How to Blur the Background in Microsoft Teams

Knowing how to blur your background in Microsoft Teams can be very handy when you don’t want other team members to see your background. Microsoft Teams gives you two options – you can blur your background before or during a meeting. You can also customize your background by switching it with any photo from your device.

In this guide, we will show you how to blur your background in Microsoft Teams before and during a meeting. We’ll also answer some common questions regarding this topic.

How to Blur the Background in Microsoft Teams Before a Meeting?

The great thing about this option is that you will remain in focus, meaning that you won’t be blurred along with your background. However, if someone else accidentally walks by behind you – they will be blurred.

Many Team users prefer to blur their background before joining a meeting to feel more prepared and less distracted. We will show you how to do it on different devices.

On Mac

If you are a Mac user and you want to blur your background before you start a meeting, follow the steps below:

1. Launch Microsoft Teams.
2. Start a new meeting or join one.
   
3. Navigate to the person icon under your video preview.
   
4. Select Blur in Background settings.
   
5. Go to Join now.
   

You also have the option to change your background by replacing it with any picture you want – but more on that later.

On Desktop

If you want to blur your background in Microsoft Teams, follow the steps below:

1. Open Microsoft Teams on your desktop.
   
2. Start a new meeting or join a call. You will see a preview of yourself in a small window.
   
3. Click on the person icon in the bottom menu. The background settings will open on the left side of your screen.
   
4. Click on the Blur option, which is the second picture.
   
5. When your background is blurred, go to Join now.
   

Now you can join or start a new meeting without having to worry about your background.

On Chromebook

Blurring your background on a Chromebook is a relatively straightforward process. You can do it in a few quick and simple steps. Here’s how it’s done:

1. Open Microsoft Teams on your Chromebook.
2. Either start a new meeting or join one that is already in process.
3. A pop-up window will appear. You will be able to see yourself and your background.
4. Go to the person icon beneath your picture and click on it.
5. In the Background settings, find the Blur picture and click on it.
6. Click Join now.

That’s all there is to it. If you change your mind, you can unblur your background, but we’ll get to that later.

On Android

Using the mobile app version of Microsoft Teams is very simple. If you own an Android device, this is how you can blur your background before you start a meeting:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app on your Android.
   
2. Go to Meet on the bottom menu.
   
3. Tap on the Meet now button.
   
4. Select Start meeting.
   
5. Go to Background effects at the top of your screen.
6. Choose Blur.
   
7. Go to Done.

On iPhone

If you want to blur your background before a meeting in Microsoft Teams on your iPhone, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the Microsoft Teams app on your iPhone.
   
2. Find the Meet option at the bottom of your screen.
   
3. Go to the Meet now option and select Start meeting.
   
4. Tap the three dots in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
   
5. Select Start video with blur.
   
6. Tap on Join now.

How to Blur the Background in Microsoft Teams During a Meeting?

Microsoft Teams also offers the option to blur the background while a meeting is already in process. This can be useful for situations when something unexpected happens, and you don’t want others to see your background.

We will show you how to blur the background during a meeting in Microsoft Teams on different devices.

On Mac

To blur your background in Microsoft Teams on your Mac during a meeting, follow the steps below:

1. Launch Microsoft Teams on your Mac.
2. Either start a new meeting or join one.
3. Hover your cursor over the screen and go to the bottom toolbar.
4. Click on the three dots on the toolbar.
   
5. Go to Show background effects.
   
6. Proceed to the Blur option.
   
7. Click Preview to make sure everything is OK, and then click Apply.
   
   

On Desktop

In order to blur your background on your desktop while the meeting is still ongoing, this is what you should do:

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
   
2. During your meeting, move your cursor across the screen until you see the bottom toolbar.
3. Go to the three dots at the top toolbar.
   
4. Select Apply background effects from the list of options.
   
5. In Background settings, find the Blur option and click on it.
   
6. Select Preview to check if it works.
   
7. Go to Apply.
   

That’s all there is to it. You can go back and restore your previous background if you want.

On Chromebook

The process of blurring your background during a Microsoft Teams meeting is even more simple than doing it before the meeting starts. This is how you can do it on your Chromebook:

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Start a new meeting or join one that has already started.
3. Hover your cursor across the screen for the toolbar to appear.
4. Click on the three dots in the bottom toolbar.
5. Select Show background effects.
6. Go to Blur and then Preview to see what it looks like.
7. When you’re done, click Apply.

If you want to change your background back to the way it was, just go to Show background effects and click on the None option.

On Android

If you are an Android user, follow the steps below to blur your background during a meeting in Microsoft Teams:

1. Launch the app on your phone.
   
2. Call someone or have someone call you.
   
3. Tap on the three dots at the bottom of your screen.
   
4. Select Blur my background.
   

On iPhone

If you have an iPhone, this is how you can blur your background during a meeting:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams app on your iPhone.
   
2. Start a video chat or have someone call you.
3. Tap on the three dots at the bottom of your screen.
   
4. Select Blur my background.
   

That’s it! You’ve successfully blurred your background.

Additional FAQs

Can You Customize Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams?

Apart from the option to blur your background in Microsoft Teams, you can also customize it. Here’s how you would do it on a desktop:

1. Open Microsoft Teams.

2. Start a video chat.

3. Hover your cursor over the screen and go to the toolbar.

4. Click on the three dots on the toolbar.

5. Go to Show background effects.

6. Either choose one of Microsoft Teams’ backgrounds or upload your own.

7. Select Add new if you want to upload one from your device.

8. Go to Preview and then Apply.

If you want to customize your background in Microsoft Teams on your mobile device, follow the steps below:

1. Launch the app.

2. During a video chat, go to More options.

3. Tap on Background effects.

4. Choose a picture for your background or upload one from your phone.

5. Select Done.

Why Can’t I Blur My Background in Teams?

It’s possible that the blur feature and the option to customize your background aren’t available on your device. For example, these two features aren’t available on Linux. It’s also not possible to use these features if you are using optimized virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI).

Make Your Microsoft Teams Background Presentable

Now you know how to blur your background across different devices before and during a meeting in Microsoft Teams. You also know how to customize your background and upload pictures from your device. Knowing how to change your background in Microsoft Teams can be very useful, and it can be done in a couple of quick steps.

Have you ever blurred your background in Microsoft Teams? Did you use any of the methods outlined in this article? Let us know in the comments section below.