The Zoom app offers one of the easiest ways to start a meeting with just a few clicks. With the app available on platforms like Android, iOS, Windows, MAC, and even web browsers, Zoom has gained a lot of popularity over the past couple of years. The application has many handy features that can be useful in many situations. Among them, the ability to blur or change the background is one of the most popular and most used features.
Whether you’re just starting your new job or taking online courses and want to change the background or blur the background during a Zoom call, you can achieve this in a few easy steps.
This feature comes in handy if you have other people in the room or just want to blur the background to hide what’s behind you. This feature works very well and you can even upload an image, GIF or video of your choice to make it your virtual background. Here’s how to change or blur the background in Zoom.
To be able to charge the background on your laptops/PCs, you need to use the Zoom desktop client version 5.2.0 or higher and have an Intel i3 5th gen chipset or higher or an Intel i5/i7/i9 3rd gen chipset. gen or higher. If you have an AMD processor, it must be 3.0 GHz or faster. On a Mac, you must have macOS version 10.13 or higher. Similarly, for Android users, you must have at least Android 8.0, and for iOS users, you must have an iPhone 8, 8+, X or newer running the Zoom mobile app version 5.3.0 or higher.
Also Read: 5 Best Group Video Conferencing Apps Without Registration/Registration Process
How to change virtual background in Zoom on PC
- Download and install the Zoom app on your laptop/PC.
- Open the app and sign in to your account.
- Click the settings icon below your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Click “Background & Filters”on the left menu bar (you can choose background images or videos).
- Select an image that you can use as a background from the Virtual Backgrounds tab.
- If you’re not happy with the background, you can add your own image or video by clicking the “+”icon.
In case the “Background and Filters”section is missing from the side menu bar, you can go to the Zoom website > Settings > Meetings > In Meetings (in advance) and enable “Virtual Background”.
How to Blur Background with Zoom on PC
- Download and install the Zoom app on your laptop/PC.
- Open the app and sign in to your account.
- Click the settings icon below your profile picture in the top right corner.
- Click “Background & Filters”on the left menu bar.
- Select Blur.
After you complete this, the next time you start a meeting, your background will be blurry.
How to change the virtual background in Zoom on mobile
- Download the Zoom mobile app and sign in.
- During a meeting, tap More at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Virtual Background (Android) or Background & Filters (iOS).
- Tap the background you want to apply or tap the “+”to upload a new image.
How to blur the background with magnification on mobile
- Download the Zoom mobile app and sign in.
- During a meeting, tap More at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap Virtual Background (Android) or Background & Filters (iOS).
- Tap the Blur option.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can you use a GIF or video as a zoom background?
Yes, you can use a GIF or video as your Zoom background. However, you need to convert the GIF file to an MP4 or MOV file because the app only accepts these 2 video formats. To use a GIF or video as a background, open Zoom > Settings > Backgrounds & Filters > click + > Video > select the file.
What is the recommended size for a Zoom virtual background?
If you plan to add your own image as a virtual background, Zoom recommends using an image with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) and a maximum size of 5MB. The background can be any of the following formats – GIF, JPG/JPEG, or 24-bit PNG (no alpha). If you upload a PNG image, transparent areas of the PNG will be displayed on a white background.