My Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Backgrounds from Profile Pictures in Windows Photos
To be honest, messing around with background removal used to feel like a bit of a chore—especially if you didn’t want to faff around with Adobe or other pricey software. I was pretty surprised when I discovered that Windows’ Photos app actually has a built-in background removal feature. The catch? It’s not exactly straightforward, and the labels can be a bit confusing. After a few attempts, lots of clicking around, and some trial and error, I figured out how it works. Here’s what I learnt along the way.
Loading your image into the Photos app
First up, open the photo you want to edit—whether it’s a profile shot or any image with a background you want gone. Right-click the image file and choose Open with > Photos. If Photos isn’t your default viewer, you might need to find it in the Start menu or go through Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Photos and pin it for quicker access. The app can be a bit temperamental at times; it might not show the editing options immediately or could lag when opening larger images. Once your photo loads, look for a small pencil icon or a menu labelled Edit Image. Sometimes, pressing Ctrl + E works if you’re lucky, but most of the time, it doesn’t do anything. I usually just click around until I see the edit option or the toolbar at the top, then select it.
Finding and using the background removal tools
This was where I hit a bit of a snag. In the editing window, I finally found the real star—something called Background Blur. Sounds pretty dull, right? But in recent updates, this feature actually includes options to remove the background entirely. When you click on it, a menu pops up with choices like blur, remove, or replace. Selecting Remove is meant to wipe out the background completely. That said, it doesn’t always work perfectly—especially if the background’s busy or the colours are similar to your subject. On my older ASUS laptop, this feature was tucked away in Advanced settings, and on some builds, it’s a bit hidden or requires toggling a checkbox.
Just a heads-up: removing the background can be tricky if you’re using features like BitLocker. Removing TPM or formatting your drive in BIOS might trigger a reset of your TPM or delete stored recovery keys—so be cautious. If the background removal isn’t spot-on, the app can leave behind artefacts or tiny bits of the original background. It’s not always precise, but for quick edits, it does the job reasonably well.
Refining the cutout with manual brushes
The automatic removal isn’t foolproof—welcome to the club, right? So I found that turning on the Brush Tool is often necessary. It might be labelled as Manual Cleanup or just have a paintbrush icon. The trick is to enable it and then adjust the brush size and softness. You’ll see sliders or a gear icon for settings. Sometimes, it’s best to switch to a smaller, more precise brush, especially around hair or tricky edges. I’d paint over missed spots in subtract mode or add areas accidentally removed, toggling between tools as needed. It’s a bit clunky, but once you get used to it, it’s manageable—just don’t expect perfect results straight away. Zooming in helps a lot, and I often go pixel-by-pixel to tidy things up.
Saving your edited image
Once you’re happy with the result, it’s time to save. There’s usually a Save button or a Save As option. I prefer to choose Save As to avoid overwriting the original, just in case. Otherwise, the app might save over your original image—something you definitely want to avoid. Alternatively, you can copy the edited image to your clipboard (Ctrl + C) and paste it into another app like Paint, Word, or Photoshop for extra editing or exporting.
Tips and things to watch out for
Overall, I was quite surprised by how handy this background removal feature is, but it’s far from perfect. Complex backgrounds or similar colours can trip it up. Sometimes, artefacts linger around hair or semi-transparent edges. So don’t expect flawless removal every time. If it’s important, many folks turn to third-party tools like GIMP or online editors such as remove.bg for better accuracy. But for a quick, built-in option, once you get the hang of the interface, it’s pretty usable.
To sum up: open your photo in Photos, choose edit options, select background removal, refine with the brush tool if needed, then save or copy. Keep in mind—automatic background removal especially on complex images might take a few attempts, zooming in, and tweaking settings. And a quick warning—tinkering with BIOS settings or TPM can be risky. Clearing your TPM can wipe out recovery keys, which might lock you out of encrypted drives or BitLocker. Always back up your data before changing firmware settings.
At first, I found the labels and options a bit confusing, and updates can shuffle things around. But once I sorted out manual cleanup, I didn’t need to install any third-party apps. Still, it’s not perfect—be prepared for some trial and error. For highly detailed backgrounds, dedicated tools are the best option. Hope this helps—took me ages to figure it out! Good luck, and double-check everything before overwriting your original images!