How to Blur the Background in Zoom.
Not everyone has a professional looking video call background. If you want to hide the area behind you from people in Zoom video calls, you can blur the background. This keeps the focus on you and hides things in the background.
As the name suggests, this feature only blurs the background. The outlines of objects and people in the background will be visible even if you use this feature. That’s why we’ll also show you how to use Zoom’s virtual background feature to completely hide your background during video calls.
Who Can Use Zoom’s Blur Background Feature
Zoom will show you an option to blur the background if your computer meets a few minimum requirements. First, you should check if you have a version of Zoom that supports background blur. Here is a short list of minimum required versions to help you with this:
Windows: 5.5.0 (12454.0131) or later macOS: 5.5.0 (12467.0131) or later Linux: 5.7.6 (31792.0820) or later Android: 5.6.6 (2076) or later iOS: 5.6.6 (423) or later
You can quickly check your Zoom desktop client version by clicking on your profile picture in the upper right corner and selecting Settings > Help >About Zoom. If you have an older version of the app, update Zoom to the latest version by going to your profile icon > Check for updates.
On smartphones, you can go to the App Store or Google Play, search for Zoom, and update it from there.
Zoom also lists a few minimum system requirements for the virtual background feature and notes that they apply to the blurred background option as well. You can check if your device meets these system requirements on the Zoom website. There are different specs for those planning on green screening, so be sure to check that out as well.
Finally, your device needs a working webcam to be able to use Zoom’s background blur feature.
How to Blur Background on Zoom for Windows, Mac, and Linux
The background blur feature can be configured before you start a Zoom call. On the Zoom desktop app, you can click the Settings icon below your profile picture to get started. On the left sidebar, select Background & Effects.
Go to the Virtual Background tab and select Blur. This will blur your background and you can see a preview of the effect in the video preview panel above the Virtual Backgrounds tab. If everything went well, you should be in focus and there should be a blur behind you.
In addition, you can choose a different virtual background, such as San Francisco, Grass or Earth. They are pre-installed and you can easily access them without any further steps. You also have the option to use your own background image in Zoom.
On the same “Virtual backgrounds” tab in the zoom settings, click the + icon on the right above the scroll bar. You can now select “Add Image” or “Add Video” and choose your own background for all future meetings.
It’s also worth noting that you can set up a blurry background or virtual background even after the Zoom meeting has started. To test this, you can open Zoom and select the New Appointment option.
When the meeting starts, click the up arrow icon next to the Start Video button. Select Background Blur to add a simple blur effect. You can also select the “Select Virtual Background” option and add an image or video background to your video call.
How to Blur Zoom Background on Android, iPhone, and iPad
If you’re using the Zoom mobile app, you can blur the background after starting a new meeting. On Apple devices such as iPhone or iPad, start a new Zoom meeting and click the More button in the bottom right corner. Select “Background & Effects” and click “Blur” to blur the background.
You can also select other virtual backgrounds on this page, or click the + button to add your own background via your mobile device.
On Android smartphones, you can start a new Zoom meeting and click the More button in the bottom right corner. Then select Virtual Background and select Blur. You can also select one of the default Zoom backgrounds or use the + button to add your own backgrounds.
If the effect doesn’t apply immediately, you can click the “Stop Video” button and click “Start Video” to make it work.
When you leave a Zoom meeting on Android or iOS devices, you can tap the “More” button in the lower right corner of the app’s home screen to navigate to the meetings. Click “Save Virtual Background for” and select “All Meetings” to save the Zoom virtual background for all future meetings.
Keep Video Conferencing Fun
Videoconferencing doesn’t have to be boring. You can create your own background in Zoom or Google Meet to make your meetings more interesting. This will prove to be a great conversation starter, and the best part is that it doesn’t require any technical know-how either.
Now that you’re comfortable with Zoom, be sure to learn all of its keyboard shortcuts to improve your productivity.
How to Blur the Background in Zoom
How to Blur the Background in Zoom