Changing your virtual background image

When enabled, the virtual background feature allows you to display an image or short video as your background during a Zoom meeting, which can provide you with more privacy or a consistent and professional look for a presentation.

If you don't have your own images or videos for use as a virtual background, you can create custom backgrounds with AI, go without a virtual background, or blur the background instead. You can also use a virtual background in a Zoom Room.

Some virtual background options, such as virtual background without a green screen or using a video as your virtual background, require more system resources and have higher system requirements. Learn more about the system requirements for virtual backgrounds.

Requirements for applying or changing your virtual background

Table of Contents

Recommended setup for virtual backgrounds

With a green screen

Virtual background with a green screen provides the best virtual background effect and uses less system resources during the meeting. This method requires you to have a solid-colored screen, curtain, or wall behind you, which Zoom will replace the selected color with the image or video you selected. This method improves the sharpness and definition of the virtual background effect around you.

For best results:

Without green screen

Virtual background without a green screen provides the same effect as when using a green screen, only with less sharpness and definition around you. This is because without a solid, contrasting color behind you, the system is less likely to accurately distinguish you in the foreground from the background. This method requires more system resources, so it has higher system requirements.

For best results: 

Image and video specifications for virtual backgrounds

Background image dimensions

Background video dimensions

How to apply or change a virtual background

Windows | macOS | Linux

Change your virtual background before a meeting

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. In the top-right corner, click your profile picture, then click Settings.
  3. Click Backgrounds & effects .
  4. Click the Virtual backgrounds tab.
    Note: If you do not see the Virtual backgrounds tab and you have enabled it on the web portal, sign out of the Zoom desktop app and sign in again.
  5. (Optional) Choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:
    Note: If you are currently in a meeting or webinar with your video on, your virtual background will change in the live session if you change it from these settings.
    • Click None to remove your virtual background.
    • Click Blur to blur your background.
    • Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images or videos.
    • To upload your own virtual background, click the add icon and choose if you want to upload an image or a video. Then continue with choosing a file on your device. If prompted, click Download to download the package for virtual background without a green screen.
    • To generate a custom virtual background using AI Companion, enter your virtual background idea into the text box and click Generate. If you'd like a different result, click Try again to generate a new background. You can also select an artistic style for your image from the available options.
  6. (Optional) Click the I have a green screen toggle if you have a physical green screen set up. Ensure that you are using a solid background color when this option is enabled. You can then click on your video to select the correct color for the green screen.

Change your virtual background during a meeting

  1. Join a meeting on the Zoom desktop app.
  2. In the bottom-left corner of the video window, click the arrow icon next to Video.
  3. Click Adjust background & effects.
  4. (Optional) Choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:
    Note: If you are currently in a meeting or webinar with your video on, your virtual background will change in the live session if you change it from these settings.
    • Click None to remove your virtual background.
    • Click Blur to blur your background.
    • Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images or videos.
    • To upload your own virtual background, click the add icon  and choose if you want to upload an image or a video. Then continue with choosing a file on your device. If prompted, click Download to download the package for virtual background without a green screen.
    • To generate a custom virtual background using AI Companion, enter your virtual background idea into the text box and click Generate. If you'd like a different result, click Try again to generate a new background. You can also select an artistic style for your image from the available options.
  5. (Optional) Click the I have a green screen toggle if you have a physical green screen set up. Ensure that you are using a solid background color when this option is enabled. You can then click on your video to select the correct color for the green screen.
Android | iOS
  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. If you’re in a meeting, do the following:
    1. In the meeting controls toolbar, tap More.
    2. Tap Background & effects.
    3. Proceed to step 4.
  3. If you’re not in a meeting, do the following:
    1. In the bottom-right corner, tap More.
    2. Under Settings, tap Meetings.
    3. Under Video, tap Background & effects.
    4. Proceed to step 4.
  4. (Optional) On the Backgrounds tab, choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:
    Note: If you are currently in a meeting with your video on, your virtual background will change in the meeting if you change it from these settings.
    • Tap None to remove your virtual background.
    • Tap Blur to blur your background.
    • Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images.
    • To upload your own virtual background, tap the plus icon + and choose an image on your device.
      The background will be automatically applied.
  5. After selecting your virtual background, tap the close icon .
Web app
  1. Join or start a meeting through the Zoom web app.
  2. In the meeting controls toolbar, next to the Start Video / Stop Video icon, click the up arrow icon .
  3. Click Choose Background.
  4. Choose from the following options:
    • Under Choose Background, click on an image to select the desired virtual background.
    • Add your own image by clicking the add icon to select the image you want to upload.
      Note: If you cannot add an image, you can contact your Zoom admin to enable this feature.
  5. Close the window to return to the meeting.

Troubleshooting virtual background issues

If you are experiencing issues with virtual background, try the following troubleshooting tips:

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