Learn how to easily blur your background in a Zoom call in this step-by-step guide. Remember to check the minimum system requirements to turn this feature on.
When joining or facilitating a Zoom meeting, aside from the camera quality and internet bandwidth, ensure that your background is appropriate for the video call.
You have options built right into Zoom to hide the space behind you or keep your surroundings private by simply turning on the background blurring feature. This easy toggle setting in Zoom can turn your personal space into a more professional-looking background.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to blur your Zoom background before a meeting, while in a meeting, as well as how to choose a virtual background image that suits your needs.
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Zoom allows you to hide or unhide your video. However, for those who want to turn their video on but, at the same time, not use a virtual background, their next best alternative is to blur their background before joining.
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Pro tip: Check your system requirements and compatibility. To successfully enable Zoom’s background blurring feature, you’ll need to meet the minimum system requirements.
If you’re undecided on blurring your background before the meeting, you can do it later, even when the call is ongoing. For instance, if you want to hide random people passing by at the coffee shop or your family members in the background, you can turn on the Blur feature mid-call.
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Alternatively, you can select the Video Settings. Then, Background & effects and the Blur option from the virtual backgrounds, even after the call starts.
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If you ever need to take a Zoom call on your phone and are not prepared for it, turn on the Blur feature to instantly fix your background.
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Choosing a background image during or before a Zoom meeting is similar to the steps for blurring your background.
3. Select your preferred background or click on the plus icon to add an image or video as a virtual background.
SEE: How to Create a Virtual Background in Zoom
The choice between blurring your background and selecting a background image during a Zoom meeting depends on your preferences, needs, and the context of the meeting.
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SEE: The Best Free Virtual Backgrounds to Use on Zoom or Teams
If you have tried selecting the Blur feature from the Background & Effects menu and it still doesn’t work, the next step is to double-check your Zoom app’s version. According to Zoom, you should update your app to the latest version to use this feature. Further to this, there are device system requirements and compatibility you need to meet in order to start blurring your background, which you can find in the Zoom Support portal.
To determine if you have the latest Zoom version on your computer, sign in to your Zoom app and click your profile picture in the upper-right corner. Select Help and click on About Zoom. From there, you’ll find the currently installed version of Zoom on your desktop.
Test and preview your Zoom background by clicking on your profile picture found in the upper-right corner. Select Settings, and then go to the Background & Effects. Navigate to the Virtual Backgrounds menu, where you can preview, select, and change your background image.
Jame is a Senior Content Editor at TechnologyAdvice.com, specializing in VoIP and office technology. She leads developmental edits on topics related to business communication solutions, cloud-based phone systems, and workplace technology trends. With a background in corporate communications, her work has been featured in publications such as CNBC, Medium, and Thrive Global.
