You can blur your background, use a built-in image, or upload your own photo in Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams lets you hide or change what's behind you during a video call without leaving the meeting. You can blur your surroundings, pick from Teams' built-in backgrounds, or upload a picture of your own. The feature works on Windows, Mac, and the Teams app on your phone — though the exact steps differ slightly depending on which device you're using.

The background settings are usually found in the same place: either before you join a call or during an active meeting. If you're using Teams on a computer, you'll find the option in the video preview area. On a phone, it's in your meeting settings. This guide walks you through each method so you can choose what works best for your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • You can change your background before joining a call by clicking the camera icon in the preview window and selecting "Background settings."
  • During an active meeting, click the three dots next to your video feed and choose "Apply background effects" to blur or change your background without leaving the call.
  • Teams includes built-in backgrounds like offices and nature scenes, and you can also upload your own image file from your computer.
  • Background blur works on most devices, but custom background uploads require a computer running Windows or Mac — not available on the mobile app.
  • If your background option is grayed out, your device may not support the feature or you may need to update Teams to the latest version.

How to add a background before joining a Teams call

Before you enter a meeting, Teams shows you a preview of your video. This is the easiest time to set your background because you can see the change take effect right away. Look for the camera icon with a small circle or settings symbol next to it — this opens your video settings.

Click that icon and look for "Background settings" or "Blur my background." If you see "Blur my background," click it once to turn on blur. If you see "Background settings," click it to open a menu with more choices. You'll see options to blur your background, use a built-in Teams image, or upload your own photo. Select whichever you prefer, then join the call. Your choice will stay active for that meeting.

If the background option doesn't appear, your device may not support it, or you may be using an older version of Teams. Try updating Teams through your computer's app store or by restarting the application. On a Mac, go to the Teams menu and select "Check for updates." On Windows, Teams usually updates automatically, but you can force an update by closing and reopening the app.

How to change your background during an active Teams meeting

You don't have to set your background before the call starts. If you're already in a meeting and want to add or change a background, look at the bottom of your screen for the meeting controls. You should see icons for your microphone, camera, and other options. Click the three dots (sometimes called "More actions") to reveal additional buttons.

Find and click "Apply background effects" or "Background settings." A panel will open on the right side of your screen showing blur and background options. Click "Blur" to blur your surroundings, or select one of the built-in images. If you want to use your own photo, click the plus sign or "Upload" button, then choose a file from your computer. The change takes effect immediately, and other people in the meeting will see your new background right away.

If you change your mind during the call, you can switch backgrounds as many times as you want. Just open the background effects panel again and pick a different option. You can also turn off the background effect by clicking "None" or selecting the blur option again.

Using built-in Teams backgrounds

Teams comes with a set of pre-made backgrounds you can use without uploading anything. These include office settings, nature scenes, abstract designs, and branded Teams images. The exact backgrounds available depend on your Teams version, but common options include a modern office, a beach, a forest, and a blurred conference room.

To use a built-in background, open the background effects panel (either before or during your call) and look at the grid of thumbnail images. Click any image to preview it — you'll see it applied to your video feed immediately. If you like it, the background stays active. If you want to try another one, just click a different image. Built-in backgrounds work on all devices, including phones, so you can use them whether you're on a computer or mobile.

How to upload your own background image

If you want to use a personal photo or custom image as your background, Teams lets you upload files from your computer. This feature works on Windows and Mac, but not on the Teams mobile app. Open the background effects panel during or before your call, then look for a plus sign, "Upload," or "Add new" button — the exact label depends on your Teams version.

Click that button and a file browser will open. Navigate to the image you want to use and select it. Teams accepts common image formats like JPG, PNG, and BMP. The image should be at least 360 pixels wide and 360 pixels tall to display properly, though larger images work fine. Once you select the file, Teams uploads it and adds it to your background options. You can now use that image in any future call.

You can upload multiple images and switch between them during calls. To remove an image you've uploaded, open the background effects panel, right-click or hover over the image you want to delete, and select "Delete" or the trash icon. This removes it from your background library but doesn't affect the original file on your computer.

Troubleshooting when background options don't appear

If you don't see the background settings option, the most common reason is that your device doesn't meet Teams' requirements. Background effects require a reasonably modern processor — very old computers may not support the feature. Check your device's specifications or try updating Teams to the latest version first.

On Windows, open Teams and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select "Settings," then "About Teams," and look for the version number. If an update is available, Teams will prompt you to restart and install it. On Mac, click the Teams menu at the top of the screen and select "Check for updates." After updating, restart Teams and try accessing the background settings again.

If background effects are still grayed out or missing after updating, your device may not support the feature. This is most common on older laptops or computers with limited processing power. In that case, blur is usually still available as an alternative, since it requires less computing power than custom backgrounds.

Why your background might look blurry or pixelated

Sometimes a custom background image appears blurry or pixelated during a call even though it looks fine on your computer. This usually happens when the image is too small or when your internet connection is slow. Teams compresses images to save bandwidth, which can reduce quality on slower connections.

To improve the appearance, try using a larger image file — at least 1920 by 1080 pixels if possible. You can also try a different image format; PNG files sometimes compress better than JPG. If the problem persists, it may be a network issue rather than the image itself. Check your internet speed or move closer to your router to improve your connection.

Built-in Teams backgrounds usually look sharper because they're optimized for the platform. If custom images consistently look poor, switching to a built-in background or blur may give you better results during calls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video or animated GIF as my background?

No, Teams only accepts still images for custom backgrounds. You can upload JPG, PNG, or BMP files, but not videos or animated GIFs. If you want movement in your background, the built-in backgrounds are your only option, and most of those are static images as well.

Will my background setting stay the same for every Teams call?

Your background choice stays active for the current meeting and any meetings you join immediately after. However, Teams doesn't always remember your background preference between separate days or after you close the app completely. If you use the same background often, you may need to reselect it each time you start a new call.

Does background blur use a lot of computer power?

Blur uses more processing power than no background effect, but less than a custom image. If your computer is old or slow, enabling blur might make your video feed stutter or cause your device to heat up. If that happens, turn off the background effect or try a built-in image instead, which sometimes performs better than blur on older hardware.

Can people in my meeting see that I'm using a background effect?

Yes, everyone in the call sees your blurred or custom background. They can tell you're using an effect because the background looks different from a normal video feed. There's no way to hide the fact that you're using a background effect, though some people may not notice or care.

What if I upload a background but it doesn't show up in my background list?

If an image doesn't appear after you upload it, the file may be too small, in an unsupported format, or corrupted. Try uploading a different image to test whether the problem is with that specific file. Make sure the image is at least 360 by 360 pixels and saved as JPG, PNG, or BMP. If other images upload successfully, delete the problem file and try a different one.