How to remove white background in Microsoft Paint

Wondering how to make white background transparent in Microsoft Paint? If you are using Windows 10, you will have an improved version of MS Paint (called Paint 3D) that allows you to remove the background with just a few clicks. If you are using an older version of Windows, you will not be able to save an image with a transparent background in Paint. However, you can cut the subject from the image and paste it on another background.

Steps

Method 1 of 2: Use Paint 3D

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Step 1. Open Paint 3D

Windows 10 comes with an enhanced version of MS Paint called MS Paint 3D. You will find it in the menu To start up or by typing "Paint 3D" in the Windows search bar.

You can use this method with any solid color background

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Step 2. Click Open

This is the second box on the left of the welcome screen.

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Step 3. Select Browse Files

This option is at the top of the right panel.

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Step 4. Choose your file then click Open

The selected image will open in the program.

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Step 5. Go to the Drawing Area tab

This is the pound icon (#) in the toolbar at the top of the application window.

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Step 6. Activate the Transparent drawing area option

This option is on the right under Drawing area and turns off the background color (you won't notice it right away).

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Step 7. Uncheck Resize image to drawing area

This is the box in the middle of the right panel.

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Step 8. Drag the edges of the drawing area

Click one of the boxes in the corners of the drawing area and then drag them inward to move them closer to the part of the image you want to keep.

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Step 9. Click Magic Select

This option is on the light gray part of the toolbar at the top of the screen. Its icon looks like a silhouette of a person looking at his reflection. The magic selection panel will open on the right.

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Step 10. Select Next

The button Following can be found in the right panel.

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Step 11. Clear the Autofill background check box

You will find this option in the right panel.

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Step 12. Click OK

This will remove the selected part of the image from what remains of the background and place it on a new background (which is also white).

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Step 13. Return to the Drawing Area tab

It's the pound symbol in the bar at the top of the window.

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Step 14. Disable the Show drawing area option

You'll find it at the top of the right panel. Turn it off to display only the selected part of the image on a gray background.

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Step 15. Click the Menu button

The button Menu looks like a folder and is located at the top left of Paint 3D.

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Step 16. Select Save As

This option is in the middle of the menu.

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Step 17. Choose Image

This is the box with the mountain icon.

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Step 18. Check the box next to Transparency

It's in the right panel and allows you to display a checkered background (which means it's transparent). The checkered background will not be saved with the subject.

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Step 19. Click Save

The button Save is at the bottom right.

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Step 20. Enter a file name

Then click Save to save your image with a completely transparent background.

Method 2 of 2: Use MS Paint

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Step 1. Open Paint

You can quickly open Paint by typing "paint" into the Windows search bar and then clicking Paint in the search results.

If you're on Windows 10, use Paint 3D instead.
It is not possible to make the white background transparent in MS Paint. This method will teach you how to cut out the part of the image you want to keep and then paste it on a different background.

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Step 2. Click File

The File option is at the top left of Paint.

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Step 3. Select Open

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Step 4. Choose an image then click Open

Be sure to select an image with a white background.

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Step 5. Click Color 2

This option is in the toolbar at the top of the screen, next to the color palette.

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Step 6. Select the eyedropper tool

This is the color picker and you will find it in the toolbar at the top of the screen (in the Tools).

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Step 7. Click on an empty area of the white background

The background color will appear in the field Color 2.

Even if the color of the box is already white, this is an extra precaution in case the background of the image has shades of gray or the like

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Step 8. Click the arrow

under Select.

It's in the toolbar at the top of the window. Click below to display a drop-down menu.

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Step 9. Choose Transparent Selection

This option is at the bottom of the drop-down menu. A check mark will appear next to the option to indicate that it is selected. The tool Transparent selection ignore the white background when you copy images in Paint and paste them into another image.

The Transparent Selection tool ignores the white background when you copy images in Paint and paste them into another image

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Step 10. Click again on

under Select.

The drop-down menu will reappear below the toolbar.

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Step 11. Choose Rectangular Selection

This option is at the top of the menu. It allows you to draw a selection rectangle around the subject of the image.

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Step 12. Select the part of the image to keep

Click and drag the mouse over the image to select the part of the image you want to keep. Rectangular dotted lines will appear around the selected area.

Anything in the selection that does not have the same color as the Color 2 box will be kept. If the background is not completely white (for example if it contains shadows or objects that you do not want to keep), choose Free selection so you can adjust the part of the image you want to keep.

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Step 13. Click Copy

This option is at the top left of Paint, in the panel Clipboard. Click on it to copy your selection.

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Step 14. Create or open a new file

Now that your selection has been copied, you can open the image you want to insert it into. You will first be prompted to keep or delete the changes made to the image being edited.

Click on File in the upper right corner.
Choose New to create a new file or click To open to open another image.

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Step 15. Select Paste

This option is at the top left of the Paint window. Click on it to paste the selected part of the previous image onto the new one.

Click and drag the pasted selection to move it to the new image.
There may still be some white left around the pasted image. Read on to find out how to fix the problem!

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Step 16. Click Color 1

This option is next to the color palette at the top of the screen.

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Step 17. Select the eyedropper tool

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Step 18. Click on the background next to the white edges

If there is white left around the edges of the image you pasted, click the background next to the white edge to select the color that is directly behind it. This will allow you to paint the white areas so that they have the same color as the one selected.

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Step 19. Select the brush-shaped tool

You will find it to the right of the panel Tools at the top of the Paint window.

You can click the arrow below the brush to select different types of brushes

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Step 20. Pass the brush over the white edges

Use the paintbrush to color in any white parts that are left around the object you pasted.

Zoom in and try not to color the image.
If the background color is not solid, you will need to use the Color Picker tool more than once.
Click the arrow under Cut to change the brush size. Use a larger brush to color the remaining white edges then zoom in and use a smaller brush for more precision.
Look for the white parts of the image that the Transparent Selection tool did not copy. Use the brush to color them.
If you accidentally colored part of the image, press Ctrl + Z to undo the change.