How to Blur the Background in Google Meet.
Depending on the device you’re using to join a Google Meet virtual call, you can change or blur the background before or after the meeting starts. In this article, we’ll go through all the Google Meet background options so you can choose the visual effect that you like best.
Like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, the Google Meet video conferencing app comes with virtual backgrounds and background effects, including a blur feature that you can apply to hide everything behind you.
Why You Should Blur or Change Your Background on Google Meet
There are good reasons to use a blurry or virtual background during hangouts.
Worry less. With blurry or virtual backgrounds, you don’t have to worry about what’s happening behind you during a call. Keep it professional. Wherever you are, blurry backgrounds keep the focus on the topic of the meeting and attendees, not on your surroundings. Relieve the pressure. Whether you’re in your bedroom or in a room full of baby stuff or other clutter, a blurry background can hide the chaos and keep you private. Expand your brand. Whether you’re promoting your personal brand or the company you work for, virtual backgrounds are a great marketing opportunity. Help fight inequality. Virtual backgrounds help hide economic differences. Normalizing the use of blurry or virtual backgrounds can help protect people with fewer resources from judgment or bullying.
Whatever the reason you want a blurry or virtual background, here’s how to get it done in Google Meet.
Requirements to Apply Visual Effects in Google Meet on a Computer
To use visual effects in Google Meet running on a computer, you first need to make sure that your computer meets the minimum requirements.
You will need a browser that supports backgrounds, styles, and immersive effects. If you have Google Chrome version 91 or higher on a Mac, Windows or Linux computer, this will work. If you have version 91 or higher on Chrome OS, this will work too. Similarly, Microsoft Edge (Chromium) 91 or later for Windows or Mac must qualify. Safari 10.1 or higher should work too, but use Chrome just in case.
You will also need a 64-bit operating system and a browser with WebGL support.
If you’re using Chrome on a Windows or Mac computer that meets all of the above requirements but still can’t use visuals in Google Meet, you may need to turn on hardware acceleration.
How to enable hardware acceleration in Chrome
To enable hardware acceleration in Chrome on Windows or Mac, follow these steps.
In the upper right corner of the Chrome window, select the More icon (three dots).
Select Settings. In the menu on the left, select System.
Enable Use hardware acceleration when available.
Click the “Relaunch” button to restart Chrome.
When Chrome restarts, it will reopen all browser tabs that you had open when you selected Relaunch.
How to Blur the Background in Google Meet on a Computer or Chromebook
As long as you’re signed into your Google account, you can blur or change the background before joining a Google Meet video call.
In a web browser, sign in to your Google account. Open the meeting link or go to meet.google.com and enter the meeting code or link. Select Join. In the preview, click the Apply Visual Effects button.
From there, select one of the background blur options – blur the background slightly or blur the background. You can also choose from preloaded options or filters, or upload your own.
Close the Get Ready popup. Click the “Join Now” button to join the meeting.
On a Chromebook or Windows or Linux computer, you can select a blur option or change your virtual background after you’ve already joined a meeting by selecting the More icon (three dots) in the meeting controls at the bottom of the screen. meeting window. From there, select Apply Visual Effects and select the blur effect, background, or filter you want to apply.
To blur or change the virtual background after you’ve joined a Google Meet video call on Mac, select the More icon (three dots) in the meeting controls. Then select Change background. From there you can select “Blur Background” or “Slightly Blur Background”.
How to Blur the Background in the Google Meet App on Android or iPhone/iPad
Android users must have a device running Android 9.0 or later and can get the official Google Meet app from the Google Play store. iPhone 8 and later or iPad 5th generation and later users can get the app from the Apple App Store. Even with these caveats, it’s worth noting that the availability of effects on Android varies by device. This feature is not available on our Pixel 3, although we’ve heard it works great on the Pixel 3a.
After installing the app, follow the steps below to blur the background.
Open the Meet app and select a meeting. Before joining a meeting, click Effects under your view. Select the desired blur, background, filter, or style option. When you’re done, click Close or Done. Click Join to start the meeting.
During a video call, change or blur the background by tapping Effects on your screen and selecting the desired background effect. When you’re done, click Close.
How to Blur the Background in Google Meet
How to Blur the Background in Google Meet