Zoom had an average of more than 300 millionย users participating in meetings daily back in 2020. Needless to say, Zoom has been made increasingly ubiquitous as itโs become a staple in peopleโs daily lives.
Zoom offers many handy features that can help make online meetings and video conferences much easier all around. One such feature is the ability to blur or change your background. Changing your background allows you to have a bit more privacy, hide a dull or cluttered room behind you, or jazz up your background a bit.
Are you asking, โbut how do I change my background on Zoom?โ If so, youโre in luck!
In this guide, weโll discuss how to change background on Zoom, what requirements you need to meet, and where you can get free backgrounds to use!
This Article Covers:
What Do You Need to Change Your Background onย Zoom?
If youโd like to change your webcamโs background in a Zoom call, there are a few things youโll need to keep in mind first, such as:
- If you cannot enable virtual backgrounds for any reason whatsoever and you are in a group/team/enterprise, chances are the feature was locked by the administrator. Therefore, if you want to use virtual backgrounds, youโll need to request for the feature to be enabled.
- If you donโt have the option to use a virtual background, log into your account at Zoom.us, go to My Account, Settings, then Toggle virtual background on.
- Background photos must be in either .JPG or .PNG format. They can be in any size or resolution, but itโs best to follow your webcamโs aspect ratio. If you arenโt sure what that is, just use 1280x780px.
- Background videos must be in either .MP4 or .MOV. Resolution must be a minimum of 360p (480x360px) and a maximum of 1080p.
How to Change Background on Zoom Desktop App
Hereโs how to set yourย Zoom background on the desktop app:
How to Put aย Background on Zoom Before a Meeting
- Download and install the Zoom desktop appย on your Mac/Windows computer.
- Open the app and sign in with your Zoom account or other accounts.
- When signed in, click on your profile picture (top right corner) and click on Settings.
- In the Zoom settings,ย Background & Effectsย is where youโll find the options. You can select one of the existing backgrounds or blur your backgrounds.
- If youโd like to upload your own image or video, simply click on the plus icon (pictured below).
How to Add a Zoom Background During a Meeting
If youโre wondering how to add aย background in Zoom while youโre already in a meeting, follow the steps below.
- In the Zoom window, look for the Stop Videoย icon and click the up arrowย on the button.
- Click on Choose Virtual Background, and select a pre-existing background or upload your own by clicking the plus icon.
How to Change Zoom Background for Mobile
If youโre wondering how to change yourย Zoom background on theย iPad, iPhone, or Android device, follow the steps below. Note that you can only change your background while in a meeting.
- Download and install the Zoom app from the app store and install it on your device. Open it and then create an account or sign in.
- While in a call, tap on the Moreย button (with the three dots above it).
- In the menu that comes up, tap on Background & Effects.
- Select your background of choice or upload your own.
Where to Find Free Zoom Backgrounds
Now that weโve answered the question, โhow do I add a background to Zoom?,โ letโs talk about where you can get some fancy backgrounds to use.
You can pretty much use whatever Zoom background you wish, as long as the image or video fits the prerequisites. By that, we mean the image or video should fit the allowed resolution and should be in the correct file type or extension. However, just because you can use anything doesnโt mean that you should.
Although the risk of getting in trouble with copyright holders is low unless you are illegally using copyrighted content during a large meeting or webinar, itโs still a better idea to use a copyright-free Zoom background if possible. Luckily, you donโt even have to spend any money to find some high-quality photos and videos you can use for free.
Here are just a few places from where you can get some free backgrounds for your Zoom meetings:
- Unsplash.comย – You can browse Unsplashโs Zoom Backgrounds category for some images you might want to use. They offer high-quality photographs of offices, homes, scenery, cafes โ pretty much everything you need, for free. Note that you are not limited to this category, either. You can browse Unsplashโs website and use whichever image youโd like, as long as it fits the required parameters.
- Pexels.comย – Pexels is another website that houses a ton of beautiful images you can use as your Zoom background at absolutely no cost. You can browse their Zoom Background category or use any image from their collection. One thing you might like about Pexels, however, is the fact that it offers videos you can use to step up your Zoom background game.
Weโd also like to give Canvaย an honorary mention, as it does offer plenty of ready-to-go backgrounds. It also has a ton of templates you can edit and design within Canva itself so you can create a custom background. Note that some of the templates and backgrounds are only available to Canva Pro subscribers.
Conclusion
Learning how to change background on Zoom might feel intimidating, especially if youโre not particularly in tune with technology. Thankfully, once you get it right the first time, it becomes much easier to do in the future.
We hope that this guide has helped you figure out how to get your virtual background working on Zoom! Let us know what you like to use as your background in the comments below!
You May Also Like:
- How to Change Name on Zoom (Quick and Easy)
- How to Change Background on Google Meet [Desktop & Mobile]
- Best Remote Work Communication Tools
- Best Mouse For MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
- How to Record Google Meet [Easy Guide]
- How to Share Screen on Google Meet [Desktop & Mobile]
- Avoiding โThis Meeting Could Have Been An Emailโ
- Funny Meeting Memes