A photo’s background can get in the way of an otherwise clean Google Slides presentation. With eligible Gemini access, you can remove it right inside Slides. You can also use an external remover with a free account, or change the slide’s backdrop if that’s the background you want gone.
Remove a photo background directly in Slides
The built-in tool removes the background and keeps your subject in place.
- 1.Open your presentation in Google Slides on a computer.
- 2.Select the image you want to edit.
- 3.Click Edit image in the image toolbar.
- 4.Choose Remove background.
Use an external remover with a free Slides account
Upload your original image to remove.bg, or drag it onto the page. The removal happens outside Slides, so a free Google Slides account works for this method.
Click Download after the background disappears. Output resolution and pricing depend on remove.bg’s service.
Back in Slides on your computer, choose Insert > Image > Upload from computer. Select the downloaded cutout, then click Open.
Replacing a picture already on the slide? Right-click it, then choose Replace image > Upload from computer. Select your cutout.
On Android, iPhone, or iPad, save the processed image to an accessible image source. Open your presentation in the Slides app. Tap Insert > Image.
Choose the source where you saved the cutout. Tap the saved image. Keep the result transparent so your slide’s backdrop shows around the subject.
Find the missing background removal tool
The native tool requires eligible Gemini access in Slides on the web. Eligible plans include Google AI Pro, Google AI Ultra, Workspace Business Standard and Plus, Enterprise Standard and Plus, Google AI Pro for Education, and Teaching and Learning. Workspace Experiments offers another route, with access determined by your account.
On an eligible account, select your image. Try Format > Image > Edit image > Remove background to reach the same tool through the menu.
Gemini also requires Workspace smart features, which do not add a missing subscription entitlement. In Google Drive, open Settings > Settings > Privacy > Manage Workspace smart feature settings. Turn on Smart features in Google Workspace, then click Save.
Work and school administrators also control Gemini availability on supported plans. If your eligible account still lacks the tool, ask your administrator to check your access.
Change the background of the slide itself
If you want to change the backdrop behind all your slide content, use the slide background controls. These work on a computer with free personal accounts too, but they do not isolate a subject inside a photo.
Select the slide you want to change. Open Slide > Change background. Next, open the box beside Color.
Select a color, such as white. Click Done for that slide, or Add to theme for the presentation.
To replace the background image instead, click Choose beside Image in the same background controls. Choose the replacement image. It must be a GIF, JPG, or PNG file under 50 MB.
Click Select. Finish with Done or Add to theme.
Crop away unwanted edges
If the unwanted background sits around the edges, crop it away without a Gemini subscription.
- 1.Select the image in Google Slides on your computer.
- 2.Click Crop.
- 3.Drag the border handles inward to exclude the unwanted areas.
- 4.Press Enter to finish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I restore a background after removing it in Google Slides?
Yes. Use Undo or Version history to reverse native background removal. Reset image cannot restore a background removed with the AI tool.
Does lowering opacity make only the background transparent?
No. Select the image and open Format > Format options > Adjustments > Opacity. Reducing opacity fades the entire image, including its subject. The current desktop label is Opacity; older tutorials use Transparency.
Can I delete an image that is being used as a slide background?
For a selectable image object, select it and press Delete on a PC or Mac, or Backspace on a Chromebook. In the mobile app, tap the image, then tap Delete. This removes the whole image, including its subject. It does not remove a background assigned through Change background.
Can I crop a picture into a circle or another shape?
Yes. On a computer, select the image. Open the down arrow beside Crop, then select a shape. On mobile, tap the image, then choose Crop > Mask. Select your shape. This hides areas outside the shape rather than automatically isolating the subject.