Published January 15, 2025 · 4 min read
How to Remove Background on Android
Android has no built-in background remover like iOS 16+, but you have several free options. Here's how to do it on any Android phone without installing an app.
Method 1 — Google Photos (limited)
Google Photos has "Magic Eraser" (Pixel-only) and some background features, but they're not universally available. In 2025, Google Photos still doesn't offer reliable background removal across all Android devices.
Skip this method unless you have a Pixel 6+ with Magic Eraser.
Method 2 — BG Remove in Chrome (recommended)
Works on any Android phone, any carrier, any year. Free, no app, produces a downloadable transparent PNG.
How to use it
- Open Chrome on your Android phone.
- Go to bgremove.site/tools/background-remover.html.
- Tap the upload zone.
- Choose "Files" or "Photos".
- Select your image.
- Wait 5–15 seconds for AI processing.
- Tap "Download Transparent PNG".
- The PNG saves to your Downloads folder.
Saving the PNG to Android
After downloading in Chrome:
- Chrome shows a download notification.
- Open the Files app or Chrome's Downloads.
- Find the PNG file in Downloads.
- Tap to open in Google Photos or any image viewer.
Transparent PNGs appear with a white or black background in most Android image viewers. The transparency is preserved when used in other apps (Canva, Keynote, Google Slides, etc.).
Adding a background color on Android
Use the Profile Picture Maker in Chrome:
- Upload the transparent PNG.
- Choose circle or square.
- Tap a background color.
- Adjust zoom and position.
- Download.
Other free options on Android
Snapchat (free, but watermark-free only on some devices)
Snapchat's "Cutout" feature removes backgrounds. Results include a Snapchat watermark on the free tier.
remove.bg app
Free app, full-resolution requires in-app purchase. Compatible with all Android versions.
PhotoRoom app
Free with watermark on exports. Paid tier removes watermark.
Canva app
Canva mobile has background removal but requires Canva Pro subscription.
Best practices for Android
- Use Chrome rather than other browsers for best compatibility.
- Check mobile data usage if uploading large images.
- Close background apps if your phone is low on memory — large images can exceed available RAM.
- Use Wi-Fi for uploads to avoid data charges.
Frequently asked questions
Does Google Photos remove backgrounds?
Only on Pixel 6+ with Magic Eraser (which removes objects, not always backgrounds). Google Photos on other Android phones does not have reliable background removal.
Can I batch process on Android?
No. Process one image at a time. Batch processing is on our roadmap.
Does BG Remove work offline?
Browser tools (compressor, resizer, cropper) work offline after the page loads. The AI background remover requires internet.
Is my image uploaded?
For the AI background remover, yes — but only temporarily for processing. See our Privacy Policy. All other tools process locally on your phone.