CapCut how-to
How to remove a video background in CapCut (no green screen)
Short answer
Select the clip and open Remove BG. Auto removal cuts out people in one click; Custom removal lets you paint what to keep with the Smart brush; Chroma key removes a solid colour such as a green screen. Put the subject on an overlay track above your new background so the background shows through.
Checked against: CapCut mobile (iOS, Android), desktop (Windows, Mac) and web, October 2026. Button names match CapCut's guides and the top independent guides; layouts move between builds.
Method 1: Desktop
Add the clip
Click Import, select the video and drag it to the timeline.
Open Remove BG
In the right editing panel select Remove BG.
VideoRemove BG
Choose the method
Auto removal removes the background behind people with a single click. For more accuracy, switch to Custom removal and use the Smart brush to paint the parts to keep, then click Apply.
Add the new background
Place the background on the lower track and the cut-out clip above it.
Method 2: Mobile app
Use an overlay
Add the new background as the main clip, then Overlay > Add overlay with the subject video.
Remove BG
Select the overlay and tap Remove BG > Auto removal (or Custom removal / Chroma key).
If it doesn't work
| What you see | Fix |
|---|---|
| "Couldn't apply AI background" | Check your connection and app version; CapCut's help covers this error separately. |
| Edges flicker on moving subjects | Use Custom removal, or film against a plain background and use Chroma key. |
| Nothing happens | Select the top (subject) clip before opening Remove BG. |
Questions people ask
Can CapCut remove a background without a green screen?
Yes. Auto removal isolates people; Custom removal handles objects.
Is background removal free in CapCut?
Auto removal is available in the free app; some brush tools may need Pro.
How do I replace the background with an image?
Put the image on the main track and the cut-out video as an overlay above it.
More CapCut guides
Sources and how we checked
- CapCut: How to remove background in CapCut (checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed October 5, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Each step is compared with CapCut's own documentation (linked above) and with the top search results for this task; where they disagree, the maker's documentation wins. Steps without a source link follow the menu names that several current guides agree on.