How to Remove the Background From a Picture in Word

Desktop versions of Microsoft Word include a built-in Remove Background tool. It detects the main subject of a photo and makes the rest of the image transparent. You can then mark areas to keep or remove until the cutout looks right. The tool works on raster images such as photos and screenshots. It works best when the subject clearly contrasts with its surroundings. Menu names and availability can differ between Word versions and platforms, so check your own version if a command described here is missing.

The short answer

Select the picture, open the Picture Format tab and choose Remove Background. Word shades the parts it plans to remove. Adjust the selection with Mark Areas to Keep and Mark Areas to Remove, then choose Keep Changes. The original image stays in the document, so you can undo or redo the edit later.

Step-by-step: removing a background in Word

• 1. Insert the image into your document, or click an image that is already there to select it.
• 2. Open the Picture Format tab on the ribbon. This tab appears only while a picture is selected. Some older versions label it Format under Picture Tools.
• 3. Choose Remove Background, usually at the left end of the tab. Word opens a Background Removal tab and shades the areas it will delete, typically in magenta.
• 4. If Word removed part of the subject, choose Mark Areas to Keep and draw over those parts.
• 5. If background is still visible, choose Mark Areas to Remove and draw over those parts.
• 6. Choose Keep Changes to apply the result. To start over, choose Discard All Changes.

Check the result: click outside the picture and look at its edges against the page. Any leftover background will show as a halo or patches around the subject. If you see them, select the picture again, reopen Remove Background and refine the marks.

Alternative for solid-color backgrounds: Set Transparent Color

If the background is a single flat color, such as a white logo backdrop, Word's Set Transparent Color option can be quicker. You'll usually find it under the Color menu on the Picture Format tab. Select it, then click the color you want to remove. It removes only that exact color. Gradients, shadows and photographic backgrounds will therefore leave remnants, and any matching color inside the subject will also turn transparent.

Limitations to expect

• Results depend on contrast. Hair, fur, glass and subjects that blend into the background often need heavy manual marking or remain imperfect.
• The tool is meant for photos and other raster images. It may be unavailable for vector graphics such as icons, shapes and SVG files.
• Feature availability can differ between Word for Windows, Word for Mac and Word for the web. Confirm what your version and subscription offer; this guide does not cover every release.
• The edit applies only inside the document. To reuse the cutout elsewhere, try right-clicking the picture and choosing Save as Picture. Whether transparency is preserved depends on the file format you choose.

Does this affect webcam video or audio?

No. Removing a background in Word edits a still image inside a document. It has no effect on your webcam feed, your virtual camera or the microphone you use for calls, and it won't change how your speech is captured. If you want to replace the background behind you during a live video call, use the background or virtual camera settings in your conferencing app or camera software. Those are separate controls from Word's picture tools.

Evidence gaps

No version-specific documentation, test results or screenshots were supplied for this guide. The steps above reflect the commonly documented layout of the desktop Word ribbon. Exact labels, icon positions and support in Word for the web or on mobile may differ in your installation.