Unscreen Shutdown: Complete Migration Guide - Save Your Work & Switch Tools

Unscreen Is Gone: Here's Exactly What to Do Now

If you're reading this, you've probably just discovered that Unscreen—the popular video background removal tool—has shut down. The service officially closed on December 1, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. CET, and thousands of creators, marketers, and video editors are now looking for answers.

This guide covers everything you need to know:

• What happened to Unscreen and why it shut down
• How to recover any work you might have lost
• Step-by-step migration to a new tool
• Which alternative best fits your specific workflow
• How to set up your new workflow in under 10 minutes

Let's get you back to creating.

Part 1: What Happened to Unscreen?

The Timeline

Why Did Unscreen Shut Down?

Unscreen was acquired by Canva, and the team decided to integrate their technology into Canva's platform rather than maintain a separate service. Unscreen's shutdown FAQ directly recommends Canva's video editor as the official replacement.

However, Canva isn't the right fit for everyone—especially if you need:

• Dedicated background removal without a full editor
• Transparent video export (WebM/MOV with alpha)
• Batch processing capabilities
• API access for automation

We'll cover all the alternatives below.

Part 2: Emergency Recovery - Save Your Work

Can You Still Access Unscreen?

No. As of December 1, 2025, all Unscreen services are offline. You cannot:

• Log into your account
• Process new videos
• Download previously processed files

What About Your Uploaded Videos?

According to Unscreen's shutdown FAQ:

This means:

• Videos processed before November 1, 2025 → Already deleted
• Videos processed in November 2025 → May still be recoverable (contact Canva support)
• Videos processed after shutdown → Not possible

Recovery Checklist

If you think you might have files to recover:

1. Check your local downloads folder for any exported files
2. Search your email for Unscreen download links (they may still work for recently processed files)
3. Contact Canva Support if you processed videos in the last 30 days before shutdown
4. Check cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox) if you synced exports

What You've Likely Lost

Be realistic about what's gone:

• Original uploaded videos (if you didn't keep copies)
• Processing history and settings
• Any videos in your Unscreen queue at shutdown time
• Adobe plugin functionality

The good news: Your original source videos (the ones you uploaded to Unscreen) should still be on your computer or camera. You can re-process them with a new tool.

Part 3: Choosing Your New Tool

Quick Decision Guide

Answer these questions to find your best fit:

Question 1: Do you need transparent video export?

• Yes → Skip Canva, choose a dedicated remover
• No → Any tool will work

Question 2: Do you process more than 10 videos per month?

• Yes → Look for subscription plans with unlimited processing
• No → Pay-per-video might be cheaper

Question 3: Do you need batch processing?

• Yes → Choose VideoBackgroundRemover.io or Runway
• No → Any tool will work

Question 4: Do you also need editing features (captions, templates, resizing)?

• Yes → Canva, VEED, or Kapwing
• No → Dedicated background remover is faster

Tool Comparison Matrix

Part 4: Step-by-Step Migration

Migrating to VideoBackgroundRemover.io

This is the closest experience to Unscreen's original workflow: upload → remove background → download.

Step 1: Create Your Free Account

1. Go to VideoBackgroundRemover.io
2. Click "Get Started Free"
3. Sign up with Google (fastest) or email
4. You'll receive 3 free credits to test

Step 2: Upload Your First Video

1. Click "Upload Video" on your dashboard
2. Drag and drop your video file (or click to browse)
3. Supported formats: MP4, MOV, WebM, AVI, MKV
4. Maximum file size: 500MB (larger files on Pro plans)

Step 3: Process and Preview

1. The AI automatically detects your subject
2. Preview the result before using credits
3. If needed, adjust settings:
   • Edge smoothing (for hair/fine details)
   • Background replacement (color, image, or transparent)

Step 4: Export Your Video

Choose your export format:

• MP4 - Standard video with new/solid background
• WebM - Transparent background (works in most editors)
• MOV (ProRes 4444) - Highest quality transparent (After Effects, Premiere)

Step 5: Download and Use

1. Click "Download" when processing completes
2. Find the file in your Downloads folder
3. Import into your video editor or use directly

Migrating to Canva (Official Recommendation)

If you want an all-in-one editor:

1. Go to canva.com and sign up for Pro trial
2. Create a new Video project
3. Upload your footage
4. Select the video clip → Click "Edit" → "Background Remover"
5. Add templates, text, or backgrounds as needed
6. Export as MP4

Note: Canva does not support transparent video export. Your cutout will always have a background.

Part 5: Recreating Your Unscreen Workflow

Workflow 1: Talking Head Videos (YouTubers, Course Creators)

What you did in Unscreen: Upload video → Remove background → Download transparent → Layer in Premiere/Final Cut

New workflow with VideoBackgroundRemover.io:

1. Upload your talking head footage
2. Remove background (AI handles hair automatically)
3. Export as WebM or MOV with transparency
4. Import into your editor as an overlay
5. Add your custom background underneath

Pro tip: Process all your talking head clips in one batch, then edit the entire video at once.

Workflow 2: Product Videos (E-commerce, Marketing)

What you did in Unscreen: Upload product video → Remove background → Replace with brand color → Download

New workflow:

1. Upload product demo footage
2. Remove background
3. Select "Replace Background" → Choose your brand color or upload a background image
4. Export as MP4
5. Ready to upload to your store or social media

Pro tip: Create a template with your brand colors saved, so every product video looks consistent.

Workflow 3: Social Media Content (TikTok, Reels, Shorts)

What you did in Unscreen: Quick cutout → Drop into template → Add effects → Export vertical

New workflow:

1. Remove background with VideoBackgroundRemover.io
2. Export transparent version
3. Import into CapCut, InShot, or your preferred mobile editor
4. Add trending templates, effects, and music
5. Export in 9:16 vertical format

Part 6: Common Problems and Solutions

"The edges look bad around hair"

Cause: Complex hair or motion blur can challenge any AI.

Solutions:

1. Enable "Edge Refinement" in settings
2. Try processing at a higher quality setting
3. For difficult clips, process in smaller segments
4. Ensure good lighting in your original footage

"My video is too long to process"

Solution: Most tools have length limits on free plans.

For long videos, consider splitting into segments and rejoining after processing.

"I need transparent export but the tool only gives MP4"

Solution: Not all tools support transparency. Here's what does:

• ✅ VideoBackgroundRemover.io (WebM, MOV)
• ✅ Runway (various formats)
• ❌ Canva (MP4 only)
• ⚠️ VEED (limited)
• ⚠️ Kapwing (limited)

"Processing is too slow"

Possible causes and fixes:

1. Large file size → Compress before uploading
2. High resolution → Start with 1080p, upgrade to 4K only if needed
3. Peak hours → Try processing during off-peak times
4. Free tier limits → Paid plans often have priority processing

Part 7: Setting Up for Success

Organize Your New Workflow

Create this folder structure:

Video Projects/
├── 01_Raw_Footage/
├── 02_Background_Removed/
├── 03_Edited/
└── 04_Final_Exports/

Batch Process for Efficiency

Instead of processing videos one by one:

1. Collect all videos that need background removal
2. Upload them all at once (if your tool supports batch)
3. Process overnight if needed
4. Download all and organize

Save Your Settings

Document your preferred settings:

• Export format (WebM vs MOV vs MP4)
• Resolution (1080p vs 4K)
• Edge smoothing level
• Default background color/image

Part 8: FAQ - Your Questions Answered

Is Unscreen coming back?

No. Unscreen has been acquired by Canva and the service will not return as a standalone product.

Can I get a refund for my Unscreen subscription?

Unscreen stated that active subscriptions would remain usable until their expiration date. For refund requests, contact Canva support.

What happened to Unscreen's Adobe plugins?

The After Effects and Premiere Pro plugins were removed from app stores and no longer function. You'll need to use web-based alternatives or find other plugins.

Is Canva's background remover as good as Unscreen?

Canva's background removal uses similar AI technology, but it's designed as part of their editor workflow. If you just need quick cutouts with transparent export, a dedicated tool may be faster.

Which tool is most similar to Unscreen?

VideoBackgroundRemover.io is designed specifically for video background removal with a similar "upload → process → download" workflow. It also supports transparent export, which many all-in-one editors don't.

How much will this cost me monthly?

Can I automate background removal?

Yes, if you need API access:

• VideoBackgroundRemover.io offers API on higher tiers
• Runway has API access
• You can also use services like Replicate or FAL directly

Conclusion: Your 10-Minute Migration Plan

Here's exactly what to do right now:

1. [ ] Accept that Unscreen is gone (2 seconds)
2. [ ] Check if you have any files to recover (5 minutes)
3. [ ] Sign up for a free trial at VideoBackgroundRemover.io (1 minute)
4. [ ] Test with one of your typical videos (3 minutes)
5. [ ] Compare quality to your Unscreen results (1 minute)
6. [ ] Set up your new folder structure (2 minutes)
7. [ ] You're ready to create again!

Special Offer for Unscreen Users

We know switching tools is frustrating. To make your transition easier:

Use code UNSCREEN50 for 50% off your first month of any paid plan.

Start Your Free Trial →

No credit card required. 3 free videos to test.

Last updated: December 28, 2025

Have questions about migrating from Unscreen? Leave a comment below or contact our support team.