Change Background for Video Conference: Microsoft Teams, Zoom & Co

1. These backgrounds are suitable for your video conferences
2. Adapt Microsoft Teams video conference background
3. Set Zoom background
4. Adjust Google Meet Background
5. Change virtual background in Webex with a few clicks
6. Adjust video conference background in Discord
7. Conclusion: Now you create individual backgrounds for video conferences at the touch of a button

Home office is not only top of mind due to the Covid-19 pandemic currently, but has become an essential part of the modern working world. This changes many processes in companies as well as meeting formats. Video conferences are being set up more and more frequently to bring together employees who work in different locations.

But even if these meeting formats are becoming more normal for you, it is still understandable if you don't want your colleagues or customers to see what your home or office looks like through the webcam. The mountain of laundry that you still have to put away, the photos from your last holiday or the messy shelf in the background - there is a solution for all of this: Simply blur a virtual background during the video conferences.

In this article you will learn which backgrounds are suitable for use in video conferences and where you can find them. You will also learn how to change the background in different Video conference tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, Webex and Discord on various devices.

These backgrounds are suitable for your video conferences

Backgrounds for video conferences are now as numerous as sands on the beach and there is something suitable for every taste. No matter whether you are series fanatics or football fans, the net is full of suitable images. However, these can be very restless and therefore distracting for your :n counterpart. For the job, backgrounds are therefore more suitable that radiate calm and professionalism.

These can be, for example, nature and Landscape backgrounds that bring you and your conversation partners a piece of holiday directly into your meeting. In addition to the visual variety, they also provide conversation material, from which beautiful place you are currently working. If you prefer it classic, backgrounds of other offices or rooms are suitable as a professional background during a video conference. You can find such backgrounds at Ikea or Design Offices. With these, you can conjure up a stylish flair in no time, without having to clean up your office.

For meetings with many participants, a digital business card is also suitable. It serves as a name tag, whereby you can directly assign the individual people to the respective companies. If you additionally add a QR code that contains your contact details, the other participants can comfortably scan it and have all the information they need to contact you after the meeting. Such business cards can be created via the web app Actionable Background . The platform Canva also offers you a wide selection of graphics for virtual backgrounds that you can either download directly or customize as you wish. But don't worry if you don't like graphics as a video conference background. There is also a simple solution for this, because instead you can simply blur the background. You will now learn how to do this and how to change backgrounds for your online meetings.

Adapt Microsoft Teams video conference background

1. If you want to change your background after starting the online meeting, click on the three points „…“ in the top bar.

2. Now you select Show background effects. The various virtual backgrounds that you can select for your video conference will already be displayed to you.

3. Once you have decided on a background, click on it.

4. Above the provided backgrounds, you will also find the Blur, which makes your background appear blurred.

5. You can also upload and define your own virtual image in the displayed side bar.

6. If you have time to change your background before the start of the meeting, when setting up the Video and audio settings click on the point Background effects. There you will find both the preset variants as well as the blur and the option to upload your own graphic.

As MAC users you can upload your own virtual background by first clicking on the three horizontal points and on Apply background effects. Then you use the key combination Command key + Shift key + Point(.) , which opens the folder „Library“. Follow this path under Application Support/Microsoft/Teams/Backgrounds/Uploads. Here you can place your desired background. You will then find it among the other backgrounds and can select it.

Currently Linux users can not yet use their own background in their Microsoft Teams meetings. Microsoft has also not yet activated this option for smartphone users.

Set Zoom background

The following steps apply to both Windows and Mac and Linux users.

1. First you start Zoom and click on the point Settings below your profile picture.

2. A card with the title Virtual Background now appears on the left side. There you can see the already pre-installed backgrounds.

3. If this tab does not appear, you must first activate it in the Zoom web portal.

4. Now you can select and confirm a professional background for your call.

5. You can add your own image by clicking on + Add Image.

6. If you participate in the Zoom-Call not via the desktop client, but via a Zoom Room, you can set your desired background by clicking on the Gear symbol and then on Virtual Background.

When using your smartphone, you can change the background via the More element and then Virtual Background.

Adjust Google Meet Background

1. If you want to change the background before the start of the meeting in Google Meet open Google Meet and select your video conference.

2. The setting Change background appears in the bottom right bar.

3. After this selection, you can blur your virtual background for the video conference, select an already existing image or upload a new graphic via Add.

4. If you set up your new background only during the video call, simply click on More and then on Change background. The same options as in the previous step are then available to you.

If you use your smartphone to participate in a video conference, simply tap on the screen to see your own picture. Then the option Change background. appears The following steps are as described above.

Change virtual background in Webex with a few clicks

1. As a Microsoft user first open the desktop app of Webex. In the browser you can not change the background.

2. After you have joined the meeting, click on the start video button and then on change virtual background.

3. There you can blur your current background or exchange it for another one.

4. Use the Apply button to save the setting.

1. If you Mac users click on your video during the call.

2. The button Change virtual background then appears.

3. Here you again have the option to select an existing background, add a new one or just activate the blur.

4. To adjust your background in advance, select the point Settings under your profile picture and then Video. There you can adjust your background.

You proceed in the same way if you use WebEx on your iPhone or Android device.

Adjust video conference background in Discord

1. First open the settings in Discord. You get there by clicking on the Gear symboland then on Settings.

2. Next you select Appearance. Now you can choose between a light and dark color scheme.

3. Other backgrounds have to be integrated via themes. You will get these themes for a one-time payment or a subscription.

4. You can find templates under Placeit.net with the search term Discord Theme Template. Choose the one that suits you best and click on it.

5. The Discord Theme Generator will then open, where you can add graphics and texts if necessary and change colors.

6. When you are satisfied with your results, you can download the Discord Theme using the Download button.

The same procedure can also be used when using the tool on the smartphone.

You can find all further important information about downloading Discord on our Discord download page.

Conclusion: Now you create individual backgrounds for video conferences at the touch of a button

You now know that for professional meetings, classic backgrounds such as landscapes or virtual office and living spaces are more suitable as they radiate calm. This way, you can fully concentrate on your meeting. Setting the ideal background takes only a few clicks in each of the video conference tools mentioned and is not complicated at all. If you are not yet sure which video conferencing tool is right for you and your team, just have a look at OMR Reviews under Video Conferencing. All common video tools are listed there and evaluated by users. When you have found the right tool for you and start your next video conference, you can now set the background of your choice in no time and get started.