Microsoft has enhanced its Photos app in Windows 11 with a new Background Blur feature, allowing users to easily blur the background of any photo, much like the Portrait mode on smartphones. This tool automatically detects the background and applies a blur effect, making your subject stand out more prominently. If needed, you can manually adjust the areas to blur for a perfect finish.

How to Get the Background Blur Feature on the Photos App

To utilize the Background Blur feature, ensure that your Photos app is updated to version 2023.11090.13001.0 or newer. This update also brings additional features like Search functionality and Motion photo support. Here's how to update your Photos app:

Step 1: Open the Microsoft Store app on your Windows 11 PC and navigate to the 'Library' section.

Step 2: Click on 'Get updates' to check for any available updates for your installed apps.

Step 3: If updates are available, click 'Update all' to download and install them. Wait for the process to complete.

Step 4: Once updated, open the Photos app. You should now see the 'Background Blur' tool next to the 'Retouch' tool in the toolbar.

How to Blur Background in Photos App on Windows 11

The Background Blur feature in the Photos app helps you enhance your images by focusing on the subject and blurring out the background. Follow these steps to apply the blur effect to your photos:

Step 1: Open the image you want to edit using the Photos app. You can do this by right-clicking the image file in File Explorer, selecting 'Open with', and choosing 'Photos'. Alternatively, launch the Photos app and open the image from within the app.

Step 2: With the image open in Photos, click on the 'Edit image' icon at the top of the window or press Ctrl + E on your keyboard to enter editing mode.

Step 3: In the editing toolbar, select the 'Background Blur' icon to initiate the blur feature.

Step 4: The app will automatically analyze the photo, detect the background, and apply a blur effect, highlighting the main subject.

Step 5: Adjust the 'Blur intensity' by moving the slider on the right side of the screen to achieve the desired level of blur. The default setting is 50%.

Manually Adjusting the Blur Effect: If the automatic selection doesn't perfectly isolate the background or misses certain areas, you can manually refine the blur effect.

Step 6: Enable the 'Selection brush tool' by toggling it on from the right-hand panel. This allows you to manually select or deselect areas for the blur effect.

Step 7: Use the 'Select area' option to highlight additional background areas you want to blur, or use 'Deselect area' to remove any over-blurred sections from the subject.

Step 8: Adjust the 'Brush size' and 'Brush softness' sliders to control the precision of your selections. A larger brush covers more area, while a softer brush creates smoother transitions.

Step 9: With the brush tool, click and drag over the areas you wish to modify. The selection will update in real-time to reflect your changes.

Step 10: Continue adjusting the 'Blur intensity' slider if needed to fine-tune the effect.

Step 11: Once satisfied with the adjustments, click 'Apply' to confirm the changes.

Step 12: If you wish to add another blur layer or effect, select 'Add new background blur' and repeat the process.

Step 13: To save your edited photo, click on 'Save as copy'. This will keep your original image intact and create a new file with the applied effects.

Step 14: Choose the destination folder, enter a new file name for the edited image, and click 'Save'.

Your photo now has a beautifully blurred background, emphasizing the main subject, similar to the portrait mode effect found on many smartphones.

Additionally, Microsoft is introducing a background removal feature in the Paint app. Unlike the blur effect in Photos, this new feature completely removes the background, leaving a transparent or solid color backdrop. Both tools offer different ways to edit your images depending on your needs—whether you want to soften the background or remove it entirely.