Microsoft on Thursday rolled out an update for the Paint app in Windows 11, which allows you to remove the background of any image automatically with a single click leaving a smooth cut-out of the subject.

The feature is rolling out to Windows 11 Insiders builds in the Canary and Dev Channels (version 11.2306.30.0) of the Paint app.

“Today we are beginning to roll out an update for the Paint app to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels,” Microsoft’s Dave Grochocki announced in the Windows Insider Blog.

“With this update, we are introducing background removal. With background removal, you can now remove the background of any image automatically in just one click leaving a smooth cutout of the subject. Background removal can detect the subject from the entire canvas or from a selection using the selection tool.”

For those unaware, Microsoft Paint, also called MS Paint, a free graphics editor, allows people to create picture files, edit picture files, as well as view picture files saved on their computer. It also allows you to add texts to images saved on a computer.

This new Paint app update adds a background removal feature, which can detect the subject from the entire image. It can identify the subject from the entire canvas or from a selection using the selection tool.

Here’s How The Background Removal Works In Paint

  • To get started, you need to install the latest version of the Paint app (version 11.2306.30.0 or above) on your Windows 11 device.
  • Once installed, the new “Remove Background” button will appear in the “Image” section of the toolbar, right next to the selection tool.
  • Paste an image or import a photo onto the blank canvas of the Paint app.
  • Click on the new “Remove Background” button. This will automatically separate the subject in the image and remove the entire background surrounding it, leaving the subject in focus.

Additionally, you can also manually select an area that you want to remove the background from by using the rectangle select feature.

If you are in the Canary or Dev channels, you can go to the Microsoft Store to download the latest update of the Paint app. Do note that Microsoft yesterday released an earlier version of this update (version 11.2306.28.0), which included a bug where a confidentiality banner is shown.

However, the newer update (version 11.2306.30.0) of the Paint app released after the aforementioned update has corrected the issue. Please make sure to download this update before using the Paint app.

Currently, the background removal feature is only available to the Windows Insiders program and is most likely to roll out to all users at a later date.