Is my photo sent to an outside service?

No. The model runs on ConvertNicely's own workers, in the same place every other conversion runs. Nothing is sent to a third-party API, the file is deleted automatically after processing, and you can delete it yourself from the result panel the moment you have downloaded it.

Why is the result always a PNG?

Because PNG is the format that is both lossless and universally understood to carry transparency. A JPG cannot store transparency at all — saving a cut-out as one fills the transparent area with black — so handing you a JPG would quietly undo the work.

What kind of photo works best?

One clear subject, reasonably in focus, against a background that is not the same colour as the subject. People, animals, cars and products all work well. It struggles with glass and other transparent objects, with very busy backgrounds, and with fine strands of hair — for hair, the soft edge setting gets closer than the hard one.

What is the difference between a soft and a hard edge?

The model does not answer yes or no for each pixel — it gives a confidence, and the soft setting keeps it, so an edge fades out the way real hair and fur do. The hard setting rounds every pixel to fully kept or fully removed, which gives the crisp outline a logo or a product shot wants.

Can I put a different colour behind it instead?

Yes — use Change Background, which runs the same cut-out and then fills the background with a colour or a picture of your choice. This tool stops at the transparent PNG, which drops onto any background you like in whatever you use next.

Why does it take a few seconds when other tools are instant?

Because it is doing something different in kind. The other tools re-encode a file; this one runs a neural network over it to decide what the subject is. That work happens on a dedicated pool of workers so it never slows the ordinary conversions down, and a typical photo takes a few seconds.

Is this converter free?

Yes. Every conversion on ConvertNicely is free to use, with no account, no watermark on the result and no limit on how many files you convert.

What happens to my files?

Your uploaded file is deleted from our servers the moment the conversion finishes, whether it succeeded or failed. The converted result is deleted automatically one hour later, and you can delete it yourself at any time with the Delete button.

Is there a file size limit?

Files up to 25 MB are accepted for this conversion. Larger limits apply to paid plans in future, but the free limit is generous enough for the overwhelming majority of PNG conversions.

Do I need to install anything?

No. ConvertNicely runs entirely in your browser and on our servers, so there is nothing to download or install. It works the same on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS.

Does it work on a phone?

Yes. The whole site is built mobile-first, so you can upload from your camera roll or files app, convert, and download the result without leaving your browser.

Free

Remove an Image Background

Point it at a photo with a clear subject — a person, a product, a pet — and it works out which pixels are the subject and which are behind it. You get back a PNG with everything else made transparent. The model runs on our own servers, so the picture never goes to an outside service, and your upload is deleted as soon as processing finishes.

Also known as: background remover · make background transparent · transparent PNG maker

Files up to 25 MBTypically under a minute

Drop your file hereor choose a file from your deviceJPG, PNG or WebP · up to 25 MB

Encrypted upload · deleted right after conversion

Your files are deleted automatically

Uploads are removed as soon as processing finishes, and converted files are deleted after 1 hour. Read our privacy policy.

How to remove an image background

Step 1
1. Add your file
Drag your JPG, PNG or WebP file into the box, or choose it from your device. It can be up to 25 MB.
Step 2
2. Choose your settings
Adjust Edge (Soft), or keep the starting values in brackets, which suit most files. More are under Advanced options.
Step 3
3. Press Remove background
The work happens on our servers, and you can follow its progress.
Step 4
4. Download your PNG file
Your upload is already deleted, and the result is deleted after one hour.

Worth knowing

This is a model making a judgement, not a measurement, and it is good rather than perfect. It works best on a photo with one clear subject; busy backgrounds, glass, and fine strands of hair are where it struggles. Check the result before you use it, and if there is no distinct subject it will tell you rather than hand back a blank file.

Why remove an image background?

Putting a product photo onto a plain background for a shop listing
Cutting a person out of a snapshot for a slide or a poster
Making a logo or a sign usable over any colour
Getting a profile photo ready before dropping it into a design tool

What changes

What remove an image background changes, and what it leaves alone
Property	Before	After
Background	Whatever was behind the subject	Transparent
Format	JPG, PNG or WebP	PNG
Dimensions	Original	Unchanged, unless you crop
Transparency	None in a JPG	Alpha channel

Frequently asked questions

Page updated 3 October 2026

All Image converters

Remove an Image Background

How to remove an image background

1. Add your file

2. Choose your settings

3. Press Remove background

4. Download your PNG file

Why remove an image background?

What changes

Frequently asked questions

PNG to JPG

Compress Image

Resize Image

Watermark Image

Remove an Image Background

How to remove an image background

1. Add your file

2. Choose your settings

3. Press Remove background

4. Download your PNG file

Why remove an image background?

What changes

Frequently asked questions

Is my photo sent to an outside service?

Why is the result always a PNG?

What kind of photo works best?

What is the difference between a soft and a hard edge?

Can I put a different colour behind it instead?

Why does it take a few seconds when other tools are instant?

Is this converter free?

What happens to my files?

Is there a file size limit?

Do I need to install anything?

Does it work on a phone?

Related conversions

PNG to JPG

Compress Image

Resize Image

Watermark Image