How to change background picture on zoom

Most of your meetings and social events are probably being held over video call right now. One of the most popular services, Zoom, lets you change your background so that people can't see your messy house. You also might just want some privacy so that folks, perhaps your clients or co-workers, don't see the inside of your home.

I'll show you how to set it up.

How to change your background in Zoom

Zoom has some preset backgrounds you can pick from.

Todd Haselton | CNBC

• Open the Zoom app on your computer.
• Tap the settings icon at the top right.
• Choose Virtual Background on the left menu.
• You'll see some pre-loaded Zoom backgrounds. Pick the one you want.

How to add a custom Zoom background 

You can also set a custom Zoom background.

Todd Haselton | CNBC

You can also use a custom picture as your Zoom background, in case you want to use a photo of your office (see my CNBC newsroom background) or a picture from one of your vacations. To do that:

• Open the Zoom app on your computer.
• Tap the settings icon on the top right.
• Choose Virtual Background on the left menu.
• Tap the '+' button.
• Select the picture on your computer you want to use.

How to change the Zoom background on your iPhone or iPad

You can also change your background on a phone or tablet.

Todd Haselton | CNBC

Knowing how to change your background on Zoom is almost essential these days. Not only does a virtual background help you hide your messy room, but it also gives you something fun to talk about during your meetings. Here’s how to add a virtual background on Zoom, before or during your meeting, and how to use video filters and studio effects to customize your video even more.

Read More: How to set up a Zoom meeting

How to Change Your Background Before a Zoom Meeting

To change your background on Zoom, open the desktop app and click your profile icon in the top-right corner. Then select Background & Filters from the left sidebar. Finally, choose one of the default backgrounds or click the plus sign and select Add Image to upload your own image.

1. Open the Zoom desktop app and sign in. If you don’t already have the desktop app, you can download it from Zoom here. Once you click the link, the app will automatically start downloading the installation package.
2. Then click your profile icon. You will see this in the top-right corner of the window. It might have a picture of you or your initials.
   
3. Next, select Settings.
   
4. Then click Background & Filters. You will see this in the left sidebar of the Settings window that pops up.
   

   Note: If you don’t see this option, go to zoom.us/profile/setting and sign in to your account. Then scroll down to Virtual background under In Meeting (Advanced) and click the slider to the right to enable it. You should also check the box under Virtual background if you want to use a video background.

   
5. Finally, change your background using one of Zoom’s default images or click the plus sign to upload your own image or video.

Note: If you select Blur, it will make your background opaque, but it will also blur out any objects that are too close or far from your camera, including objects you are holding.

If you click the plus sign on the right side of the Zoom window, select Add Image to use any picture stored on your computer. You can add as many pictures or videos as you want, and all of them will be there the next time you open the app.

Note: Zoom recommends using a background image with a minimum resolution of 1280×720. Also, you should only use MP4 or MOV video files with a minimum resolution of 480×360 and a maximum resolution of 1080×1920.

If your background is bleeding onto your clothes or there are empty spaces in the image, try unchecking the box next to I have a green screen. You should still get the same green-screen effect, but your outline might not be quite as sharp in some cases. Unchecking this box will also use more resources, which could cause your computer to slow down.

You should only check the green screen box if you are sitting in front of a green screen or a wall that is one solid color (a green background is best). To make your outline look sharper, click the color square above Mirror my video and select the color you want to change with your Zoom background.

Note: Clicking this box will cause your cursor to be locked inside your video window until you select a color.

Once you select a color from your background, it will replace everything in your video that is the same color as your chosen Zoom background. So, make sure not to wear any clothes that are the same color as your background. Otherwise, they will also be keyed out and disappear into the background.

For best results, Zoom also recommends your background be bright and evenly lit.

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How to Change Your Background During a Zoom Meeting

To change your background while you are already in a Zoom meeting, tap the upward-facing arrow next to the camera icon near the bottom-left corner of your window. Then select Choose Virtual Background and select the background you want to use.

How to Add Video Filters and Studio Effects on Zoom

In addition to changing your background on Zoom, you can also change the way your video looks. To do this, go to Settings > Background & Filters and select Video Filters. You can also click Studio Effects in the bottom-right corner for other ways to change your appearance.

Now that you know how to add a virtual background in Zoom, check our list of the best webcams to make your video as clear as possible.

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