Not too long ago, changing the background color of a picture was a herculean task for beginners. Built-in apps such as Paint and Photos supported only basic editing. Users had to use paid software such as the popular Adobe Photoshop to change the picture background, which, as you likely know, involves a steep learning curve.
Changing the background color of a picture is much easier now, thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). The best part is that you do not need to install or use third-party software to change the image background color. The built-in Photos app, the default picture viewer in Windows 11, supports changing picture background color.
Yes, the Photos app can be used to change a picture’s background color with ease. Moreover, a beginner user can also use it to change the picture background color in a few mouse clicks.
This guide shows you how to use the built-in Photos app to change the picture background color in Windows 11.
Use the built-in Photos app to replace the picture background color in Windows 11
Important: The current version of the Photos app in Windows 11 supports changing the picture background color only, and you cannot use it to replace the background color/picture with another picture.
Step 1: In the File Explorer, navigate to the folder containing the picture file and double-click it to open it with the Photos app, as it’s the default picture viewer in Windows 11.
If you have set a different app, such as the classic Windows Photo Viewer, as the default picture viewer, right-click the picture file, click Open with, and then click Photos to open it with the Photos app.
Step 2: Once the picture is open in the Photos app, click the Edit button at the top left of the window to see the available editing tools.
Step 3: Here, click the background eraser icon in the toolbar (refer to the picture below). If it’s missing, you are likely running an older version. Update Windows 11 to the latest version and try again.
Step 4: Now, in the right panel, click the Replace tile. The current version of the Photos app shows a parrot on the tile.
Step 5: Finally, select a color that you wish to use for the picture background to see the preview. If you wish to have a different color, select a color of your choice.
Step 6: Once a color is selected, click the Save options button, click Save as copy, select a location to save the picture file, type a name for the file, and then click the Save button.
If you wish to overwrite the existing image with the changes you made, click the Save options button and then click the Save option.
You may close the Photos app now.
Our how to remove the picture background with the Paint app in Windows 11 guide might also interest you.
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