# How to remove background in Photoshop on Mac: step by step for Photoshop 27.6

> How to remove background in Photoshop on Mac: select the layer, click Remove Background under Quick Actions, then clean the edges with the brush.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/remove-a-background-in-photoshop
Updated: 2026-11-08

To remove a background in Photoshop on Mac, select your photo layer and click Remove Background under Quick Actions in the Properties panel. Photoshop selects the subject, adds a layer mask, and hides the area around it, so you can clean up the edges with the brush before you export.

## Quick answer

- Make sure the photo layer is not locked, then select it in the Layers panel.
- Click Remove Background under Quick Actions in the Properties panel, or in the Contextual Task Bar.
- Clean the edges on the layer mask. White reveals, black conceals, and the Refine Edge Brush handles hair.
- Press Return to finalize, then export as PNG for a transparent background. Keep a layered PSD copy too.

Applies to: Photoshop 27.6 and later on macOS 14.0 or later. Time: 15 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- Photoshop on macOS 14.0 or later. Photoshop 27.6, the latest version I could confirm, supports macOS 14.0 or later.
- Image file in JPEG, JPG or PNG, up to 40 MB and 8,000 x 8,000 pixels
- A pixel layer that is not locked, highlighted in the Layers panel
- Internet connection if you use Cloud processing for Select Subject
- Photoshop 23.5.0 or higher for Cloud processing

## How to Remove a background in Photoshop on Mac in Photoshop on a Mac

1. **Open your photo in Photoshop.** (File > Open) Choose File > Open and pick a JPEG, JPG or PNG file under 40 MB and 8,000 by 8,000 pixels. Adobe lists only those three formats as accepted input. Convert other formats first. Tip: Save a copy with File > Save As before you start, so the original stays untouched.
2. **Convert the Background layer.** (Window > Layers) Open the Layers panel and find the lock icon on the Background layer. Double-click the layer and click OK. Photoshop turns it into a normal layer you can edit. Tip: A locked layer blocks the Remove Background command.
3. **Select the pixel layer.** Click the photo layer in the Layers panel so it is highlighted. Text, adjustment and empty layers don't work, so choose the layer that holds the photo pixels. Tip: If nothing is highlighted, the button will not appear.
4. **Open the Properties panel.** (Window > Properties) If you can't see the Properties panel, choose Window > Properties. Scroll to the bottom of the panel to find the Quick Actions section. Tip: The panel may need scrolling before Quick Actions comes into view.
5. **Or turn on the Contextual Task Bar.** (Window > Contextual Task Bar) The Contextual Task Bar shows the same Remove Background option near your selection. Turn it on with Window > Contextual Task Bar if it's hidden. Tip: Use whichever place you find first. Both run the same preset.
6. **Click Remove Background.** (Quick Actions > Remove Background) Click Remove Background under Quick Actions, or in the Contextual Task Bar. Photoshop selects the subject, adds a layer mask, and hides the background. Wait while it works, since large files take longer. Tip: Large files take longer, so give it a moment before you judge the result.
7. **Check the result at full size.** Zoom in on hair, fur and edges. Look at the Layers panel to confirm the layer mask is attached to the photo layer. Tip: Judge the edges at full size, not in the fit-to-screen view.
8. **Clean up with the Brush on the mask.** Pick the Brush tool from the toolbar. Click the layer mask thumbnail so the brush paints on the mask and not on the photo. Paint white to reveal parts that were cut out. Paint black to hide leftover background. Tip: The mask thumbnail is the small white box beside the layer. Click it before you paint.
9. **Refine hair with the Refine Edge Brush.** Use the Refine Edge Brush on hair and soft, fine edges. Brush slowly along the edge, then check the result against a plain test color. Expect a few rounds for hair. Tip: Press ⌘Z to undo a stroke that eats into the subject. The mask can always be painted again.
10. **Finalize the removal.** Shortcut: Return. Press Return to finalize. Adobe's page says Enter or Return finalizes the change. Check that the Layers panel still shows the mask after you finish.
11. **Export with transparency.** (File > Export > Export As) Choose File > Export > Export As. Pick PNG if you need a transparent background. JPEG cannot hold transparency, so the removed area turns into a solid color. Tip: Check the exported file in Preview before you send it to anyone.
12. **Save a layered copy.** (File > Save As) Save a PSD copy with File > Save As so the layer mask stays editable. You can reopen the file later and repaint the mask if the subject changes. Tip: Keep the PSD next to the exported PNG, not in place of it.

## What Remove Background does in Photoshop on Mac

Remove Background is a one-click Quick Action. Photoshop selects the subject, adds a layer mask, and hides everything outside it. You don't cut anything out by hand. Adobe describes the feature as using Subject Select to find the subject, so it works best when the subject has clear edges and stands out from the background. Busy scenes with similar colors are harder for any tool of this kind.

The layer mask is the key idea. A mask hides pixels without erasing them, so you can paint an edge back in later. That matters on a Mac, where one save over the original can end your options. Work on a copy, and keep the layered file.

Adobe says the 2026 versions of Remove Background and Select Subject are improved for fine detail and edges. Treat that as a claim to test. Run the tool on one of your own hard photos before you rely on it for a client job.

## Check your file before you start

| Requirement | What Photoshop needs |
| --- | --- |
| File type | JPEG, JPG or PNG |
| Maximum file size | 40 MB |
| Maximum dimensions | 8,000 x 8,000 pixels |
| Layer type | Pixel layer that is not locked. Text, adjustment and empty layers do not work |
| Selection | The layer is highlighted in the Layers panel |

_Input limits from Adobe's Remove Background page_

Those limits matter most when a file fails. Adobe lists only JPEG, JPG and PNG as accepted input, so a TIFF may need converting first. If the image is bigger than 8,000 pixels on either side, resize a copy with Image > Image Size. Work on the copy and keep the full-size original.

The background itself matters too. A plain or high-contrast backdrop gives the tool the easiest job. A backdrop with colors close to the subject gives it the hardest one, so expect more cleanup on those shots.

## Find the Remove Background button on your Mac

Remove Background lives in two places. The first is the Properties panel. If it is hidden, choose Window > Properties. Scroll to the bottom of the panel to find Quick Actions, where Remove Background appears when a pixel layer is selected. The second place is the Contextual Task Bar. If it's hidden, choose Window > Contextual Task Bar. Both places run the same preset.

> **Button still missing?:** Click the image layer in the Layers panel first. Adobe community reports say the button does not appear with nothing selected or with a fill layer such as Curves selected. The Properties panel may also need scrolling to reach it.

## Clean up edges with the brush and the Refine Edge Brush

Once the mask exists, zoom in and inspect the edges. Pick the Brush tool and click the layer mask thumbnail, so you paint on the mask and not on the photo. Paint with white to reveal pixels the tool cut out by mistake. Paint with black to hide leftover background.

Brush settings matter here. A soft brush blends the edge of the mask. A hard brush makes a crisp cut, which suits clean shapes like a product edge. Lower the brush opacity when you want a partial reveal rather than a full one.

Then use the Refine Edge Brush on hair and soft, fine edges. Brush slowly and check the result after each pass. Hair rarely comes out right on the first pass, so expect a few rounds.

Here is a worked example. Say you shot a ceramic mug on a wooden table, and Remove Background leaves a strip of table along the handle. Zoom in on the handle, select the mask, and paint black along the strip with a soft brush. Then paint white back into any part of the rim the tool removed. Check the edge against a plain color before you export.

## Device or Cloud: which Select Subject setting to use

Next to Select Subject there is a dropdown with two choices, Device and Cloud. MakeUseOf describes Device as the quicker option and Cloud as the one with more detailed results. Cloud needs an internet connection and Photoshop 23.5.0 or higher. An Adobe community post says Photoshop falls back to device processing when there is no internet.

The same community post says the default processing setting sits under Preferences > Image Processing. I could not confirm the Mac menu path for that setting, so search your settings for Image Processing instead. For a quick draft, Device is usually enough. For fur, hair or fine product detail, run both and compare the edges.

## Common mistakes that waste your time

- Running the command on a locked Background layer. The lock icon blocks it, so double-click the layer first.
- Selecting a text, adjustment or empty layer. Photoshop skips these, so the button may not appear.
- Painting on the photo instead of the mask. Click the layer mask thumbnail before you touch the Brush tool.
- Assuming the feature is gone when a panel is hidden. Window > Properties brings it back.
- Deleting the leftover background without a backup. Keep a layered PSD so you can restore the mask later.
- Working on a file over the 40 MB limit. Shrink a copy first and keep the original.
- Expecting perfect hair on the first try. Plan a few minutes of brush work for every photo with fine detail.

- **40 MB** Maximum file size Adobe lists for Remove Background ([source](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/remove-background.html))
- **8,000 x 8,000** Maximum image dimension in pixels for Remove Background ([source](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/remove-background.html))
- **27.6** Latest Photoshop version confirmed, released April 28, 2026 ([source](https://www.cgchannel.com/2026/04/adobe-releases-photoshop-27-6/))
- **US$22.99/mo** Standalone Photoshop on an annual plan billed monthly ([source](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html))

## Finish, export and keep your options open

When the mask looks right, press Return to finalize. Adobe's page says Enter or Return finalizes the change. Then export with File > Export > Export As. Choose PNG if you need a transparent background, because JPEG cannot hold transparency. A JPEG fills the removed area with a solid color.

If a stroke goes wrong, press ⌘Z to undo it. For bigger steps, open Window > History and go back further. Keep a layered copy too. Save it as a PSD with File > Save As so the layer mask stays editable. Adobe's page also covers how to place a new image behind the subject, which is a separate step after the cutout.

![Designer editing a photo on a laptop to remove background in Photoshop on Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/remove-a-background-in-photoshop/how-to-remove-background-in-photoshop-on-1-e15ac1.jpg)

## When Remove Background is not enough

Some photos are hard for any automatic tool. Subjects that blend into the background, glass, smoke and thin wire are common examples. For those, expect the brush and the Refine Edge Brush to do most of the work. Shooting against a plain, contrasting backdrop next time saves more time than any setting.

If the feature fails on a photo that should work, check the Select Subject setting first. One Adobe community thread reports a 'not available' message when Device is set. The most-cited fix in that thread is enabling Sample All Layers in the options bar. The thread is tagged Windows, so test it on your Mac before you rely on it.

## Versions, prices and what to check first

Photoshop 27.6 was released on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. It supports macOS 14.0 or later. It is the latest version I could confirm while writing this page, so check Adobe's release notes if you are on a newer build.

An Adobe community manager said on September 3, 2026 that Select Subject is now always on by default. If the button still seems missing, post your system info and the steps you took in the Adobe community thread, as the manager asked.

Adobe lists standalone Photoshop at US$22.99 per month on an annual plan billed monthly, or US$263.88 per year paid up front. Creative Cloud Pro is US$34.99 per month for the first three months, then US$69.99 per month. Prices change, so check Adobe's pricing page before you buy.

Photoshop runs on desktop, web and mobile. I could not confirm from Adobe's pages which Remove Background features the web version has. If the steps on this page depend on the desktop menus, test them in the Mac app.

## Next steps after your background is gone

Once the subject is clean, the hard part is done. Add your new background, adjust the edges, and export. If you are not sure which Photoshop build you have, the [version guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/check-your-photoshop-version-in-photoshop) shows where to look.

If Photoshop acts strange after an update, the [reset preferences guide](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/reset-preferences-in-photoshop) covers two methods, depending on the version. If Photoshop slows down on large files, the [scratch disk fixes](https://www.lazur.app/for/designers/problems/photoshop-scratch-disks-full-mac-fixes) are the next stop. For the rest of a daily workflow, see [Photoshop for designers on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/for/designers/photoshop).

![Person working on a MacBook at a desk, tidying a photo for a project](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/remove-a-background-in-photoshop/how-to-remove-background-in-photoshop-on-2-a55626.jpg)

## Shortcuts

- Finalize the background removal: Return
- Undo the last brush stroke or step: ⌘Z

## If it does not work

- **Remove Background button is missing** Select a pixel layer that is not locked in the Layers panel. The button does not show with nothing selected or with a fill layer such as Curves selected. Then reopen Properties with Window > Properties and scroll down.
- **The Background layer is locked** Double-click the Background layer in the Layers panel and click OK. A lock icon means the command is blocked until you convert it.
- **Properties or Contextual Task Bar is hidden** Choose Window > Properties or Window > Contextual Task Bar. If the workspace looks wrong, use Window > Workspace > Reset Essentials.
- **Select Subject says it is not available** Check the Device or Cloud setting. An Adobe community thread reports that enabling Sample All Layers in the options bar fixed it for some users. That thread is tagged Windows, so test it on your Mac first.
- **Cloud processing does nothing** Cloud needs an internet connection and Photoshop 23.5.0 or higher. Without internet, Photoshop falls back to device processing, so check your connection first.
- **Edges still show background after the first pass** Click the layer mask thumbnail and paint black with the Brush tool to hide leftover background. For hair, switch to the Refine Edge Brush and work in small strokes.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where's the Remove Background button?”: Lazur circles Remove Background and labels it on your screen. You click it yourself. Ask it to walk you through the next steps, and it waits for each click. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Does Remove Background delete my background?

Photoshop adds a layer mask and hides the area outside the subject, and Lenscraft's tutorial describes it as hidden, not deleted. Adobe's page says the leftover background layer is deleted, so keep a layered copy of the original file before you start.

### Why is Remove Background missing in my Photoshop?

Most often no pixel layer that is not locked is selected. Choose Window > Properties and scroll to Quick Actions, or turn on the Contextual Task Bar with Window > Contextual Task Bar.

### Which file types and sizes work with Remove Background?

Adobe lists JPEG, JPG and PNG as accepted input. The maximum file size is 40 MB, and the maximum dimension is 8,000 x 8,000 pixels.

### Which Photoshop version do I need on a Mac?

The latest version I could confirm is 27.6, released April 28, 2026, and it needs macOS 14.0 or later. Cloud processing for Select Subject needs Photoshop 23.5.0 or higher and an internet connection.

### Should I use Device or Cloud for Select Subject?

Device gives quicker results. Cloud gives more detailed results but needs internet. Run both on a hard photo and compare the edges before you pick one for the job.

### Can I undo Remove Background?

Yes. Press ⌘Z to step back one change, or open Window > History to go back further. The mask stays editable as long as you keep the layered file.

### Can I remove a background in Photoshop on the web?

I could not confirm from Adobe's pages which Remove Background features the web version has. Check Adobe's product page, or test the steps in the Mac desktop app.

### How much does Photoshop cost?

Adobe lists standalone Photoshop at US$22.99 per month on an annual plan billed monthly, or US$263.88 per year paid up front. Prices change, so check Adobe's pricing page before you buy.

## Sources

1. [Remove Background with AI in Photoshop](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/remove-background.html), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09
2. [Adobe Photoshop product page](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09
3. [Select Subject and Remove Background cloud processing (Photoshop Beta community)](https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-beta-discussions/select-subject-and-remove-background-features-using-cloud-processing-has-improved-beta/m-p/15224515), Adobe Community, checked 2026-11-09
4. [Select Subject no longer working after updating to PS 2026](https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/select-subject-no-longer-working-after-updating-to-ps-2026/idi-p/15617134), Adobe Community, checked 2026-11-09
5. [Lost 'remove background bar'](https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/lost-quot-remove-background-bar-quot/m-p/14090333/highlight/true), Adobe Community, checked 2026-11-09
6. [Adobe releases Photoshop 27.6](https://www.cgchannel.com/2026/04/adobe-releases-photoshop-27-6/), CGChannel, checked 2026-11-09
7. [How to Use the Photoshop Remove Background Quick Action](https://lenscraft.co.uk/photo-editing-tutorials/photoshop-remove-background-quick-action/), Lenscraft, checked 2026-11-09
8. [Adobe Cloud vs. Device Selections in Photoshop](https://www.makeuseof.com/photoshop-adobe-cloud-vs-device-select-subject/), MakeUseOf, checked 2026-11-09