Updated 19 October 2026.
A custom background can make a video call less distracting, whether you use a simple office image or a personal design. Choose it before joining and check the preview: the app still needs to separate your outline from the room behind you.
Prepare an image you can use
Start with a clear landscape image you own or have permission to use. Keep important logos or text away from the edges, where different cameras may crop them. Use a supported image format and check the platform’s current size requirements.
| Platform | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Zoom Workplace | Settings > Video & effects, then the virtual-background controls. |
| Microsoft Teams | The pre-join video effects or background controls. |
| Google Meet | The preview’s background/effects controls, then the option to upload an image. |
Zoom
In the desktop app, open the video/effects settings and find virtual backgrounds. Use the add control to upload your image, then select it in the preview. Zoom‘s current background instructions cover desktop, mobile and web differences.
Availability depends on the device and whether the feature is enabled. A work administrator can limit custom uploads. Backgrounds without a green screen and video backgrounds can have higher hardware requirements.
Microsoft Teams
Before joining, open the background or video-effects controls beside your camera preview. Choose a built-in image or the option to add your own, then preview and apply it. The exact label can vary by Teams version and account.
Microsoft‘s Teams background guide explains the supported workflow. If an organization controls meeting backgrounds, ask its administrator rather than trying to bypass the restriction.
Google Meet
Open the visual-effects/background controls on the pre-join preview. Choose the upload option and select your image. Google’s background and effects guide describes which controls are available on the device and account.
If effects are missing, check the supported browser, device and organization settings. A browser feature or graphics limitation can explain a missing control; reinstalling the entire operating system is not an appropriate first step.
Why Skype is no longer in the setup list
Microsoft retired Skype in May 2025. Old Skype background screenshots should not be treated as instructions for a current supported calling service.
Check the result and protect privacy
- Light your face and avoid a background that matches your clothing.
- Test movement, hair and objects near your outline.
- Close private documents and tidy anything sensitive in the real room.
- Check screen sharing separately: a camera background does not cover your desktop.
For a personalized design, you can edit an image in GIMP before uploading it. Treat blur and replacement as presentation effects, not a dependable security barrier.
FAQs
Why is the upload option missing?
The device, app version or organization policy may not support custom uploads.
Will a background hide everything behind me?
No. Subject separation can fail around movement and objects.
Can I use the same image in all three apps?
Often, if its format and dimensions meet each app’s requirements. Check the preview in each.
Does the background protect a screen share?
No. Camera effects and screen sharing are separate.