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Is your PNG really transparent?
Drop in an image to check whether it has real transparency, then learn why a PNG can still show a white background and how to fix it.
or drop a PNG, WebP, GIF or JPG here, or paste it
Checked in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Why does my PNG still have a white background?
A PNG can store transparency, but that doesn't mean every PNG is transparent. These are the usual causes, in the order worth checking.
- 1
The background was never removed
Converting a JPG to PNG, or renaming the file, keeps every existing pixel. A white JPG background stays white in the PNG. The background has to be removed with a tool before saving.
- 2
An app flattened it when saving
Some apps add a solid background when they export, copy or share an image, for example when saving as JPG, taking a screenshot, or sending the file through a messaging app that recompresses it. Download the original PNG again and check it here.
- 3
Your viewer shows transparency as white
Many photo viewers draw transparent areas on white, so a transparent PNG can look like it has a white background. Place it on a dark slide or use the dark backdrop above to see the truth.
- 4
The checkerboard is baked in
If you see a gray-and-white checkerboard inside the image itself, the pattern is part of the pixels. The file is not transparent; the background still has to be removed.
- 5
Only a thin white outline is left
Edge pixels in the original were blended with the old background, so a light halo can remain on dark backgrounds. For logos and graphics, the Remove White Background tool unmixes the white from those edge pixels.
Transparency FAQ
How can I tell if a PNG is transparent?
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Drop it into the checker above: it reports whether the file can store transparency and how many pixels are fully or partly transparent. You can also place it over a dark or colored background; if the background shows through, it is transparent.
Can a JPG have a transparent background?
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No. The JPG format has no alpha channel, so every pixel is opaque. Use PNG or WebP for images that need transparency.
Why is there a checkerboard in my downloaded PNG?
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Editors draw a checkerboard behind transparent areas only to show where they are. If the checkerboard appears when you open the file elsewhere, it was saved into the image and the PNG is not actually transparent.
What does "partly transparent" mean?
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Partly transparent pixels let some of the background show through. They usually sit on soft edges such as hair or anti-aliased lettering, and they are what make a cutout blend smoothly into a new background.
Need a transparent PNG?
Remove the background from your own image in a few seconds.
Open the PNG Maker