How to remove background in Adobe Express (7 methods, pro tips, and more)

At some point, almost everyone needs to remove a background from a photo. Maybe you’re a small business owner who wants clean, professional product pictures, a creator working on standout social media posts, or just someone hoping to tidy up a favorite snapshot.

A crisp, clutter-free image can make a huge difference. The problem is, not everyone has the time—or patience—to figure out complicated editing tools. That’s where Adobe Express comes in.

It makes background removal quick, whether you’re on your computer or your phone. No confusing steps or editing skills required. In just a few clicks, you can highlight your image and erase any unwanted things. 

In this guide, I will walk through everything you need to know about removing backgrounds with Adobe Express: how it works, step-by-step instructions, and a few expert tips for getting a clean result every time. 

What is Adobe Express Background Remover?

Adobe Express has a handy feature called the Background Remover, and it does exactly what it sounds like—it takes out the background from your photos in a shorter span. You don’t need to tinker with complicated tools or trace edges by hand.

The tool automatically figures out what the main subject is and clears away everything behind it. It’s built for anyone to use, whether you’re new to editing or you’ve been doing it for years.

You can open it on your computer or your phone, upload a picture, and with a couple of clicks, you’ve got a clean image with a transparent or new background. It’s one of the best for product shots, social media posts, or even quick projects where you just need something to look neat and professional without spending a ton of time editing. 

Why remove backgrounds from an image?

Taking out a background might seem like a small edit, but it can totally change how an image feels. When the background is gone, your subject stands out more. What’s good about Adobe Express is that it takes most of the effort out of this process.

You don’t need to be great at photo editing or spend time tracing outlines pixel by pixel. The tool just figures out what the main part of your image is and clears away the rest. The best part? It keeps the edges smooth, so you don’t get that harsh, cut-out look that can make an image feel fake.

There are plenty of times when removing a background comes in handy. Maybe you’re cleaning up product photos for an online store, fixing a profile picture, or putting together a post for social media.

Having a transparent or simple background makes your images fit in anywhere and gives them a more professional touch. That’s why people—from beginners to designers—like using Adobe Express for this kind of thing. It’s fast, straightforward, and you get results that look like you spent way more time on them than you actually did.

Guide to remove background in Adobe Express

Removing backgrounds from images doesn’t have to be complicated anymore. With Adobe Express, it’s actually pretty simple.

Whether you’re cleaning up product photos, prepping visuals for social media, or just trying to make something look sharper for a presentation, removing the background instantly gives your image a cleaner, more professional feel. Adobe Express handles most of the heavy lifting for you.

The built-in background remover automatically detects your subject and clears out the rest, but you still have full control to fine-tune things if you want. It’s quick, straightforward, and easy to use — even if you’ve never done any photo editing before. Here’s a simple walkthrough to get you started.

1. Prepare your image for background removal

Before you jump into removing the background, select a photo that has good quality. Pick something clear and sharp, where your subject doesn’t blend into what’s behind it. If the background is full of similar colors, the tool might not know what to keep and what to erase. A simple, high-quality image always makes things easier.

• Choose photos that have sharp edges and clear contrast between the main subject and background.
• Avoid pictures where colors or patterns mix too much—it makes clean removal harder.
• Open Adobe Express on your computer or phone and upload your photo. You can drag it straight in or just use the file browser to find it.

2. Removing background using the Adobe Express tool

After your image is in, using the background remover is really simple.

• Look for the Remove Background option in the left toolbar or under Quick Actions.
  

• Click it once, and Adobe Express will automatically find your main subject and remove the rest.
  

• If anything doesn’t look right, use the brush tools to clean it up—erase bits you don’t need or bring back details that got removed by mistake.
  

The automatic tool does most of the work, but those small manual fixes help you get perfect edges. After a few tries, you’ll see how fast and easy it is to clean up images and make them look neat and professional.

3. Editing & enhancing the cutout image

After removing the background, Adobe Express offers several options to customize and polish your image:

• Add a transparent background to create overlays or for web use.
• Replace backgrounds with solid colors, gradients, patterns, or customized images to suit your branding.
• Adjust the image’s brightness, contrast, shadows, and saturation to blend the subject naturally.
• Enhance further by adding effects or text, perfect for social media or marketing designs.

Finally, export your edited image as a PNG for transparency or a JPEG for solid backgrounds. You now have a clean, polished image ready to elevate your visual content anywhere it’s needed. 

Steps to remove background in Adobe Express 

After following the tips above, here’s how you can remove a background in Adobe Express:

Step 1: Open Adobe Express background remover

Click on creativity & Design in navigation bar and in online tools click remove background. 

Step 2: Upload your image

Go to the Adobe Express AI Background Remover page. You can drag your image right into the browser or click to browse your files. It works with JPEG, JPG, PNG, or WebP, and the file can be up to 40MB.

Step 3: Erase background automatically

Once your image is uploaded, Adobe Express will quickly remove the background. It keeps your subject intact and clears away everything else. It’s fast and usually very accurate, but you can still touch it up if needed.

Step 4: Download the output

When you’re happy with how it looks, download the image as a PNG. This gives you a transparent background that’s ready to use in any project, whether it's for personal use or professional use.

Best alternatives to remove the background from an image 

If you feel that Adobe Express is too complex and pricy, here is a solution: remove backgrounds using AI tools in seconds. I tested three ranking tools with three sample images: a product, a portrait, and a complex object.

1. Pixelbin background remover

Pixelbin is all about speed. You don’t have to learn anything new—just upload your picture and let the tool handle the background.

Within seconds, it spits out a transparent PNG that you can place right into Adobe Express. It’s not trying to compete with Photoshop’s level of detail, but for simple objects or portraits, it gets the job done quickly.

Why do I like the tool?

• Quick background removal at a single click.
• Handles fine details like hair and edges neatly.
• Let's you save images with transparent backgrounds.
• Option to remove backgrounds in bulk.

• Works directly online, no extra software needed.

2. Erase.bg

Erase.bg is designed for people who want instant results without extra steps. You drop in your photo, and a few moments later, the background is gone. 

That’s It’s great for profile photos, e-commerce images, or any job where speed matters more than manual precision. It may not handle fine details like hair perfectly, but for straightforward backgrounds, it’s reliable and quick.

Why do I like the tool?

• Removes backgrounds instantly with AI in one click.
• Supports HD to 4K image quality without losing sharpness.
• Works online—no software or sign-up needed.
• Allows you to replace backgrounds with solid colors or themes.
• Offers bulk removal and API support for businesses and developers. 

3. Photoshop

If I need a super-clean cutout in my phone, I still open Photoshop first. It takes more time, but you can really zero in on details—hair strands, soft fabric edges, all the fussy bits.

I’ll usually start with Select Subject for a quick pick, then clean it up in Quick Mask. For tough spots, the Pen tool and layer masks give me all the control I need. When I’m done, I save it as a PSD or PNG with transparency and drop it into Adobe Express.

Why do I like the tool?

• Select Subject and Quick Mask for automatic selection.
• Pen tool and layer masks for precise control.
• Edge refinement for soft or complex details.
• Saves PSD/PNG with transparency.

4. Illustrator

Logos and vector art are a different game. Illustrator works with paths instead of pixels, so you can redraw or tweak shapes until the background disappears.

The best part: no matter how big or small you scale it in Adobe Express, it stays razor-sharp in Illustrator. That’s why I use it whenever I’m prepping branding graphics or anything that shouldn’t have a white box around it.

Why do I like the tool?

• Image Trace to convert raster art into vectors
• Pen tool to manually remove unwanted shapes
• Clean, scalable graphics without pixel edges
• Saves as AI or EPS with transparent background  

How to remove the background of an image in the Adobe app 

• Open the Adobe app: Download and launch the Adobe Express app on your smartphone, or go to the Adobe Express web platform on your desktop. Sign in with your Adobe account or create one for free.

• Upload your image: Tap the plus (+) icon or “Create New Project” and upload the photo you want to edit from your device gallery or computer. 

• Locate the background removal tool: In the editing interface, find the “Remove Background” option, usually under the toolbar or quick actions menu. 

• Apply the background remover: Select the tool. Adobe’s AI will automatically detect and erase the background from your image with precision in seconds. 

• Manually refine: Use the brush or eraser tools for manual touch-ups—erase leftover background areas or restore parts of the subject to perfect the cutout. 

• Add new background or enhancements: Choose to leave it transparent or add a new background, such as color fills, gradients, or images. You can also add text, stickers, or effects as desired. 

• Export and save: Once satisfied with the edits, save your finished image. Export in PNG format for transparency or JPEG for solid backgrounds, ready for social media, marketing, or other uses.

Final Thoughts

Adobe Express makes it easy to remove the background from an image. You don’t need to know much about photo editing—just pick your image, click a couple of buttons, and it clears out the background for you. You can work on your computer, then pick up on your phone if you need to, which is really handy.

If you have a lot of images or want more control, Pixelbin's AI background remover can help. It lets you work on multiple files at once and handle bulk projects. Always remember to be responsible while editing by working with permission, and respect copyrights.