How to Remove the Background from a Video (No Green Screen)

Putting yourself on a new background used to mean buying a green screen and lighting it perfectly. Not anymore. ExpoCut detects the subject on-device and removes everything behind them — so you can stand in front of a city, a brand color, or a blurred version of your own room.

Two ways to remove a background

ExpoCut gives you both — pick the one that matches how you shot:

Method	When to use it	Edge quality
Remove BG (auto)	Any footage, any backdrop — no setup	Great for people; depends on contrast
Chroma Key	You filmed on a real green/blue screen	Crispest, best for hair & fast motion

The auto remover is the everyday hero. Chroma key is the studio option when you planned ahead.

Step 1 — Add your clip and a new background

1. Put your subject clip on the timeline

   A person talking or moving works best — even, decent lighting helps the cut-out.

2. Add the new background underneath

   Drop an image, a stock video, a solid shape, or a generative background on a track below your subject. That’s what will show through once the old background is gone.

Step 2 — Remove the background

1. Select the subject clip

   Tap it on the timeline, then find Remove BG in the clip’s tools.

2. Tap Remove BG

   ExpoCut detects the subject and erases everything behind it, frame by frame. The first time, it downloads a small on-device model (about 8 MB); after that it runs entirely on your phone.

Tap Remove BG on the selected clip

A one-time ~8 MB download — then it works offline

Once it finishes, your subject is isolated — everything behind it is gone, so the layer you placed underneath shows through in the final video.

The subject, cleanly isolated — the old background is gone

Step 3 — Sell the composite

A cut-out only looks real when the subject belongs in the new scene. Three quick wins:

• Match the color. Add a light filter or grade so the subject and backdrop share the same temperature.
• Add depth. A slightly blurred background reads as “shot on a real camera” and hides any rough edges.
• Add a shadow or glow sparingly. A soft contact shadow grounds the subject; skip heavy glows.

When to reach for chroma key instead

If you actually filmed against a green or blue screen, use Chroma Key on the clip instead of auto-removal. Keying a single solid color gives cleaner edges — especially around hair, glasses, and fast movement — and lets you fine-tune exactly which color drops out. Light the screen evenly and keep your subject a step forward to avoid green spill.

A few footage tips for a clean cut

• Even, soft lighting on the subject — avoid harsh shadows behind them.
• Contrast between subject and background (don’t wear the wall’s color).
• Keep the camera steadier; less motion blur means a cleaner edge.

Where to go next

• Give the composite a unified look: color grading on your phone.
• Build a backdrop that moves: generative backgrounds & shaders.
• Layer subjects with shapes & masks: shapes, masks & overlays.

No green screen, no studio — just tap Remove BG, drop in a new backdrop, and you’re anywhere you want to be.

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Frequently asked questions

Can I remove a video background without a green screen?

Yes. ExpoCut uses on-device subject segmentation to detect a person (or foreground) and erase everything behind them automatically — no green screen required. Put any image, video, color, or blurred backdrop on a layer underneath and the subject sits on top of it.

Background removal vs. chroma key — which should I use?

Use automatic background removal for everyday footage shot on any backdrop. Use chroma key when you actually filmed against a solid green or blue screen — keying a clean color gives crisper edges, especially around hair and fast motion. Both live on the clip's tools.

Does background removal work offline?

Yes — the subject detection runs on the phone, so it works without a connection and your footage stays private. Even lighting and good contrast between subject and background give the cleanest cut-out.