Change your background in Teams through Settings or during a call

Microsoft Teams lets you change your background in two ways: before you join a meeting, or during an active call. The fastest route is the Settings menu, where you can upload your own image, choose from Teams' built-in options, or blur your background. If you are already in a meeting, you can change it without leaving — the option sits in the meeting controls at the bottom of your screen.

The exact steps depend on whether you use Teams on a computer, phone, or web browser. Desktop and web versions have the full range of background choices. Mobile apps (iOS and Android) let you blur your background but have fewer custom options. All changes take effect immediately and only affect what other people see — your own screen does not change.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, select Backgrounds, and choose Blur, an image from the gallery, or upload your own photo before joining a meeting.
  • During an active meeting or call, click the three dots in the meeting controls, then select Show background effects to change it without leaving.
  • Custom background images work best at 1920 × 1080 pixels and must be under 5 MB in file size.
  • Blurred backgrounds work on all devices, but custom images and gallery options require a desktop or web version of Teams.
  • Your background choice stays in place for future meetings until you change it again in Settings.

Change your background before a meeting through Settings

Open Microsoft Teams and select your profile picture in the top right corner. Click Settings, then navigate to Devices in the left menu. Under Devices, select Backgrounds. You will see three options: Blur, a gallery of preset images, and an option to upload your own photo.

Click Blur to soften everything behind you without removing it. This works on any device and is the fastest option if you do not want to choose an image. To use a preset image, click any thumbnail in the gallery — Teams shows you a preview of how it will look. To upload your own image, click the plus icon and select a photo from your computer. Once you have chosen, close Settings. Your background will be active the next time you join a meeting.

Change your background during a meeting or call

If you are already in a meeting and want to change your background, look at the meeting controls at the bottom of your screen. Click the three dots (more options) on the right side of the controls. A menu will appear with several choices, including Show background effects. Click that option.

A panel will open on the right side of your screen showing the same background choices as Settings: Blur, gallery images, and the option to upload. Select the one you want, and it takes effect immediately. Other people in the meeting will see the change right away. You can switch backgrounds as many times as you want during the call without disconnecting.

Upload a custom background image

Custom images give you the most control over what appears behind you. Click the plus icon in the Backgrounds section (either in Settings or during a meeting) and select a photo from your computer. Teams accepts common image formats: JPG, PNG, BMP, and GIF.

For the best result, use an image that is 1920 × 1080 pixels (the standard screen width and height). The file must be smaller than 5 MB. If your image is larger, you can resize it using any photo editor or online tool before uploading. Once uploaded, your custom image appears in the gallery and stays there until you delete it. You can upload multiple images and switch between them anytime.

Background options on mobile devices

The Teams app on iPhone and Android lets you blur your background but does not support custom images or the full gallery. To blur on mobile, join a meeting, tap the three dots in the meeting controls, and select Blur my background. The blur activates immediately.

If you want to use a custom image or gallery option, you will need to use Teams on a computer or web browser instead. Mobile versions of Teams are simpler by design and do not include all the background features available on desktop.

Troubleshoot background issues

If your background does not appear or keeps reverting to blur, check that your image file is under 5 MB and in a supported format (JPG, PNG, BMP, or GIF). Restart Teams and try uploading again. If the background works in Settings but not during meetings, make sure your camera is turned on — Teams sometimes disables background effects when the camera is off.

On some older computers, background effects may not work at all because they require a certain amount of processing power. If blur is not available, your device may not meet the minimum requirements. In that case, you can still use a solid-color background by uploading a simple image file instead.

Save your background choice for future meetings

Once you select a background in Settings, Teams remembers it for all future meetings. You do not have to choose again unless you want to change it. If you switch between multiple backgrounds often, upload all of them to your gallery — they will all stay available in the Backgrounds section for quick switching.

If you want to remove a custom image from your gallery, open Settings, go to Backgrounds, hover over the image, and click the X that appears. Preset gallery images cannot be deleted, but you can always choose Blur instead if you prefer not to use them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can other people see my background if I do not choose one?

No. If you do not select a background, Teams shows your actual surroundings by default. Other people will see whatever is behind you in your camera view. Choosing a background or blur is optional.

What happens to my background choice if I sign out of Teams?

Your background setting stays saved in your account. When you sign back in, the same background will be active for your next meeting. You can change it anytime through Settings.

Can I use a video as a background instead of a still image?

Teams does not support video backgrounds. You can only use still images (JPG, PNG, BMP, or GIF) or the blur effect. Some third-party tools claim to add video backgrounds, but they are not built into Teams itself.

Why does my background look blurry or pixelated during the meeting?

This usually happens if your image is too small or low resolution. Use an image that is at least 1920 × 1080 pixels for the clearest result. If the image is smaller, it will stretch and look fuzzy.

Do I need to change my background for every meeting?

No. Once you set a background in Settings, it stays active for all meetings until you change it. You only need to adjust it if you want something different for a specific meeting.