Microsoft tests one-click background removal in Paint

Microsoft is testing a new one-click background removal tool right inside its classic Paint app.

Now rolling out to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels (version 11.2306.30.0), the update adds a background removal button to the left side of Paint's toolbar. Click it, and Paint automatically detects the subject and cuts away the backdrop. If the automated cutout misses a spot, you can also manually select portions of the background to remove. Microsoft is also reportedly testing text-to-image generation inside the app.

Ditching the freemium web cutouts

Paint has long been everyone's go-to for quick crops, resizing, or scribbling red circles. But the second you needed to isolate a subject, you were forced to fire up a third-party tool. Canva hides its background remover behind a paywall, and Adobe Express forces you to log into an account just to use it. Having a native toggle baked right into your default desktop editor cuts out all that unnecessary friction.

Why it matters

We think this is a smart, targeted upgrade that focuses on utility rather than bloat. Microsoft isn't trying to turn Paint into Photoshop, but it is solving one of the most annoying hurdles in everyday document and slide prep. For casual creators and office workers, a free, instant cutout tool removes the hassle and makes paying for lightweight web editors far less necessary.