Canva's background remover only works on paid plans (as of Nov 8, 2026). Select a photo or video in the editor, then BG Remover on the toolbar.
One photo
From the homepage: Projects, Images, hover over the photo, More, Edit image, then BG Remover under Tools.
To clean up edges, reselect BG Remover and use the Erase or Restore brush.
You can also type "Remove background" into Canva AI on the homepage or into Ask Canva in the editor. The Canva AI route is paid plans only too.
A whole folder
- Homepage, then Projects.
- Hover over the folder, select More, then Remove background.
Canva makes a new folder named "[folder name] - Edited" and leaves the originals alone. To do only some photos, open the folder, tick the ones you want, and select BG Remover from the bottom toolbar. Those results go into the same folder.
If Remove background is grayed out, the folder has more than 50 images. Move some out or pick a smaller folder.
If photos are missing from the Edited folder, Canva gives two causes: it couldn't find a clear subject in some uploads (they're marked "An error has occurred" and stay in the original folder), or those items were library photos or designs, which are skipped.
Limits
| Item | Limit |
|---|---|
| Photo file size | Under 9MB |
| Vector images | Not supported |
| Photo resolution | Over 10MP is downscaled to 10MP after the background is removed |
| Video length | Original length under 10 minutes |
| Bulk, per folder | 50 images or fewer |
| Bulk, folders at once | One |
| Bulk, what's processed | Uploaded images only; Canva library photos and designs are skipped |
Video
Select the video, then BG Remover on the toolbar. The video's original length has to be under 10 minutes. If you trimmed it inside Canva, download it and upload the trimmed file again, since the original length still counts. On mobile, add the video through the Uploads tab, not the Camera Roll or Gallery.
Canva AI can't remove video backgrounds; use BG Remover in the editor.
Will it label your post as AI?
It shouldn't, according to Canva. It treats Background Remover as an editing tool and says it doesn't add its AI-generated content metadata, so using it alone shouldn't get a post labeled "AI content" on Instagram or TikTok. If that happens anyway, Canva asks you to contact support with the design link and where you posted it.
Sources
- Canva Help Center — Remove photo and video backgrounds (checked Nov 8, 2026)