How to Change Your Microsoft Teams Background
Video conferencing has become an integral part of our daily lives, especially in the business world. Microsoft Teams, one of the most popular video platforms, allows users to connect with colleagues, clients, and supervisors from anywhere in the world. However, one aspect that often gets overlooked is the background that appears behind you during video calls. If you have ever wondered if you can change your teams background, you can!
A cluttered or unprofessional background can distract participants and give off the wrong impression. Fortunately, Microsoft Teams offers a solution to this problem by allowing users to change their teams background. In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through the process of changing your Microsoft Teams background on both laptops and mobile devices. By the end of this article, you’ll be able to present yourself professionally and create a distraction-free environment in your video meetings.
How to Change Your Microsoft Teams Background on a Laptop
Changing your background on Microsoft Teams is a straightforward process that can be done before or during a meeting. Let’s start with changing the background before a meeting:
Step 1: Prepare for a Teams Meeting
To change your background before a meeting, launch Microsoft Teams on your laptop and select the “Chat” option from the left pane. Then, click the “New Meeting” (Camcorder) icon from the upper-right area of the Chat pane and click “Start meeting.”
Step 2: Open the Background Settings Pane
On the “Meeting with” box, make sure the “Video” and “Audio” switches are turned on. Then, click the “Background effects” icon located under the preview window.
Step 3: Change Your Teams Background
In the Background settings pane on the right, you’ll find a variety of built-in images that you can use as your background. Simply click on the image you prefer, and then click “Join now” to start or join a meeting with your new background.
If you want to use a custom background, click “Add new” at the top of the Background settings pane. This allows you to upload an image from your computer to use as your background. Once you’ve selected your custom background, click “Join now” to apply it to your meeting.
To remove or disable the background effects, simply select “None” in the Background settings pane.
Part 2: How to Change Your Microsoft Teams Background During a Meeting on a Laptop
Sometimes, you may want to change your background during a meeting. Microsoft Teams makes it easy to switch backgrounds on the fly. Here’s how:
Step 1: Start/Join a Meeting
Follow the same steps as in Part 1 to start or join a meeting on Microsoft Teams.
Step 2: Access the Background Settings Pane
While in the meeting, click the “More actions” icon located in the top-right area of the “Meeting with” box. From the menu that appears, select “Apply background effects.”
Step 3: Change Your Background
In the Background settings pane, you’ll see a selection of images that you can choose from to replace your background. Click on the image you want, and then click “Apply” to change your background during the meeting.
You can also upload a custom image by clicking “Add new” in the Background settings pane and selecting an image from your computer. This allows you to personalize your background even further.
Part 3: How to Change Your Microsoft Teams Background on Mobile Devices
If you prefer to use Microsoft Teams on your mobile device, you can still change your background to create a professional and visually appealing environment. Here’s how:
Step 1: Start a New Teams Meeting on Mobile
Launch the Microsoft Teams app on your mobile device and select the “Chat” option from the bottom of the main screen. Tap the “Instant meeting” (Camcorder) icon located in the top-right corner of the window, and then tap “Start meeting” from the lower area of the Instant meeting box.
Step 2: Access the Select Background Screen
Once the meeting starts, tap the “More actions” icon located at the bottom of the screen. From the options box that appears, tap “Background effects.”
Step 3: Change Your Background
On the Select background screen, you have the option to choose from a variety of images provided by Microsoft Teams. Tap on the image you want to use as your background. Alternatively, tap the “+” tile to upload a custom image from your device. After selecting or uploading a background, tap “Done” to save the changes.
Part 4: How to Add a Custom Background in Microsoft Teams
In addition to the built-in background options, Microsoft Teams allows you to upload and use your own custom images as backgrounds. Here’s how to add a custom background:
Step 1: Access the Background Settings Pane
Start Microsoft Teams on your computer and follow the steps outlined in Part 1 to turn on the “Video” and “Audio” switches. Before starting a meeting, open the Background settings pane.
Step 2: Upload and Use a Custom Background
Click “Add new” at the top of the Background settings pane. From there, select the image you want to upload from your computer. Make sure the image is in .JPG, .PNG, or .BMP format. Once you’ve uploaded your custom background, click “Join now” at the bottom of the preview screen to join or start a new meeting with your custom background.
If you want to remove an uploaded background, select another background from the Background settings pane. Locate the custom image you uploaded and click the “More” icon in the top-right corner of the tile. From the options that appear, click “Remove” to delete the custom background.
Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams Meetings
Q1) Can I add a video as a background in Teams?
As of now, Microsoft has added a feature that allows animated backgrounds. Here is their tutorial on how to access this option: Microsoft Tutorial.
Q2) Why can’t I change the background in Teams?
There could be a few reasons why you are unable to change your background in Microsoft Teams. It’s possible that your computer does not meet the minimum hardware requirements, your organization or school has disabled the option, or you are using Teams on a Linux computer. For more details and troubleshooting steps, refer to the Microsoft Teams support page.
Q3) Why am I not seeing the “Show background effects” option?
The option to change backgrounds in Teams is currently only available on devices that meet specific hardware requirements. Microsoft is working to make this feature available on all devices, but there is no official statement regarding its availability. If you are unable to access the background effects option, you may need to wait for future updates from Microsoft.
Conclusion
Changing your background in Microsoft Teams can greatly enhance your video meetings by creating a professional and distraction-free environment. Whether you’re using the desktop version or the mobile app, the process is simple and allows you to choose from a variety of built-in backgrounds or upload your own custom images. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily change your background before or during a meeting, ensuring that you make a positive impression on your colleagues, clients, and interviewers. So, why wait? Start customizing your Microsoft Teams background today and take your video meetings to the next level!
Need help setting up your Microsoft Teams for your business? Reach out to us!