How to Remove Image Background in Google Slides (2025)

A cluttered image background can undermine your entire message, making your slides look unprofessional and distracting your audience from the core data. In 2025, a clean, seamless presentation isn’t a luxury—it’s the standard. Removing an image background allows you to layer elements, integrate visuals smoothly with your brand’s color palette, and direct your audience’s focus with precision.

This guide cuts through the noise and shows you the exact methods we use to handle image backgrounds for our clients’ high-stakes presentations. We’ll cover everything from quick, integrated add-ons to the professional-grade techniques required for a flawless finish.

Why a Clean Image Background is Non-Negotiable

Before we dive into the ‘how,’ let’s address the ‘why.’ In a professional setting, every detail of your presentation is a reflection of your credibility. An image with a clashing or busy background isn’t just a minor aesthetic issue; it’s a cognitive barrier. Your audience has to work harder to distinguish the subject from its environment, diluting your message’s impact.

From our 13 years of designing presentations for IPO roadshows, sales kick-offs, and board meetings, we’ve learned that visual clarity is directly tied to persuasion. When visuals are clean and purposeful, the presenter’s message is perceived as more authoritative and trustworthy.

Removing the background allows you to create a cohesive visual narrative. You can place a key product shot next to a block of text on your branded background, or position a team member’s headshot within a custom-designed organizational chart. This level of control transforms your slides from a simple collection of information into a powerful communication tool.

Method 1: Using External Online Tools (The Professional Standard)

For high-stakes presentations where quality cannot be compromised, using a dedicated online background removal tool is the only reliable method. These tools use sophisticated programming to accurately identify the foreground subject—even with complex edges like hair or foliage—and create a crisp, clean cutout.

This is our go-to method at PitchWorx. The extra minute it takes guarantees a result that upholds a premium and professional standard. We’ve found this approach essential for investor decks and sales proposals where visual polish directly impacts outcomes.

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Choose a Tool: Select a reputable, browser-based background removal service. There are many high-quality free and paid options available.
2. Upload Your Image: Drag and drop your JPG or PNG file into the tool.
3. Automatic Processing: The service will automatically detect the subject and remove the background. The process usually takes less than 10 seconds.
4. Download the Result: Download the new image. It’s crucial to save it as a PNG file, as this format supports transparency. A JPG will simply add a white background back in.
5. Insert into Google Slides: Go back to your slide and select Insert > Image > Upload from computer. Position your new, background-free image perfectly.

When your presentation needs to do more than just inform—it needs to persuade and impress—every detail counts. Ensuring your visuals are flawlessly integrated is a critical step that signals professionalism. If you’re building a presentation that could define a quarter or secure a partnership, a meticulous approach to visuals is paramount. This is the level of detail our professional presentation design service provides for every single slide.

Method 2: Leveraging Google Workspace Add-ons

If you need a faster, more integrated workflow for simpler images, Google Workspace Add-ons are a solid choice. These are third-party applications that you can install directly into Google Slides, giving you new capabilities without leaving the platform.

How to Find and Use an Add-on:

1. Navigate to the top menu in Google Slides and click Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons.
2. This opens the Google Workspace Marketplace. Use the search bar to look for terms like “background remover” or “remove background.”
3. Select a well-reviewed add-on (like remove.bg’s official extension) and click “Install.”
4. You will need to grant the add-on permission to access your slides. Be sure to review what permissions are being requested.
5. Once installed, you can typically access the tool from the Extensions menu or a new sidebar that appears. Select your image, click the tool’s button, and it will process the image directly on your slide.

Pros & Cons of this Method:

• Pros: Highly convenient and keeps your entire workflow within Google Slides. It’s great for quick, high-volume work.
• Cons: Quality can be less reliable than dedicated external tools, especially for complex images. Many add-ons operate on a credit system or have usage limits for free users.

Method 3: Using Google Slides’ Built-in “Format options” (Limited Use Cases)

It’s important to be clear: Google Slides does not have a native, one-click “remove background” feature. However, it does have tools that can achieve a similar effect in very specific situations, primarily when you have a simple subject on a solid-colored background.

This method is a workaround, not a true background removal solution. It works by making the background color transparent.

When to Use This:

• Your image is a simple icon or logo.
• The background of the image is a single, solid color (e.g., a white background).
• You want the image background to match your slide’s background color.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Select the image on your slide.
2. Click “Format options” from the top toolbar. A sidebar will appear on the right.
3. Expand the “Adjustments” section.
4. Move the “Transparency” slider to the right. As you do, the entire image will become more transparent, including the background.

This technique is a blunt instrument. It doesn’t intelligently separate the subject. For a slightly more advanced trick, if your image background is one solid color that you want to remove, you might have better luck with the “Recolor” tool under “Format options.” If you can recolor the background to match your slide color, it can create an illusion of transparency. However, for a truly professional look, we recommend sticking with Method 1.

When ‘Good Enough’ Simply Isn’t

For the moments that matter, your presentation visuals need to be flawless. While these DIY methods are excellent for day-to-day tasks, they may not deliver the crisp, professional quality required for investor pitches, keynote addresses, or critical sales presentations. PitchWorx specializes in transforming ideas into visually compelling narratives that drive decisions. When you need every element on every slide to be perfect, our team is ready to help.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can you make a background transparent directly in Google Slides?
No, Google Slides does not have a dedicated tool to intelligently identify and remove a background. You can only use the ‘Adjustments’ panel to change the transparency of the entire image, or use workarounds for very simple images with solid-colored backgrounds.

2. What is the best file format for images with transparent backgrounds?
PNG (Portable Network Graphics) is the industry standard. It’s a lossless format that supports a full alpha channel, which is what allows for true transparency. JPGs do not support transparency and will render any transparent areas as white.

3. How do I remove the background from a shape in Google Slides?
This is much simpler. Select the shape (e.g., a square, circle, or text box), go to the “Fill color” option in the toolbar (it looks like a paint bucket), and select “Transparent” from the bottom of the color palette.

4. Why does my transparent image have a white box around it?
This almost always means the image was saved as a JPG file instead of a PNG. Even if the background was removed in an editor, saving it as a JPG flattens the image and fills the transparent areas with white. To fix this, go back to your editing tool and ensure you export or save the file as a PNG.

5. Are third-party background removal tools safe to use for company materials?
Reputable online tools are generally secure, but it’s a valid concern for sensitive or proprietary images. We advise clients to always check the privacy policy of any third-party service. For highly confidential materials, consider desktop software that processes images locally, or work with a trusted design partner who operates under a non-disclosure agreement.