product shots or portraits, or when you want a white or colored background filled in for you.

## Tips and troubleshooting

- Results are saved as PNG because PNG keeps transparent areas. A JPEG cutout would get a filled background.
- If no subject is found in a photo, Toolbox says so and moves on to the rest of the batch.
- Photos with a clear subject against a plain background give cleaner edges.

## Frequently asked questions

**How do I remove the background from a picture on Mac?**

Use Remove Background in the Preview Markup toolbar, or drop the picture into Remove Background in Toolbox and click Remove Background.

**Does it work without an internet connection?**

Yes. Toolbox makes the cutout with Apple's Vision framework on your Mac, so it works offline and the photo stays on your computer.

**Why are the results saved as PNG?**

PNG keeps transparent areas. JPEG has no transparency.

**Can I remove backgrounds from many photos at once?**

Yes, in Toolbox. Drop in the whole batch and the same background choice applies to every photo.

## Tools mentioned

- [**Remove Background**: Lift the subject out of photos and save it with a transparent or solid background.](https://mactoolbox.app/remove-background-from-image-mac)
- [**Convert Images**: Save photos as JPEG, PNG, HEIC, TIFF or WebP.](https://mactoolbox.app/heic-to-jpg-mac)
- [**Resize Images**: Scale photos by percentage, longest side or exact size.](https://mactoolbox.app/resize-images-mac)

## Keep reading

- [Remove Background](https://mactoolbox.app/remove-background-from-image-mac)
- [Images](https://mactoolbox.app/image-tools-mac)
- [All guides](https://mactoolbox.app/guides)