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In Windows Photos, open the picture, select Edit image, then Background. Photos selects the background automatically; refine its mask if necessary, choose Blur, Remove, or Replace, and apply the change. Replace fills the area with a color you choose, including a custom RGB color—it is not a control for placing another photograph behind your subject.
Change a photo background in Windows Photos
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Open the image in Microsoft Photos and select Edit image. Microsoft lists Ctrl+E as the editing shortcut.
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Open Background. Photos automatically selects the background using AI; Microsoft says this separation runs locally on your device.
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If needed, turn on the background brush and refine the selection. Choose Add mask to include missed background areas or Remove mask to exclude areas mistakenly selected as background. Adjust brush size or softness to suit the area.
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Choose the desired result:
- Blur: Soften the selected background, adjust the intensity, then select Apply.
- Remove: Make the selected background transparent, then select Apply.
- Replace: Choose a palette color or enter RGB values, then select Apply.
Microsoft’s instructions describe replacing the background with a solid color, not inserting a second photo into the Background panel. The instructions do not specify a minimum Photos app version or Windows build. Microsoft’s overview distinguishes the current Photos app from Photos Legacy, so check which app you have if these controls are missing: Microsoft Photos app overview. For the exact editing steps, see Microsoft’s Windows photo and video editing guide.
Which background option should you choose?
| Option | Result | Useful when |
|---|---|---|
| Blur | The background remains but appears softened. | You want the subject to stand out without removing the setting. |
| Remove | The selected background becomes transparent. | You need a cutout to use elsewhere. |
| Replace | The selected background is filled with a chosen color, including an RGB color you enter. | You want a clean, uniform color behind the subject. |
How to put another image behind the subject
Use a separate workflow if you want a photo or video behind your cutout. Microsoft’s Clipchamp background-removal instructions describe removing an image background and placing another image or video underneath it on a timeline. That is a different app and workflow from replacing a background with a color in Photos.
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Fix an inaccurate background selection
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Part of the subject is selected as background: Paint over that area with Remove mask.
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A patch of background is still visible: Paint over it with Add mask.
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The edge needs finer adjustment: Change brush size or softness before refining the mask.
Automatic selection may need correction; Microsoft’s instructions describe mask controls but do not guarantee a perfect result for every image.
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When to use Designer instead
Edit with Designer is an optional online editing experience, separate from the local Background-panel workflow in Photos. Microsoft documents background removal and blur in Designer. It requires an internet connection, a single image open in Photos, and a supported language. Designer’s AI features also require a Microsoft account; Microsoft Entra accounts cannot be used to sign in for this editing experience. See Microsoft’s Designer editing instructions.
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Editing a photo’s background changes the image; it does not change your Windows desktop wallpaper. Wallpaper is controlled separately through Windows personalization settings. Photos also has a menu option to set a viewed image as the desktop background. Microsoft’s separate desktop background instructions cover that setting.
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