How to Change Your Zoom Virtual Background

Learn how to add, change, and use a virtual background for your next Zoom meeting.

Learn how to add, change, and use a virtual background for your next Zoom meeting.

Because of?COVID-19, hanging out with friends, eating at your favorite restaurants, and going to work wasn’t really an option. With?social distancing?mandates in place, Zoom* meetings became more prevalent than ever. In fact,?Zoom Video Communications reported?that their growth soared from 10 million daily meeting participants in December 2019, to 200 million in March 2020. In 2023 that growth has stuck around with over?350 million daily meeting participants.

If you’re one of those 350 million, chances are you’ve seen a Zoom background before. If you haven’t, when you use Zoom, you have the ability to add a virtual background to your screen. This is a great option for if you have kids or pets, or simply don’t want people to see the inside of your home.

Can I create my own virtual background for Zoom?

Yes, for your most important business meetings, or even casual Zoom calls, you can?create a custom Zoom background?with any image of your choosing?that links to your digital business card.

If you’d like to change your Zoom virtual background,?make sure you have the latest version of Zoom. You can do this by checking for updates on your computer or the mobile app store. Then, complete these simple steps to add a virtual background to your Zoom meeting (this guide works for Mac and Windows computers and the Zoom mobile app).

How to change your Zoom background with an account.

If you do not have a Zoom account, please scroll down. To start changing your background if you have a zoom account, start by logging into your Zoom account.

1. Click the Settings icon

2. Click Background & Effects

3. Click the + button to add a new background and choose your background

Can you change your Zoom background without an account?

Zoom allows you to change your background without a Zoom account. Once you’re on a call, you can adjust background & effects settings, including adding a virtual background.

How to change your Zoom background without an account.

1. Click the ^ arrow next to the video icon

2. Select Choose Virtual Background

3. Click the + button to add a new background and choose your background

Please note that Zoom sometimes has a mirroring effect — while your background may appear backwards to you, it will display correctly to everyone else on the call. (You can disable the “Mirror my video” setting in the Video section of the Settings on Zoom.)

How to change your Zoom background on mobile?

Zoom also allows you to change your virtual background in the mobile app, so you can maintain a professional appearance even if you’re on the go. To start, log into your Zoom account on the most current version of the Zoom mobile app.

1. Tap More, then tap Meetings

2. Tap Backgrounds & Effects

3. Tap the plus sign to upload a background

4. Select a background and tap Done

If you want to?create your own personalized background to use on Zoom?— which includes your logo, name, title, company, and a link to your digital business card — you can do so with?HiHello. Once downloaded, you can add your virtual background to your computer or mobile device by following the same steps shown above.

Not a Zoom user? Learn how to use virtual backgrounds with?Google Meet?and?Microsoft Teams.

This article includes modifications and was originally published on the?HiHello blog?on April 8, 2020.