How to Use Photoshop’s AI Background Remover (Online, Desktop, and Mobile)

Looking for an AI background remover that actually works?

Whether you’re a complete beginner looking for an easy way to remove a background, or a seasoned Photoshop user wondering why there isn’t a one-click solution, this article is for you.

Photoshop now has a powerful AI Background Remover that’s more precise and offers greater control than any free online tool I’ve tested.

And I know what you’re thinking – Photoshop isn’t online or free… except that it is!

If this sounds exactly like what you’ve been looking for, keep on reading!

What is Photoshop AI Background Remover?

An AI Background Remover is a feature that selects and isolates the subject with a single click.

The one in Photoshop is one of the newly developed Quick Actions, and it’s available in all versions: web, desktop, and mobile.

How to use Photoshop AI Background Remover on Web?

Photoshop AI Background Remover is available as a free web tool that you can use in any browser.

To use this feature, you can go directly to the Background Remover, or you can go to Photoshop web and click on Remove background in the Quick Edits.

Then, upload your file by dragging it into the tool, or by using the traditional browser window. You can upload images from your devices, Google Drive, or Lightroom.

Whichever method you choose, your image will open in Photoshop Web.

It’s important to note that you’ll need to sign in, but you can use a free account.

Now, all you need to do is click on Remove Background, which is right below the image. That’s how easy it is!

If you go to the Layers panel, you’ll notice that the background wasn’t erased; it was masked. This means you can fine-tune the mask as needed.

Once you’re satisfied, you can export the image for free and without watermarks.

The available formats are JPG, PNG, TIFF, and WebP. Remember that only PNG preserves the background transparency if you need to keep the subject isolated.

Some other Photoshop tools are available for free users, but generating a new background, for example, requires a paid Adobe subscription.

Why Use the AI Background Remover in Photoshop Web?

Using the AI background remover in Photoshop Web lets you work on any computer with an internet connection in the most popular browsers.

This flexibility allows you to work wherever you are – even on a shared computer.

Another key advantage is that you can use the AI background remover for free. Plus, unlike other online solutions, it also allows for free downloads without compression or watermarks.

Photoshop Web offers high-quality results and many features of the desktop versions, with the flexibility of working wherever, whenever.

How to use Photoshop AI Background Remover on Desktop?

Unlike Photoshop Web and Photoshop Express, the desktop version of Photoshop doesn’t have a free or freemium option.

So, you need to subscribe to a Creative Cloud plan that includes Photoshop and install it on your computer. There is a 7-day free trial, though.

Since its inception, Photoshop has offered many advanced selection tools to help you remove backgrounds.

Now that AI tools have become part of the regular workflow, Adobe has added a Remove Background button to the floating contextual bar.

Word is that Adobe is currently testing Quick Actions in Photoshop Beta, including tools like Remove Background and Crop.

Anyone with a Creative Cloud plan that includes Photoshop can download and use Photoshop Beta — it isn’t limited to a selected group, so you’re free to try it out.

Whether you’re using the Background Remove button in Photoshop or Quick Actions in Photoshop Beta, the process is non-destructive. So, the background is still there – it simply creates a Layer Mask.

You can now fine-tune the selection if necessary, or continue editing your photo with all the software’s available tools.

Best Uses for Photoshop Desktop

Photoshop for desktop is your best choice when your background removal needs to meet professional-grade standards. The result is fast and precise.

Not only do you have more control over the results, but it’s also fully integrated with Photoshop’s advanced editing tools. This is why it’s ideal even for the most complex projects.

Using Photoshop is also the best tool to work on high-resolution projects because you won’t have any size limitations, and the processing is happening on your computer – you don’t need a fast internet connection.

You should definitely use Photoshop on your computer if you’re working on commercial or fine-art projects.

How to use Photoshop AI Background Remover on Mobile?

While you can use the Photoshop Background Remover on any device via the browser, you can also use the Photoshop Express mobile app for easier access.

As with the Photoshop Web version, you can use this feature with a free Adobe account.

Once you launch the app, scroll down to the Quick Actions section. Here, tap on Replace BG.

Then choose the image you want to use, and you’ll automatically see a thumbnail below it with the subject isolated and the option to Remove.

Tap on it, and you’ll see the effect on the actual image. You can tap it again to restore the background if needed.

From here, you can export your image or continue with your edits in Photoshop Web and Photoshop desktop.

Mobile Use Cases

Photoshop for mobile (Adobe Photoshop Express) is built for creators who need to make precision and high-quality edits to their photographs. Having an AI Background Remover is certainly a tool that can save you time and effort.

You can easily remove the background as part of your edits if you are working on a composite or you need to generate a new background. It’s also ideal if you want to adjust the subject’s light and color before or after you make the cutout.

However, one of the most common mobile use cases is creating social media content. You can certainly use Photoshop Express for this purpose – not just its AI Background Remover, but also the text tool, stickers, borders, and other assets.

That said, the Adobe Express app is often a better option if you want to create stickers, posts, reels, or stories. You can use its AI Background Remover, which is also free.

Photoshop vs Free Online Background Removers

You can find plenty of free online AI background removers. So, what makes Photoshop’s AI Background Remover any different?

Accuracy and edge detection

I’ve tried a fair share of free, online background removers, and most of them struggled with complex backgrounds or soft edges. In my experience, Photoshop delivers far superior outcomes and the most consistent results.

Editing control and flexibility

Another advantage is that Photoshop’s background removal is a non-destructive edit.

This tool creates a layer mask that you can adjust at any time. You can also remove it if you change your mind and decide to use the original background.

There are also plenty of selection tools – both AI-powered and traditional ones so you can make the mask to pixel-level precision. Most free tools offer only a brush tool, which is not very effective for complex subjects like hair, fur, semi-transparent objects, or blurry edges.

They also don’t offer layered editing or the possibility to restore the background once you accept the edit.

High resolution

If you need to work with large files or professional-grade file formats such as raw images, this is often not supported by online AI Background Removers.

In most cases, the supported file formats are JPEG or PNG, but not raw files. This is a problem because it limits the information you have about your image for further editing.

Also, there’s often a file-size limit on both input and output files.

Photoshop, even on its web version, supports all file types and doesn’t have a size limit.

Privacy and security

When using free online services, you often don’t know how your images are being used, how long they’re stored, etc.

Other times, you need to accept that your images are being used for AI training in order to use the free version of the software.

Adobe, on the other hand, has a clear disclaimer that reassures you that your images aren’t being used for AI training.

Integration with creative workflows

Last but not least, all versions of Photoshop can be connected via the Creative Cloud.

If you start editing a photo on your phone or in Photoshop on the web while travelling or on location, you can pick up exactly where you left off once you’re back at your computer and continue working in the desktop version of Photoshop.

Photoshop not only allows cross-device editing, but is also integrated with the entire Adobe Ecosystem. This means that you can share, reuse, and update files across all the Adobe apps, either on your own or collaboratively with your team.

Access to specific apps and collaboration features depends on the subscription, but the workflow itself is designed to run smoothly across the ecosystem.