Remove image backgrounds locally on Windows — free, no upload
FrameShift removes the background from any image using a local AI model that runs entirely on your machine. No account, no subscription, no internet connection required after setup. Right-click any image in Windows Explorer and get a clean transparent PNG in seconds.
Why remove backgrounds locally?
Your images stay private
Cloud tools like remove.bg or Canva send your images to remote servers. FrameShift processes everything locally — your files never leave your disk.
No subscription, forever free
Cloud background removal tools charge per image or limit free usage. FrameShift is free, open source and has no usage limits.
Works offline
Once the AI model is downloaded, background removal works without any internet connection. Ideal for offline environments or sensitive workflows.
Right-click from Explorer
No app to open, no import dialog. Right-click any image in Windows Explorer, pick Remove Background, and the result appears next to the source.
Batch processing
Select multiple images, right-click, and all files are queued and processed in one shared progress window.
GPU accelerated
The fast mode uses ONNX Runtime with DirectML for GPU acceleration when available, with automatic CPU fallback.
Available models
| Mode | Model | Speed | Quality | GPU |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fast (default) | BiRefNet Lite | Fast | Good | ✓ DirectML |
| High Resolution Matting | BiRefNet HR Matting | Slower | High — hair & detail | CPU only |
| High Resolution General | BiRefNet HR General | Slower | High — general subjects | CPU only |
| BRIA Balanced ¹ | BRIA RMBG-2.0 FP16 | Medium | Very high | ✓ DirectML |
| BRIA High Quality ¹ | BRIA RMBG-2.0 FP32 | Slower | Highest | CPU / GPU |
¹ BRIA models are user-supplied (non-commercial, CC BY-NC 4.0). FrameShift never downloads or redistributes them. Obtain them from BRIA's official page.
How it works
Right-click any image (JPG, PNG, WebP…) in Windows Explorer and choose FrameShift → Remove Background.
Pick a mode — Fast for quick results, High Resolution for hair and fine detail, or a BRIA mode if you supplied those models.
Wait for the model preflight — FrameShift downloads the AI model the first time only and verifies its integrity with SHA-256.
Get your transparent PNG — the output is saved next to the source with a unique name. The original is never touched.
Frequently asked questions
Can I remove image backgrounds offline on Windows for free?
Yes. FrameShift removes image backgrounds locally on Windows using a built-in AI model. It is completely free, requires no upload, no account and no internet connection after the model is downloaded once.
What AI model does FrameShift use for background removal?
The default Fast mode uses BiRefNet Lite — a compact, accurate model that runs on the GPU via DirectML. High-resolution modes use larger BiRefNet variants for better detail on hair and complex edges. Optional user-supplied BRIA RMBG-2.0 modes are also supported.
Does background removal require a GPU?
No. The fast mode uses DirectML for GPU acceleration when available and falls back to CPU automatically. High-resolution modes run on CPU only and work on any Windows 10/11 machine.
What output format does background removal produce?
The output is a PNG file with a transparent background, saved next to the source image with a unique name. The original file is never overwritten.
Can I remove backgrounds from multiple images at once?
Yes. Select multiple images in Explorer, right-click, and all files are queued in one shared progress window. Relaunching while the window is open adds to the existing queue.
How does FrameShift compare to remove.bg or Canva?
FrameShift is the right choice if you want to keep your images private — no upload, no cloud, no account. remove.bg and Canva send your images to remote servers. For privacy, offline use and cost (free), FrameShift wins. For the most challenging images with complex hair or fur, cloud services may produce marginally better results on their paid tiers.
Try it — free, no upload, no account
Download FrameShift and remove backgrounds locally on Windows in seconds.