How to Remove Background in PowerPoint

Getting clean backgrounds for your images should not be a hassle. Neither does it have to be costly. Clean backgrounds are usually needed for product photos and documentation. But sometimes, these images can have cluttered backgrounds. And it might be difficult at first to edit them. Microsoft PowerPoint has sufficient features that can help you remove the background from your images. You dont need to have design skills to edit your image. Neither do you need high-tech softwares. All you need to do is follow a few simple steps. After that, export the image directly to your device.

Why Background Removal Matters in Images

Messy backgrounds pull attention away from the subject. A clean background keeps the focus where it belongs. This is not only about looks. For e-commerce sellers, marketers, and professionals, background removal plays a direct role in sales, branding, and audience trust.

• Product photos for e-commerce: Online sellers often face the problem of cluttered or dark backdrops. A transparent background showcases the product clearly. It also helps meet the strict requirements of online marketplaces like Amazon.

• Brand consistency in marketing: Businesses rely on uniform design in ads and campaigns. Background removal makes it possible to place images against branded templates or colors without distraction.

• Social media visuals: Posts on social media need to grab attention instantly. Background removal helps place the subject on engaging templates and seasonal designs that appeal to the audience.

• Faster creative workflows: Designers often waste hours fixing images manually. Quick background removal speeds up the editing process and makes it easier to reuse images in multiple campaigns.

How to Remove Background From Images in PowerPoint?

MS PowerPoint has three methods to make backgrounds transparent in PowerPoint. They can feel complex if you have never tried it out. Plus, a big limitation is that you cannot remove the background using MS PowerPoint on a smartphone. This can be done only on your desktop:

1. Using the ‘Remove Background’ Tool

The most convenient way to remove a picture background in PowerPoint is through the ‘Remove Background’ tool in MS PowerPoint. You would not find it if you were using a version below 2010. Below is the step-by-step guide that you need to follow: 

Step 1: Open MS PowerPoint and Insert an Image

Start with a blank presentation once you launch MS PowerPoint. Then, click ‘Insert’ in the top ribbon and click ‘Picture’ to import an image from your device.  

Step 2: Click ‘Remove Background’

Once the image has been inserted, you need to select it and then click ‘Remove background’ in the top left corner.

 Step 3: Use the Pen tool to adjust

The tool automatically identifies the subject and marks the background for removal. You get a pen tool to select and mark the areas that you want to remove and keep within the final image. Once the changes have been finalized, click ‘Keep Changes’.

Step 4: Download Your Image

You can download the final image by clicking ‘File’ and then ‘Save as’. 

It is important to note that sometimes, the tool might not accurately identify the edges. You can use the brush tool to keep the areas that have been wrongly removed by the tool. But if you want a faster output, you can use the X-Design AI Background Remover. This tool does not require manual removal of the background and helps you to add a new background instantly as well!

2. Using the ‘Transparent Color’ Feature

For those creators who are still wondering “how to remove the background in PowerPoint,” this tool has some more methods to remove the background of your image. If your image has a solid background, you can use the ‘Transparent Color’ feature in MS PowerPoint. This feature also helps to remove the background from text in PowerPoint. 

Step 1: Upload an Image, then choose ‘Color’

Upload an image to a blank presentation. The background color should be a solid, uniform color; otherwise, this method would not work. Then click ‘Color’ in the ribbon.

 Step 2: Click ‘Set Transparent Color’

Scroll down to the bottom of the options and choose ‘Set Transparent Color’. Then you will be provided with a digital brush tool where you can select the background.

 Step 3: Download the Image

MS PowerPoint will instantly remove the background from the image. You will get a plain, white background. Then click ‘File’ in the top left corner, then click ‘Save as’ to download the image.

3. Mask the Subject With Shapes

This is a great workaround if your image has a cluttered background that cannot be removed with the above methods. It is also suitable to remove the white background in PowerPoint.

Step 1: Import an image and add a free-form shape

Choose an image from your device, and then click ‘Insert’ and then ‘Freeform Shape’. You can also choose other shapes like squares and rectangles. 

Step 2: Mask the Subject

Using the pen tool, start marking the areas that you want to remove. Completely cover the area that you want to eliminate from the image. In the right toolbar, click ‘Gradient’ just under ‘Fill’. It will remove the original background and fill a gradient color instead. 

 Step 3: Export the Image

Upon selecting ‘Gradient fill’ or ‘solid fill’, you can export the image to your device by clicking ‘File’, then choosing ‘Save as’.

 The most effective method to remove background in MS PowerPoint is the ‘Remove Background’ feature. But sometimes, it cannot work as per your expectations. That’s when you can try out the transparent color and mask with shape features. These are some of the most effective workarounds to achieve your objective.

Best PowerPoint Alternatives to Remove Background

PowerPoint can sometimes feel ineffective if you have images with cluttered backgrounds. It is also time-consuming to remove the backgrounds one by one. That’s why you can use the below-listed tools that not only save your time, but also outsmart PowerPoint in accuracy.

1. X-Design AI Background Remover

X-Design has numerous AI-powered tools that help with 360-degree image editing. You can remove image backgrounds and also add new ones using the AI Background Generator. It is most commonly used by E-commerce sellers and design teams to create visually appealing product visuals. Here are the features of the tool:

AI Background Remover Online

X-Design allows you to remove image backgrounds instantly without any design skills. 

 Try Now For Free

• One-click background removal with utmost precision. You don’t need to have design skills to use this tool.

• Multiple file formats are supported within the tool. You can upload them from your device or use the drag-and-drop feature to add a new image to the device.

• Retains original image quality after the export. No pixels are lost or damaged during the background removal process.

• Quick download in PNG and JPG formats is available. You can use it to get a clean PNG file or move on to insert a new image background within the tool itself. 

Here’s how you can use the AI Background Remover to remove the background of your image: 

Step 1: Upload an Image

Head over to the X-Design AI Background Remover website and click ‘Upload’ on the left. You can also download the X-Design application from the Google Play Store.

Step 2: Let the AI remove the background

Your image background is removed as soon as you upload the image. The tool has been trained to identify all sorts of backgrounds and subjects. That is how it identifies the subject and separates it from the background with utmost accuracy.

Step 3: Export the image

You can apply a new image background if you choose a premade template. Or you can download the transparent image by clicking ‘Download’ in the top right corner.

That’s how you can get clean, transparent images from X-Design. Plus, the process does not need advanced designing at all. You can also try out other tools by X-Design that allow you to remove watermarks from images and create AI logos using text-based prompts. Consider X-Design a complete visual suite created to save your time and provide you with quality visuals.

2. Canva Background Remover

Canva is a popular design platform that many people use for presentations and marketing visuals. Its background remover is powered by AI and works in just one click. This feature is available in the Pro version of Canva.

Features:

• Lets you remove image backgrounds instantly with a single click.

• Comes with thousands of design templates to replace the removed background quickly.

• Works smoothly on both mobile apps and the web version.

• Includes team collaboration tools for people working on shared projects.

3. Adobe Express Background Remover

Adobe Express gives you a simplified version of Photoshop without the steep learning curve. The background remover is free to use on the web. It delivers accurate results and is suitable for anyone who needs quick, professional edits.

Features:

• Uses AI to detect and separate the subject from the background automatically.

• Let's you download clean images in transparent PNG format.

• Produces high-resolution images without reducing the original quality.

• Free to use and does not leave watermarks on the output.

4. Remove.bg

Remove.bg is one of the most recognized tools for background removal. It is designed to handle single images as well as bulk editing. This makes it useful for e-commerce and design teams who need speed and consistency.

Features:

• Fully automated AI that clears the background without manual input.

• Allows drag and drop uploads, making the process quick.

• Provides batch processing to handle many images at once.

• Supports transparent PNG downloads that are ready for design use.

5. Pixlr

Pixlr is a web-based photo editor that also comes with a background remover. It gives you more control than a simple remover tool because you can edit and enhance the image after clearing the background.

Features:

• Available online for free without requiring software downloads.

• Includes a background remover in both Pixlr X and Pixlr E editors.

• Lets you add filters and effects once the background is removed.

• Exports in JPG, PNG, and PSD formats for flexibility in design projects.

Comparing All Background Removal Tools Based on Use Cases

Choosing the right method depends on your needs. If you only want to clean up a photo inside a slide, the built-in PowerPoint remove background tool works fine. But if you need polished results for e-commerce alternatives often perform better. The table below compares each option with its best use case.

Final Word

Image background removal is a simple process. The steps listed above are ideal for beginners wondering “how to remove background in PowerPoint?” MS PowerPoint may seem like the most convenient option, but you can also try out the AI tools mentioned above. X-Design AI Background Remover is an ideal solution to remove backgrounds of images in bulk. All you need to do is use the Batch Background Remover in the designing suite, and remove the backgrounds of all your images in a single click. Plus, you can add premium backgrounds that appeal to your audience.