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Rafael _ Oz
Known Participant
March 25, 2026
Question

Photoshop Remove Background tool is not working like before in recent versions

  • March 25, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 44 views

I've noticed that the Remove Background tool in the latest versions of Photoshop is behaving differently compared to older releases.

In my workflow, I frequently composite students who missed the group photo. For subjects photographed against a clean background, the tool still works perfectly.

However, when there are other people behind the subject, the detection quality has dropped significantly. Even when I carefully pre-select or crop the subject area, Photoshop now includes parts of the people in the background. Previously, it would isolate only the main subject (head and torso) much more accurately.

My typical process is:

  • Place the student photo on top of the original group photo
  • Roughly crop the subject area (usually a rectangle around the person)
  • Use Remove Background

Before, the result was clean. Now, it often grabs fragments of background people, even when they are partially outside the intended selection.

Has anyone else experienced this change in behavior in recent versions?
Is there a setting, model update, or workflow adjustment that restores the previous accuracy?

Thanks in advance.

    2 replies

    @mj
    Community Expert
    @mjCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 26, 2026

    Hi ​@Rafael _ Oz ,

    Try this:

     

    By default, recent versions often use "Device" processing for speed. For crowded backgrounds, the Cloud model is significantly more accurate at distinguishing depth.

    • Change the Default: Go to Edit > Preferences > Image Processing (Windows) or Photoshop > Settings > Image Processing (Mac).

    • Under Select Subject Processing, change it from Device (Quicker results) to Cloud (Detailed results).

    • Manual Toggle: If you don't want to change the global setting, select any selection tool (like the Lasso or Quick Selection tool). In the Options Bar at the top, look for the small arrow next to the Select Subject button and select Cloud.

    Let us know how you go.

    mj

    CMass
    CMass
    Legend
    March 25, 2026

    Hey ​@Rafael _ Oz 

    Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed report—we really appreciate it. I understand how frustrating this can be, and we’d like to help get to the bottom of it as quickly as possible.

    To help us narrow down the issue, could you please provide the following:

    • System Info: In Photoshop, go to Help > System Info, then copy everything into a text file and attach it to your response.

    • Workflow steps: A step-by-step description of what you’re doing, along with a sample image if possible.

    Thanks again for your patience and for working with us on this

    ^CM

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