How to use Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft has just rolled out their version of the virtual background for meetings in Teams. The background blur has been a feature since 2018, but this new update allows you to add backgrounds for your video calls. Here’s our guide to setting up the feature and selecting your background.

How to choose your background

1. Start a meeting and click the […] icon in the menu bar.
   

   

2. Select “Show background effects”
   

   

3. Select the background image you would like to use.
   

   

4. Click “Preview” to check the background before you apply it (optional)
   

   

5. Click “Apply” or “Apply and turn on video” to apply your background
   

   

Tip: if your meeting has been scheduled, you can select your background before joining the call.

How to add custom backgrounds to Teams

It’s only a matter of time before Microsoft makes it easy for Teams users to add custom backgrounds to their video conferencing service. In the meantime, here’s a sneaky hack you can use to add custom backgrounds now.

Adding your own backgrounds to Teams isn’t as easy as on Zoom. However, there is a way! Follow the steps below to update your Teams calls with backgrounds of your choice.

What do I need?

• Make sure you’ve downloaded the latest version of Teams
• Check that you have the ’Show background effects’ option when in a meeting
• The sidebar that appears to the right of the screen is where your backgrounds will appear

Microsoft is rolling out the backgrounds feature, meaning some people will get it before others. If it is not available to you yet, keep checking in and it should appear before long as long as your software is up to date.

For Windows

1. Open File Explorer and locate the file you would like to use as your background.
2. Open another File Explorer window and navigate to the Uploads directory for Teams.

Users > (username) > AppData > Roaming > Microsoft > Teams > Backgrounds > Uploads

3. Drag and drop (or copy and paste) your chosen file(s) into the Uploads folder.

For macOS

1. Open Finder and locate the file you would like to use as your background.
2. Open another Finder window and navigate to the Uploads directory for Teams.

Users > (username) > Library > Application Support > Microsoft > Teams > Backgrounds > Uploads

3. Drag and drop (or copy and paste) your chosen file(s) into the Uploads folder.

The Uploads folder will only appear if the Background Effects feature has been added to your version of Teams. Creating your own folder within the Backgrounds folder won’t enable the feature, so you’ll have to wait for it to be rolled out to you - sorry!

Try your background

1. Launch Microsoft Teams
2. Start a meeting and click the […] icon in the menu bar.
   

   

3. Select Show background effects
   

   

4. Select the background image you would like to use. Your image will appear at the bottom of the list, so be sure to scroll down to find it.
   

   

5. Click Preview to check the background before you apply it (optional)
   

   

6. Click Apply or Apply and turn on video to apply your background
   

   

Tip: if your meeting has been scheduled, you can select your background before joining the call.

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