How to Change Your Background in Teams

Edited 3 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Microsoft TeamsBackgroundsAppearanceVideo CallsRemote WorkCustomizationSettingsSoftwareVisualsTools

Microsoft Teams has become an important tool for communication and collaboration in many organizations. One of its interesting features is the ability to change your background during a video meeting. This feature can help you maintain privacy, reduce distractions, or simply add a personal touch to your call. Whether you're working from your home office or a busy coffee shop, using the background change feature can improve your video call experience. In this guide, we'll walk you through the detailed process of changing your background in Microsoft Teams, along with easy-to-follow examples.

Why change your background?

Before we dive into the step-by-step process, it's helpful to understand why you might want to change your background during a Teams meeting:

• Maintain privacy: If you're working from home, you may not want to expose your personal space to your co-workers or clients.
• Reduce distractions: A custom or blurred background can prevent others from seeing actions or movements happening behind you.
• Professional appearance: A clean or branded background can help create a more professional image.
• Express yourself: Use creative backgrounds to share a part of your personality or lighten up the meeting atmosphere.

Getting started with Microsoft Teams background

To change your background in Microsoft Teams, you must have the application installed on your computer or device. Make sure you are using the updated version of Teams, as the background feature may not be available in older versions. Let's learn the steps required to change the background during a meeting and before joining a meeting.

Change your background before a meeting

Sometimes, you may want to set your background before joining a meeting. This way, you can join the meeting with your chosen background. Here are the steps:

1. Open your Microsoft Teams app and go to your calendar.
2. Select the meeting you want to attend or click the "Join" button if the meeting is about to start.
3. On the "Join Now" page, you will see an option with a toggle for your camera. Above the video preview, there is a button called "Background Filter". Click on this button.
4. A panel will appear on the side showing different background options. You can choose from a blurred background, pre-installed images, or add your own.
5. To choose a pre-installed background, simply click on one of the available images. To blur your background, select the "Blur" option.
6. If you want to upload a custom image, click the "Add New" button in the background settings panel. Browse to your computer to select the image you want to use and click "Open."
7. Once you've selected or uploaded a suitable background, it will appear as your background when you join the meeting.
8. Click the “Join Now” button to enter your meeting with the new background.

Change your background during a meeting

If you've already joined a meeting and think you need to change your background, don't worry. You can change it at any time during the meeting using the following steps:

1. While in a meeting, go to the meeting control bar, usually located at the bottom of the Teams app.
2. Find the “More Actions” button (represented by three dots) and click on it.
3. From the dropdown menu, select "Apply background effect."
4. In the background settings panel that appears, you can choose to blur your background or choose from the available images. Like the pre-meeting setup, you can also add a new image by clicking "Add New."
5. After making your selection, click “Preview” to see what your selected background looks like before applying it to the meeting.
6. If you are satisfied with the preview, click "Apply" to use the background. Your background will change immediately, and meeting participants will see the updated background on their screens.

Best practices for using custom backgrounds

Although changing your background can be exciting and fun, it's important to keep a few best practices in mind to ensure that your use of custom backgrounds is effective and professional:

• Choose appropriate images: Remember that your background will be visible to all meeting participants, so choose images that are appropriate for your audience.
• Avoid busy patterns: Select images that aren’t too busy or distracting to avoid distracting from the main focus of the meeting.
• Consider lighting: Make sure your face is well lit so it doesn't blend in with the background. Use natural light from a lamp or window to illuminate your face.
• Test first: If you think you'll want to use a specific image, test it before your meeting to see how it looks on screen.
• Respect copyright: Make sure any images you use are royalty-free or that you have permission to use them.

Troubleshooting common problems

As with any software feature, users may encounter issues when trying to change their background in Microsoft Teams. Here are some common problems and solutions:

• Background option not showing: Make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Teams. If the problem persists, update your device's operating system or make sure it meets the software requirements for changing the background.
• Blurry or pixelated image: This problem may be caused by poor camera quality or low computer processing power. Try increasing the light level in your room or updating your camera driver.
• Performance issues: If Teams is running slow when using background effects, disable the background or redeploy a less challenging image to improve performance.
• Failed to upload custom image: Make sure your image file size meets team restrictions and is in a supported file format (JPEG, PNG).

Alternative background solutions

If you find that the built-in background options and custom uploads aren’t meeting your needs or preferences, consider these alternative solutions:

• Install a virtual green screen application: Virtual green screen software can improve your background by providing more advanced customization tools. An additional application can provide more precision and variety.
• Use a physical background: Create a simple and clean background by using a physical background, such as a curtain or folding screen, which can often provide the most obvious solution.

Conclusion

Changing your background in Microsoft Teams can create the more personal meeting experience you need to participate professionally and comfortably in any virtual setting. Whether your goal is to maintain privacy, enhance professionalism, or add a touch of personality, the ease and flexibility of Microsoft Teams' background feature is an excellent benefit when connecting with colleagues, friends, and family from anywhere in the world.

By following the clear steps outlined in this guide, you should have the ability to easily change your background before or during any meeting. Exploring and using each feature effectively gives you practical solutions for a better remote work experience.

Remember, while the option to customize your background offers a lot of flexibility, using it intentionally and appropriately ensures that it supports your meeting goals rather than hinders them.

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