The virtual background feature of Zoom blurs the background of your video call so that only the outlines of objects and people in the background are visible. This can be helpful if you want to keep your privacy while participating in a video call, or if you’re using Zoom for a presentation and don’t want your audience to see any distractions behind you. ..

Who Can Use Zoom’s Blur Background Feature

  • Zoom for Windows 10
  • Zoom for Mac
  • Zoom for iOS
  • Zoom for Android If you don’t have a version of Zoom that supports blurred backgrounds, you can still use it to create and edit photos. To do that, you will need to first enable the blur feature in your photo editor of choice. Then, you will need to add a background image to your photo.

Windows: Windows 10 or newer macOS: macOS 10.13 or newer Linux: Ubuntu 18.04 or newer Android: Android 7.0 or newer iOS: iOS 11

If you’re using the Zoom desktop client, you can check the version by clicking your profile picture in the top-right corner and going to Settings > Help > About Zoom. If you have an older version of the app, you should update Zoom to the latest version by going to Profile Icon > Check for Updates. ..

Zoom is an app that you can find on the App Store or Google Play store, and it’s a great way to improve your photography. You can update it from there.

Zoom also lists a few system requirements for the virtual background feature and notes that these apply to the blurred background option too. You can check if your device meets these system requirements on Zoom’s website. There are different specifications for those who plan to use a green screen, so be sure to check that too. ..

Zoom requires a functioning webcam to be able to use the blur background feature on its device.

How to Blur Background on Zoom for Windows, Mac, and Linux

Zoom’s blur background feature can be set up before you start a call. On Zoom’s desktop app, you can click the Settings icon below your profile picture to get started. In the left sidebar, select Background & Effects. There, you can select the blur background feature and set its parameters. ..

To blur your background, select Blur from the Virtual Background tab. This will blur your background and you should be able to see a preview of the effect in the video preview pane above the Virtual Backgrounds tab. If everything went well, you should be in focus and a blurred image should be behind you.

You can easily change your virtual background to a different one, such as San Francisco, Grass, or Earth. You can also use a custom background image in Zoom.

To add a custom background for all future meetings, in the Virtual Backgrounds tab of Zoom settings, click the + icon on the right side, above the scroll bar. Now you can select either Add Image or Add Video, and choose a background image or video from your computer. ..

Starting a Zoom meeting can be a lot more fun with blurred backgrounds and virtual backgrounds. ..

To start a video call, click the up arrow icon next to the Start Video button. Select Blur My Background to add a simple blur effect. You can also select the Choose Virtual Background option and add an image or a video background to your video call. ..

How to Blur Zoom Background on Android, iPhone, and iPad

If you are using the Zoom mobile app, you can blur the background after starting a new meeting. On Apple devices such as iPhones or iPads, start a new Zoom meeting and tap the More button in the bottom-right corner. Select Backgrounds & Effects and tap Blur to blur your background. ..

You can also select other virtual backgrounds on this page or tap the + button to add a custom background via your mobile device. ..

You can start a new Zoom meeting by pressing the More button in the bottom-right corner of your Android smartphone. Then, select Virtual Background and choose Blur. You can also pick one of Zoom’s default backgrounds or use the + button to add custom backgrounds.

If the effect doesn’t work immediately, you can press the Stop Video button and tap Start Video to make it work.

To exit a Zoom meeting on Android or iOS devices, tap the More button in the bottom-right corner of the app’s home screen and go to Meetings. Hit Keep Virtual Background For and select All meetings to retain your Zoom virtual background in all future meetings.

Keep Video Conferencing Fun

If you’re looking for a way to make your video conferencing sessions more interesting, consider using a custom background or wallpaper to do so. This will help make your meeting more engaging and interesting for everyone in attendance.

Zoom: The best way to get more done.