Background removal used to require Photoshop. Now you can do it on your Android phone in seconds — for free. Here are the three best methods, from the fastest one-tap tools to more precise editing.
Short Answer: The easiest method: Google Photos has a built-in background blur/removal tool for Pixel phones and newer Android devices. For any Android phone, Remove.bg (website or app) removes backgrounds with one tap, accurately, for free. Canva’s background remover (Canva Pro) is best for re-compositing onto a new background.
Method 1: Google Photos Magic Eraser / Photo Unblur (Pixel and Some Android)
On Google Pixel phones and select Android devices, Google Photos includes a suite of editing tools powered by AI:
- Open Google Photos and tap the photo you want to edit
- Tap the Edit button (pencil icon)
- Scroll through the editing tools at the bottom to find Magic Eraser
- Magic Eraser lets you erase background objects by circling or tapping them
- For background blur (portrait blur): tap Portrait in the tools bar
Note: Full background removal (making it transparent) isn’t available directly in Google Photos — for complete removal you need the tools below.
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Google Photos edit screen showing Magic Eraser tool selected with an object circled for removal
Method 2: Remove.bg — Best for Clean Background Removal
Remove.bg is the most accurate background removal tool available, free, and works directly in your browser on your phone. It uses AI that’s particularly good at hair and complex edges.
- Open remove.bg in Chrome on your phone
- Tap Upload Image and select your photo
- The tool removes the background automatically in 5–10 seconds
- Tap Download to save the transparent PNG
Free tier: downloads at reduced resolution (sufficient for most digital use). Pay for full-resolution downloads or use the app.
📸 SCREENSHOT NEEDED: Remove.bg website on mobile browser showing before/after of a person photo with background removed
Method 3: Background Eraser App
Background Eraser (free on Play Store) gives you manual control — useful when automated tools get edges wrong. You paint over the background to erase it or tap areas to select and delete:
- Install Background Eraser from Play Store
- Load your photo
- Use Auto Remove for quick AI-based removal, or Manual Erase to paint over areas
- Use the Smooth edge tool to refine rough edges
- Export as PNG (transparent background) or with a new background colour
Method 4: Canva (Best for Replacing Background)
If your goal is to remove the background and replace it with something else — a new colour, a different photo, a pattern — Canva is the best tool. However, the Background Remover is a Canva Pro feature ($13/month).
Workflow: Upload photo to Canva → Edit → Background Remover → drag the result over a new background element.
Fastest result:
Open remove.bg in phone browser → Upload photo → auto-removes background → Download PNG
Warning: Background removal works best when there is strong contrast between the subject and background. Photos with flat, single-colour backgrounds (white, grey, blue sky) give the cleanest results. Complex backgrounds with similar colours to the subject take more manual cleanup.
Quick checklist:
- ✅ Used remove.bg for fast, accurate results on any Android phone
- ✅ Tried the Background Eraser app for manual control over complex edges
- ✅ Exported as PNG (not JPEG) to preserve the transparent background
- ✅ Verified edges around hair and thin objects before using the result
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app gives the best background removal for hair?
Remove.bg is consistently the best for hair — its AI handles fine strands and complex flyaways better than most alternatives. For very curly or frizzy hair, you may need to do minor touch-ups in Background Eraser afterward.
Can I remove background without an app on Android?
Yes — use remove.bg in Chrome (no app install needed). For Google Pixel phones, Google Photos’ Magic Eraser removes specific objects from backgrounds. Neither gives a fully transparent PNG without downloading an image though.
Does background removal work on product photos?
Very well. Remove.bg is actually used by many e-commerce sellers to create white-background product photos. Product shots with clear subject edges (boxes, bottles, electronics) give near-perfect results automatically.
How do I put a new background on a photo after removing the original?
Save the removed-background image as a PNG, then import it into Canva or PicsArt. Add a new background layer below your subject and adjust positioning. Canva handles this workflow the most cleanly of the Android-accessible tools.
Conclusion
Remove.bg in your phone’s browser is the fastest and most accurate option — no app download required. Background Eraser is worth installing for manual control when the automatic results aren’t quite right. Canva Pro is the right choice if you need to composite onto a new background as part of a design.
For more Android photo tips, see our guides on the best photo editing apps and smartphone camera tips.