01
Open a video design and upload the clip
Create a video canvas, open Uploads, and add the source file.
Canva workflow · 7 min read
How to Remove a Video Background in Canva
Updated August 29, 2026
Canva can remove a video background inside its editor for eligible accounts. The exact labels may change, but the workflow remains upload, select the clip, open video editing tools, remove the background, and export.
Upload video
Open Edit video
Choose Background Remover
Export the finished design
Step-by-step
Follow the workflow in order
02
Place the video on the canvas
Add the clip, set the crop, and select it so the video toolbar becomes available.
03
Open the background removal tool
Choose Edit video, locate Background Remover, and start the automatic cutout.
04
Review the transparent result
Inspect the subject boundary and restore or erase small areas if those controls are available.
05
Add a replacement scene
Place a photo or design behind the foreground and align both layers.
06
Download the video
Choose the appropriate export option for the destination.
Alternative workflow
Remove the background first, then design in Canva
If the Canva feature is unavailable on your plan or struggles with the footage, create the foreground result in a dedicated video background remover and import it into the design.
- Use transparent WebM when the editor supports it
- Use a precomposited result when alpha import is limited
- Match the design aspect ratio before export
What this page resolves
Match the workflow to the real job
Editor interfaces, plan availability, and button names can change. Treat the illustrated screens as orientation, confirm the controls in the current product, and review the export format instead of assuming that every plan preserves transparency.
If the editor does not expose the required remover or alpha export, process the source here first, download transparent WebM, and then bring the result into the editor for captions, timing, design, or final delivery.
Source preparation
Small input changes prevent avoidable edge problems
Use the highest-quality original available instead of a copy downloaded from a social platform. Keep the subject large enough to see, avoid aggressive compression, and prefer even lighting with visual separation between foreground and background.
Preview the beginning, middle, and end before upload. A clip that looks easy in its first frame may contain crossed hands, hair movement, camera cuts, fast rotation, or an object that briefly disappears behind another element.
- Confirm the current app version
- Check plan availability
- Save the original project
- Verify the downloaded format
Verified product limits
Inputs, outputs, credits, and plan limits
The live remover accepts MP4, MOV, and WebM. Transparent mode returns WebM; custom-background mode accepts one JPG, PNG, or WebP image up to 10 MB. A still image is composited behind the isolated foreground—the product does not currently accept a replacement video.
The free trial supports one verified clip up to 5 seconds and 50 MB. Paid plans raise the limit to 60, 180, or 300 seconds and 200 or 500 MB depending on tier. Processing credits are rounded up in five-second blocks, so a 6-second clip uses 10 credits.
- MP4, MOV, or WebM input
- Transparent WebM output
- JPG, PNG, or WebP background
- 5 credits per started 5-second block
Questions
Details worth checking before you export
Is Canva video background removal free?+
Availability can depend on the current Canva plan and product version. Check the feature label in your account before starting a large project.
Can Canva export transparent video?+
Transparent video support varies by format and workflow. A dedicated WebM alpha export may be more reliable for browser use.
Why do the buttons look different in my account?+
Canva updates its editor and may expose different tools by plan, region, and design type.
How are video background removal credits calculated?+
Credits follow processed duration and round up to the next five-second block. A clip from 1–5 seconds uses 5 credits, 6–10 seconds uses 10 credits, and the same rule continues for longer clips.
What are the current upload limits?+
The verified free trial allows one clip up to 5 seconds and 50 MB. Depending on the paid tier, limits increase to 60, 180, or 300 seconds and 200 or 500 MB. Background images are limited to 10 MB.