How To Blur Background In Microsoft Teams (2023)

Are you tired of work-from-home clutter impacting the professionalism of your online meetings? You’ll be glad to learn that Microsoft Teams offers a solution with its background-blur feature.

This blog post will guide you through simple steps on how to blur your background in Microsoft Teams across various devices and operating systems, ensuring focus stays where it belongs – on you.

Ready for distraction-free virtual conversations, let’s dive right in!

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Key Takeaways

Blurring your background in Microsoft Teams can improve the professionalism of your online meetings and eliminate distractions.
You can blur your background in Microsoft Teams before a meeting or during a meeting.
The steps for blurring your background may vary depending on the device and operating system you are using.
Customizing backgrounds is possible in Microsoft Teams, allowing you to personalize your virtual meeting experience. However, note that the blur background feature is not available on the browser version of Teams and may not be supported on all devices.

How to Blur Your Background in Microsoft Teams

To blur your background in Microsoft Teams, you have two options: before a meeting or during a meeting.

Before a Meeting

Blurring your background on Teams before a meeting is a piece of cake, even if you are not tech-savvy. Here’s how to do it:

Open Microsoft Teams and schedule or join your upcoming meeting.
Before clicking on the “Join Now” button, find the “Background Effects” icon next to the microphone switch.
Click on this icon to open the settings pane that displays various background options.
From these selections, choose “Blur my background.” This option will apply a soft blur effect that obscures anything behind you in real-time video.
You have the liberty to select from preset backgrounds provided by Microsoft Teams or upload a personal image if you wish for more customization.
After selecting the blur effect, initiate the meeting with your background blurred.
Blurring the background in Teams video calls provides an air of professionalism and eliminates potential distractions.

During a Meeting

Maximizing focus in your Microsoft Teams meetings is made simpler by blurring your background. The digital realm offers powerful tools, and you can easily highlight your presence while eliminating pesky distractions with a quick guide to blurring your background in Microsoft Teams.

Kickstart the process of blurring your background during a team meeting by clicking on the three-dot menu located usually at the top-right corner or the middle of your screen.
From the drop – down list that appears, select the option “Show Background Effects.”
A bar pops up on the right side showcasing multiple backgrounds along with an option to blur.
Scroll down until you see a tile saying ‘Blur’ that lets you efficiently blur your background in teams meetings.
Click on this “Blur” tile to initiate a preview of how it looks before applying live.
If satisfied with how everything seems, press “Apply” to finalize and watch as distractions take a backseat and your professional image takes center stage in Microsoft Teams meetings.

Step-by-Step Guide for Different Devices and Operating Systems

Whether you’re using a Mac, desktop, Chromebook, Android device, or iPhone, here’s a step-by-step guide to help you blur your background in Microsoft Teams.

Mac

Blurring your background in Microsoft Teams on a Mac can add a professional touch to your remote meetings. Here’s the step-by-step guide on how to achieve this:

Open the Teams app on your Mac.
Start or join a meeting.
Once in the meeting, go to the control bar and click on the “More actions” (…) icon.
From the dropdown menu, select “Apply background effects”.
A side panel will open with different options for blurring and changing your background.
Click “Blur My Background” for an immediate blur effect, or choose from various available images to replace your background completely.

Desktop

To blur your background in Microsoft Teams on a desktop, follow these steps:

Open the Microsoft Teams desktop app.
Click on the team meeting link to join the meeting.
Once you’re in the meeting, locate the toolbar at the bottom of the screen.
On the toolbar, click on the three dots (…) to open the menu.
From the menu, select “Show Background Effects.”
A sidebar will appear on the right side of your screen with different background options.
Scroll through the options and choose “Background Blur” to blur your background.
If you want to change your background to something else, select a different image or video option from the sidebar.

Chromebook

To blur your background in Microsoft Teams on a Chromebook, follow these simple steps:

Open the Microsoft Teams app on your Chromebook.
Click on the three dots icon at the bottom of the screen to access the toolbar.
Look for the “Background filters” option in the toolbar.
Choose the “Blur” tile from the options provided.
Before applying the blur effect, you can preview how it will look by using the blurred background preview feature.
Once you are satisfied with the preview, click on “Apply” to blur your background during meetings and video calls in Microsoft Teams on your Chromebook.

Android

To blur the background in Microsoft Teams on your Android device, follow these simple steps:

Open the Microsoft Teams app on your Android device.
Join a meeting or start a new one.
Tap on the three dots icon located at the bottom right corner of the screen.
From the menu that appears, tap on “Settings.”
In the settings menu, tap on “Devices.”
Scroll down to find the “Background filters” option and tap on it.
You will see a preview of your video with various background options.
Tap on the “Blur” tile to apply a blurred background effect.
To confirm and save your selection, tap on the checkmark icon.

iPhone

Blurring the background in Microsoft Teams on your iPhone is a simple process that can help enhance your video calls and eliminate distractions. Here’s how to do it:

Open the Microsoft Teams mobile app on your iPhone.
Join or start a meeting by tapping on the “Join” or “Start” button.
Once you’re in the meeting, tap on the three dots at the bottom of the screen to access more options.
From the menu that appears, select “Blur” to blur your background during the meeting.

FAQs and Troubleshooting

Can I customize backgrounds in Microsoft Teams?

Can You Customize Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams?

Customizing backgrounds in Microsoft Teams is indeed possible, allowing users to personalize their virtual meeting experience. With the Background Effects feature, you can enhance your video calls by adding a touch of personal style or maintaining a professional appearance.

Whether you want to blur your background or choose from a variety of background visuals, Microsoft Teams offers flexibility and customization options to suit your preferences. Additionally, you can even download additional background options to further personalize your virtual meetings.

So go ahead and make your video calls stand out with customized backgrounds in Microsoft Teams!

Why Can’t I Blur My Background in Teams?

The inability to blur your background in Microsoft Teams can be due to a few factors. Firstly, it’s important to note that the blur background feature is not available on the browser version of Teams.

To access this feature, you will need to use the desktop apps for Windows or Mac. Additionally, the availability of this feature is hardware dependent, meaning it may not be supported on all devices.

If you find that the blur background option is missing, it indicates that your device does not support this particular feature. However, do keep in mind that the Teams app for mobile devices does offer the option to blur your background.

Conclusion

In conclusion, blurring your background in Microsoft Teams is a simple yet effective way to enhance your video calls and maintain a professional appearance. Whether you’re on a desktop, Mac, Chromebook, Android, or iPhone device, the option to blur your background is available.

By following the step-by-step guide provided and utilizing the background blur feature in Teams, you can create a polished look for your virtual meetings and eliminate distractions.

So go ahead and elevate your video call experience with this handy feature in Microsoft Teams!