Zoom background: How to blur the background in Zoom on phone, Windows laptop/ PC, and mac

It’s the level of customisation that makes Zoom among the most popular video conferencing platforms out there. In addition to changing the name, personal meeting ID, email address, and more, the platform allows users to blur/ hide a call’s background on a mobile phone or laptop/ PC. This comes in handy when you don’t want to show your background because it is just too noisy or distracting for others. The Zoom call background can either be blurred or replaced by a virtual one using the in-house tools. Wondering how? We have got you covered. Below is an easy step-by-step guide on how to blur the background in Zoom call.

Blur Zoom call background

You can blur the background while on a desktop as well as a mobile device. The background can be blurred by accessing the settings section on the app. Once you enter the settings, it’s a couple of simple steps that you have to perform to ensure that you have a blurred background. The steps are not very different for desktop or mobile so you can change your background easily when logged in from any device. 

How to blur the background on a Zoom call on Android mobile phone/ iPhone

Whether you are using iOS or Android, Zoom gives you the option to blur the background so you can camouflage any visual noise happening around you. 

• Sign in to the Zoom mobile application.
• While in a Zoom meeting, tap “more” in the controls. 

• Tap Virtual Background (Android) or Background and Filters (iOS). 
• Tap the blur option. Your background around you becomes blurred obscuring your surroundings. 

How to change the background to a blurry one on a Windows laptop/pc

Despite the popularity of mobile, a lot of people still use Zoom on a laptop/desktop. And why not? Video calls on a larger screen have more clarity and feel much better. So can you change the background to a blurry one on a computer? Yes, of course, you can. You can change the background for both PC and Mac. Given below are the steps for changing it on PC.

• Launch the application and sign in to your account. 
• On the top right, click on the “Settings” gear icon option. 
• Once you enter settings, select “backgrounds and filters”. 
• Then, select the “blur’ option to blur your background straight away. 

How to change the background to a blurry one on Mac

The procedure for blurring the background in Mac is only just slightly different from the steps for Windows. The main difference arises in interaction because the Mac has a different UI/UX than Windows. To change the background to a blurry one in Mac here’s what you should do – 

• Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
• Click your profile picture then click on “Settings”.
• Select “Backgrounds and Filters”. If you don’t have the Virtual Background tab and you have enabled it on the web portal, sign out of the Zoom desktop client and sign in again. 
• Select the “blur” option. 

How to change to Virtual background in Zoom using desktop app

Before joining a meeting – 

• Open the app and sign in
• Click on your profile picture then on Settings. 
• In the left menu bar click on the “virtual background tab”. If for some reason you don’t see this tab, log into the Zoom website. 
• Go to settings and toggle on Virtual Background. 
• In the Virtual Background, tab selects one of Zoom’s default images or upload your own. 
• If you have a green screen setup you can select that option too. 
• For adding your own image or video, click the + icon to upload from your computer. 

After joining a meeting – 

• At the bottom of the client, click the “up” arrow next to Stop Video.
  Select “Change Virtual Background”
• In the Virtual Background, tab selects either one of Zoom’s defaults or upload your own.
• Green screen users can enable the option 
• TO add your own images or videos, click on the + icon and upload them from your computer.

FAQs

How many times can you change your Zoom Background?

You can change your Zoom background as many times as you want by following the steps outlined in this article. 

Are the steps for PC and Mac the same?

No, the steps differ as per the operating system. Both OS are catered to, however, so users need not worry. 

Can you change your background while you’re in a meeting?

Yes, you can change the background and select a virtual background or even add your own images which you can upload from your computer. 

What are Zoom virtual backgrounds? 

Using the Virtual Background feature, you can change your image or video background as and when you want, during a meeting in a Zoom Room. This feature needs a green screen so Zoom can detect the difference between you and your background.

Click the desktop app and navigate to Preferences in the settings menu. On the left side menu, click on Backgrounds and Filters. You will then see Virtual Backgrounds, where you can choose from preloaded options or even upload your own by clicking on the + icon to the right of Video filters.