Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.
Scan My Drivers Free →Free scan · exact hardware match
ThatPainter is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More
Microsoft Photos is the best first choice for most Windows 11 users: open the image, select Edit image, choose Background, select Remove, and save a PNG copy. Photos also lets you refine the mask and performs background separation locally. Three other useful methods are Paint Object Select on compatible Copilot+ PCs, Remove Background in Microsoft Office, and the online Microsoft Designer editor.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute#1 Best Overall
- Wide Compatibility for Multiple Devices: Works seamlessly with Samsung, iOS, Android, Chromebook, Smartphone, and other touchscreen devices. No drivers are needed- simply open and play, ensuring compatibility with a variety of tablets and smartphones. No Charging Required, Ready Anytime.
- High-Precision Touch for Smooth Writing & Drawing: Featuring advanced capacitive technology, this stylus pen offers high sensitivity and precision, delivering a smooth, real-pen experience perfect for writing, sketching, note-taking, and more.
- Ergonomic Design for Comfortable Grip: Crafted with a lightweight and durable body, the stylus is designed for long periods of comfortable use. Whether you’re creating, studying, or performing everyday tasks, it ensures a pleasant grip.
- Scratch-Resistant & Durable, Protects Your Screen: Equipped with a soft, high-quality Disc tip that ensures smooth touch without scratching the screen, keeping your device’s display in pristine condition while providing a seamless user experience.
- A great gift: Get 3 different colors of styluses at an unbeatable price instead of a high-priced pencil. You can share these stylus pens with your friends or family.
For most Windows 11 users, Microsoft Photos is the best first method: open the picture, choose Edit image, open Background, select Remove, and save the result as a PNG copy. Photos performs its background separation locally on the device. If Photos does not offer the control you need, use Paint on a compatible Copilot+ PC, Microsoft Office, or Microsoft Designer.
The right choice depends on where the image is and what you plan to do with the cutout:
| Situation | Best choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want a built-in Windows tool | Microsoft Photos | Simple workflow with automatic and brush-based refinement; background separation is performed locally. |
| You have a Copilot+ PC | Paint Object Select | Isolates an object directly in Paint, provided the feature is available on your PC. |
| The image is already in a document or slide | Microsoft Office | Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and other supported apps include Remove Background in Picture Format. |
| You want online design tools and templates | Microsoft Designer | Can remove or blur a background and continue into a broader online design workflow. |
| The cutout is going into a video | Clipchamp | Removes an image background directly on the video timeline. |
Before you start: preserve transparency and the original
Keep the untouched image until you have inspected the cutout. Automatic tools usually work best when the subject has a clear outline and contrasts with the background. Hair, fur, fingers, thin wires, plant stems, glass, shadows, and overlapping objects are more likely to need manual correction.
When you need the removed area to remain transparent, save the result as PNG. JPEG does not preserve transparency and will normally replace the transparent area with a solid background. If you are placing the cutout over another image, open the saved file on that background to check for halos, missing edges, or an unwanted white fill.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
1. Remove the background in Microsoft Photos
Best for: a quick, built-in Windows 11 workflow, especially when you prefer not to upload the image to an online service.
- Open the Photos app.
- Open the image. Do not leave it only in the gallery view.
- Select Edit image.
- Open the Background panel.
- Allow Photos to automatically identify the background.
- Choose Remove.
- Select Apply, then save the result as a copy.
Photos also provides Blur and Replace background actions. Replace can apply a selected color instead of leaving the background transparent-looking.
Refine the selection in Photos
If the automatic result removes part of the subject or leaves background fragments behind, turn on the background brush. Use:
- Add mask to identify areas that should be removed as background.
- Remove mask to restore subject details that Photos selected incorrectly.
Work around the outline at a useful zoom level rather than trying to correct every pixel immediately. Pay particular attention to hair, narrow gaps between fingers, shoe laces, and the edge of dark objects against dark backgrounds.
Photos limitations
The exact controls can differ according to the installed Photos version and Microsoft’s feature rollout. Windows may also have Photos Legacy installed, while the newer Photos experience has moved video-editing responsibilities to Clipchamp. If the Background panel is missing, update Photos through the Microsoft Store if an update is available, confirm that you opened the image itself, and then try one of the other methods below.
Rank #2
- [Wide Compatibility]-This stylus pen for touchscreen is for capacitive screen electronic product and is specially designed for Android device on the market.The iphone stylus pen is suit with suit with XiaoMi/Huawei/Vivo/Lenovo/Pixel/iPhone 6-15 ,Amazon Fire Series tablet and more other android devices. Some compatible device models- Galaxy Tab A9/A9+/S9/S23 FE/S24/S25/Z Fold5/Z Fold 6/A13 /A25/ (Note: This lenovo pen is not compatible with Microsoft devices,Apple iPad,Kindle devices,Windows,Laptop,S7+, tab s4,S10 and One note app. Please check your device model before placing an order.
- 【Smart Touch Switch & Power Save】-The touch screen pen stylus is easy to use: just double-tap the top of the android tablet capacitive stylus pen . There's no need for drivers or bluetooth settings. This iphone pen uses the USB-C charging port,just 35 minutes of charging will give you 8-10 hours of operation.Our digital pen has smart energy-saving feature, automatically turn to "sleep mode" after 5 minutes of inactivity and avoid unnecessary battery consumption.
- 【High Precise and Sensitive】-The pom tip of the stylist pen is wear-resistant,designed for professionals who need high precision and accuracy,is a great feature for anyone who uses a stylus pen android for designing work or drawing. They are very smooth and high responseon the screen, without lag or jumping.Luntak android stylus pen also a great gift for family and friends who love to create.
- 【Magnetic Absorption】-The magnetic feature is a great convenience for users who want to keep their samsung pen close at hand and prevent it from getting lost，more portable and more easier to organize.（Note: The magnetic function requires a built-in magnet on your tablet; otherwise, it cannot be attached. The magnetic surfaces of other tablets may not be a perfect fit.)
- 【What You Get】-Our tablet pens for touch screen set includes：1* stylist pens，3* Replaceable POM Tips，1* Type-C charging cable，1* User Manual.We support 1-year product warranty and 1-month free return and exchange policy for our pen with stylus tip. If you encounter any issues, please don't hesitate to contact us. Please note the apple pens does not support palm rejection, so avoid touching the screen with your hands.Does not support pressure sensitivity.
2. Use Object Select in Paint on a Copilot+ PC
Best for: isolating an individual object directly in Paint when you have a compatible Copilot+ PC and the current Paint feature is available.
Important: Object Select is not a feature guaranteed on every Windows 11 computer. Microsoft documents it as a Copilot+ PC capability. If you do not see it in Paint, use Photos, Office, Designer, or Clipchamp instead.
- Open the image in Paint.
- Choose Object select from the Paint toolbar.
- Click the object or subject you want to isolate.
- Use the resulting selection to copy, move, erase, or otherwise edit the object.
- Paste it onto a new canvas or save it in a format that preserves transparency, such as PNG.
Paint’s AI-assisted object detection is designed to identify and isolate individual elements. The relevant Copilot+ functionality uses the PC’s neural processing unit for local processing, but Microsoft also notes that a Microsoft account and internet connection are required for cloud safety services. That makes this different from treating Paint as a completely offline workflow.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteIf Object Select is missing
Check whether Windows and Paint are up to date, and verify that the computer is actually a Copilot+ PC. Hardware alone is not enough if the feature has not reached the installed app version or the relevant rollout. Do not install an unrelated utility merely because a tutorial shows a Paint button that your version does not have; Photos is usually the simpler fallback.
3. Remove the background in Microsoft Office
Best for: pictures that are already in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, or another supported Microsoft Office application.
- Insert the image into the document, presentation, workbook, or message, or select an image that is already there.
- Open the Picture Format tab.
- Select Remove Background.
- Office marks the area it expects to remove in magenta.
- Select Mark Areas to Keep and draw over subject details that were selected incorrectly.
- Select Mark Areas to Remove and mark background areas that remain.
- Select Keep Changes.
Office is particularly convenient when the picture is already part of a slide or document. It is less convenient than Photos if you are starting with a standalone image and do not otherwise need an Office file.
Save the Office cutout as a separate image
Right-click the edited picture and choose Save as Picture. Select PNG when you need transparency. If the file is still inside a document, do not assume that the document’s visual result is the same as an exported standalone image; open the saved file separately and verify it.
Recommended Free Tools
Office file-format limitation
Remove Background is unavailable for some vector formats, including SVG, AI, WMF, and DRW. If the command is disabled, convert or rasterize the artwork first, or use a tool intended for that file type.
4. Remove the background with Microsoft Designer
Best for: users who want background removal alongside templates, text, filters, object selection, erasing, social graphics, or background replacement.
Rank #3
- Stylus Pen for Touchscreen: No Bluetooth or charging needed—use instantly on any capacitive touch screen (iPad, iPhone, Android, Samsung). Dual rubber tips (5mm/6.6mm) ensure precise control for writing, drawing, or gaming. Lightweight aluminum body with vibrant colors.
- Precision & Comfort Redefined: High sensitivity rubber tip glides smoothly without lag or scratches. Ergonomic design reduces wrist strain for extended use. Compatible with tablets, phones, and Laptops.
- Dual-Tip Flexibility: Switch between 0.20” and 0.26” rubber nibs for detailed art or bold notes. Anti-scratch, fingerprint-resistant tip. Pretty bright metal colors inspire creativity.
- Effortless Multi-Device Compatibility: Works seamlessly on Apple, Samsung, Android, and more. No apps or setup—just pick up and write. Perfect for notes, games, or gifts—ready to spark ideas instantly. Replaceable tips included for long-term use.
- Creative Freedom, Anywhere: Lightweight aluminum stylus with natural grip. Includes 6 replaceable tips and 3 color stylus pens. Perfect for sharing with friends, family, or colleagues, this bundle ensures you’re always equipped to capture inspiration.
- Open the image in Photos.
- Select the Designer icon in the title bar.
- Use Designer’s image-editing controls to remove or blur the background.
- Download the result, or continue editing it in Designer.
This is an online workflow. The Photos-to-Designer integration requires an internet connection, so it is not the appropriate choice for an image that must stay entirely on the PC. Designer also has a separate licensing consideration: Microsoft’s Designer FAQ describes the service as licensed for personal, non-commercial use. For business work, client projects, product listings, or monetized content, review the current Microsoft terms and choose a service whose license covers the intended use.
Additional option: remove a still-image background in Clipchamp
Clipchamp is worth using when the cutout will become part of a video rather than a standalone picture. Microsoft documents the feature for personal and work accounts.
- Import the image into Clipchamp, or connect OneDrive and select the image.
- Drag the image onto the timeline.
- Select the image clip.
- Open the right-click menu, the three-dot toolbar menu, or the Effects panel.
- Choose Remove background.
- Place another image or video beneath the cutout on the timeline if you want a replacement background.
Clipchamp treats the result as a transparent background within the video project. It is therefore a better fit than Photos when the final output is a video composition, but it adds unnecessary steps if all you need is a transparent PNG.
Need a browser-based alternative?
If you want a straightforward web workflow, Adobe Express can automatically remove an image background and export a transparent PNG. Its documented input formats are JPEG, JPG, PNG, and WebP, with a file-size limit of 40 MB.
- Open Adobe Express’s background-removal tool.
- Upload a supported image within the documented size limit.
- Let the tool process the image.
- Download the result as a transparent PNG.
Because the image is uploaded to an external service, do not treat this as a local or automatically private workflow. Be especially careful with confidential documents, personal photographs, unreleased artwork, and client material. Adobe Express may also be useful if you need templates or social-media layouts after removing the background. If you promote it, verify current country availability, terms, and program approval requirements before publication; affiliate availability is not necessarily universal.
How to choose between the methods
- Choose Photos for the simplest built-in solution and local background separation.
- Choose Paint only when Object Select is present on your compatible Copilot+ PC and you want to work inside Paint.
- Choose Office when the image is already in a Word document, PowerPoint presentation, Excel workbook, or supported Office app.
- Choose Designer when you need online design features, but remember the internet requirement and personal, non-commercial licensing caveat.
- Choose Clipchamp when the image is going into a video timeline.
- Choose Adobe Express when a browser-based transparent-PNG workflow and additional design tools are more useful than local processing.
Troubleshooting imperfect cutouts
The tool removed part of the subject
Use the tool’s keep or restore control where available. In Photos, refine with Remove mask; in Office, use Mark Areas to Keep. Make smaller strokes around the affected edge instead of repainting a large area.
Background fragments remain
Use the remove or background mask control on the leftover patches. Check spaces between limbs and objects, the area under a subject, and shadows that the automatic tool may interpret as part of the subject.
The saved file has a white background
Confirm that you exported or saved as PNG and that the application did not flatten the result against a canvas color. Reopen the file over a contrasting background. A checkerboard preview is common for transparency, but the exact preview depends on the application.
Edges have a pale or dark halo
Halos usually come from background pixels included around the subject. Refine the mask closer to the true edge, then inspect the result against both a light and a dark replacement background. Hair and semi-transparent objects may require more specialized editing than an automatic remover can provide.
Rank #4
- 【Stylus for Touch Screen】This stylus can be used on touch screen, designed to replace your fingers, the stylus can free up your fingers and provide higher sensitivity and response on the screen.
- 【Capacitive stylus】This is a capacitive stylus (battery-free, requires no charging, and functions like a fingertip)—not an active stylus. It does not support pressure sensitivity or palm rejection. However, it allows for tapping, scrolling, note-taking, and drawing on touchscreens; if you require professional-grade drawing capabilities on an iPad, please choose an active stylus instead.
- 【2-in-1 Stylus Pen】This stylus features two different tips: a flexible transparent disc tip and a rubber tip. Applying moderate pressure when using the rubber tip ensures full contact with the screen—especially on screens with protective films—thereby enabling stable signal transmission. The combination of the rubber tip and the disc tip offers two distinct touch experiences.Please note that the plastic piece on the transparent disc is an integral part of the tip and cannot be removed.
- 【Works On Capacitive Touch Screens】Compatible with iPad, iPad Air/mini, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Android tablets, Kindle and smartphones. Also works over most screen protectors — glide, no scratch. The stylus is used to replace your fingers on a touchscreen, Avoid rubbing your fingers and leaving fingerprints on touchscreen devices. If it cannot be used for writing on some devices, This may be due to limitations in the settings of touchscreen devices. If you cannot find a solution, please contact us at any time, and we will help you resolve the issue.
- 【Multiple Usage Scenarios】Whether you are taking notes in class, reviewing documents at work, drawing creative designs, or enjoying mobile games, this universal stylus pen delivers a smooth and comfortable touch experience. It is ideal for writing, sketching, annotating, scrolling, and precise screen control on tablets and smartphones. From daily tasks to creative projects, this stylus helps you capture ideas anytime and anywhere.
Privacy matters more than convenience
Use Photos when local processing is important. Paint’s Copilot+ processing is hardware-dependent and Microsoft still identifies account and internet requirements for cloud safety services. Designer and browser tools such as Adobe Express are online workflows. Do not upload sensitive images simply because an online tool is faster.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Bottom line
Start with Microsoft Photos: it is the clearest Windows 11 option for most standalone images, includes automatic selection and mask refinement, and performs background separation locally. Use Paint Object Select only if your Copilot+ PC exposes that feature, use Office when the image is already in a document, and use Designer when online design features justify the internet and licensing trade-offs. For video projects, move the image into Clipchamp. Whichever method you use, inspect fine edges and keep the original until the transparent result is confirmed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to remove an image background in Windows 11?
Microsoft Photos is the best first choice for most standalone images because its current editor includes automatic background removal, mask refinement, and local background separation. If the Background panel is unavailable in your version, try Office, Designer, or Clipchamp.
How do I save a Windows 11 cutout with a transparent background?
Save the edited image as a PNG. PNG preserves transparency, while JPEG normally replaces transparent areas with a solid color.
Does every Windows 11 PC have Paint Object Select?
No. Microsoft documents Paint Object Select as a Copilot+ PC feature, so it is not guaranteed on every Windows 11 computer. Update Paint and check whether Object Select appears; otherwise use Photos or another method.
Which background-removal method is the most private?
Photos performs background separation locally. Designer and browser-based services such as Adobe Express are online workflows, and Paint’s Copilot+ features have additional account and internet requirements for cloud safety services.
Can I use Microsoft Designer’s background removal for commercial work?
Yes, but Microsoft’s Designer FAQ describes Designer as licensed for personal, non-commercial use. Review the current terms before using it for business, client, product-listing, or monetized work.
The Bottom Line
Best overall: Microsoft Photos. It is built into the Windows 11 workflow, supports automatic and manual background refinement, and performs separation locally. Save the finished cutout as a PNG, inspect difficult edges, and keep the original image.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
