Snip for Mac · Guide
How to remove the background from an image on Mac
The quickest built-in way is Preview: open the image and click Remove Background. When you need cleaner edges, a new background, canvas sizes or a whole folder of photos, use Snip — a background remover for Mac that works offline, right on your Mac, with 3 free edits a day.
Remove a background with built-in Mac tools
macOS can cut out the subject of an image in three places, all of them on your Mac — but they arrived at different times: Copy Subject in Photos since macOS Ventura, the Remove Background button in Preview since macOS Tahoe 26, and in the Finder as an extension you turn on yourself.
Preview
Open the image in Preview and click the Remove Background button (macOS Tahoe 26 and later; before that Preview only had Instant Alpha). Preview offers to convert the file to PNG — to keep the original, click Cancel and choose File → Duplicate first.
Finder
Control-click an image in Finder and choose Quick Actions → More → Remove Background. If the action isn’t there, choose Quick Actions → Customize and turn on the Remove Background extension. Finder saves a copy without the background next to the original.
Photos
Open a photo in Photos (macOS Ventura and later), Control-click it and choose Copy Subject, then paste the cutout into a document, a message or a note.
Where the built-in tools stop
- There’s no brush to fix edges: if hair or a product edge is cut wrong, you can only undo or trace the subject by hand.
- You get a cutout on a transparent background — no new background, canvas size, outline or shadow.
- Preview handles one image at a time, and PDFs have to be exported as images first.
Remove a background with Snip
Snip is free to download with 3 edits a day. Everything in these steps is included in the free version; batch processing and ×4 upscaling are part of PRO.
Open an image
In Snip, choose Remove Background and drop an image into the window, paste one with ⌘V or press ⇧⌘7 to pick a file. To cut out something on your screen, press ⇧⌘2 and select the area.
Pick the cutout model
Snip removes the background automatically. Under Quality, switch between Fast for quick everyday cutouts and General for crisp edges on objects.
Refine the edges
Click Refine Edges and use the Restore and Erase brushes to bring back hair or remove leftovers. Hold an empty area of the canvas to compare with the original.
Choose a background and canvas
Keep it Transparent or choose White, Black, a color, a gradient, a blur or your own image. Set a Canvas Size such as Square 1:1 or Story 9:16, and add an Outline or a Drop Shadow.
Export
Export as PNG or HEIC to keep transparency, or as JPEG on a solid background. You can also click Copy Subject or drag the result straight into another app.
Offline and private
Online background removers upload your photo to their servers. Snip’s AI models are included in the app and run on your Mac, so photos never leave it and the tool works without an internet connection — on a plane, on a client’s network or with product shots before a launch.
You only need to be online to buy or restore PRO.
From your screen to a cutout
Press ⇧⌘2, select part of the screen, and Snip opens it with the background already removed — no screenshot file to find and import. The same command is in the Snip menu bar as Capture Screen Area.
In Settings → Shortcuts you can also assign shortcuts that capture an area straight into Erase Objects or Enhance Quality. The first capture asks for the Screen Recording permission.
A whole folder at once
In Batch Mode, drop several photos or a folder. Snip removes every background with the same model, background and canvas size, then saves the results to a folder or a ZIP archive. You can regenerate selected images or retry the ones that failed. Batch processing is part of PRO.
Preview or Snip?
Preview is enough for a quick one-off cutout. Snip is for cleaner edges, new backgrounds and many photos.
| Feature | Preview | Snip |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic cutout | Yes | Yes, with Fast and General models |
| Runs on your Mac, offline | Yes | Yes |
| Fixing edges | Undo, or trace by hand with Smart Lasso | Refine Edges with Restore and Erase brushes |
| New background | Not available | Color, gradient, blur or your own image |
| Canvas sizes, outline, drop shadow | Not available | Yes |
| Many images at once | Not available | Whole folders with PRO |
| Export | PNG | PNG, JPEG or HEIC |
| Price | Free, part of macOS | Free for 3 edits a day; PRO from $9.99 a month |
Questions about removing backgrounds on Mac
Why is Remove Background greyed out in Preview?
Preview removes backgrounds from images, not from PDFs — export the page as an image first. It also needs a clearly visible subject. If the button still isn’t available, try Quick Actions → Remove Background in Finder, or open the image in Snip.
Is there a free background remover for Mac?
Yes. Photos has done it for free since macOS Ventura, and Preview and the Finder extension since macOS Tahoe 26. Snip is free for 3 edits a day, including Refine Edges, new backgrounds and export; batch processing needs PRO.
Does Snip remove backgrounds offline?
Yes. The AI models are included in the app and run on your Mac, so photos aren’t uploaded anywhere and background removal works without an internet connection.
How do I remove backgrounds from many images at once on Mac?
In Snip, open Batch Mode and drop several photos or a whole folder. Snip applies the same settings to every image and saves the results to a folder or a ZIP archive. Batch processing is part of PRO.
How do I make a PNG with a transparent background on Mac?
In Snip, keep the background Transparent and export as PNG. JPEG can’t store transparency, so Snip asks before filling the background with a solid color. Preview also saves cutouts as PNG.
Does Snip work on Intel Macs?
Yes. Snip runs on Macs with Apple silicon and Intel processors with macOS 15.6 or later — MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac and the rest.