How to use Virtual Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams - Virtual Office

How to upload your Virtual Backgrounds to a Microsoft Teams call

How you present yourself online has never been so important. In 2020, video conferencing is how we conduct all of our most important meetings, with Microsoft Teams being the software of choice for many businesses over the world… and how you appear on that call matters.

One way to look a step ahead on video calls is with a virtual background: it allows you to easily set the tone you like to achieve, be it with a professional virtual office, chic designed room or cozy lounge. Or, to give an even more professional look, it allows you to place behind you a custom branded background for your business. It’s a lot cheaper and easier than branding an entire real-life wall space - and just as effective.

Whether you want to add a sleek edge to sales video calls, or an added layer of professionalism to your next job interview, or simply a fun background for catching up with friends and family, here’s your step by step guide to adding your own virtual background in Microsoft Teams.

1. Make sure you have the latest version of Microsoft Teams

First, sign up for an account and install the Microsoft Teams app. You can download the latest version for desktop or mobile right here.

2. Open a new meeting and select ‘Show Background Effects’

Open a new meeting, click on the (...) icon to open the menu and make sure that you have the ‘Show background effects’ option available.

3. The Teams virtual backgrounds available will appear in the menu to your right

You’ll be shown the preset virtual backgrounds available in Microsoft Teams which you can select from. To upload your own virtual background just select add new and upload your virtual background.

4. Choose Your Microsoft Teams virtual background

In the Background Settings menu in Microsoft Teams, you’ll see your chosen background appear at the bottom of the thumbnails. If you want to check it before anyone else can see it, click Preview. If you’re happy with how it looks, go ahead and click ‘Apply’ to set your background.

5. You're all set! (your background will look mirrored but that's OK)

The picture you see is mirrored but the video picture that others see from you will be correct. Can be confusing when you don't know this and just see your own and read text backward. ** There is no setting to change this in Windows 10 and if you have software that can switch it on your side it will be mirrored on the attendee's side instead.

Create your branded virtual office for Microsoft Teams

Choose your virtual background and upload your logo.

Microsoft Teams Virtual Backgrounds

With the COVID-19 pandemic looming large globally since March 2020, WFH has become the norm for nearly one and all. It does not bear emphasis that since you’ve to attend digital meetings, make and receive online video calls routinely you’ve to keep yourself and your background presentable. Of all the various video communication or videoconferencing apps that employers, employees, organizations, and individuals are using extensively nowadays, Microsoft Teams is one of them.

Most of those who use Microsoft Teams for video calling or online conferencing often don’t realize the importance of having a trendy Microsoft Teams virtual background. There are some noticeable and definite benefits of uploading and presenting an elegant, trendy, and eye-catching virtual background to Microsoft Teams. For a start, a chic team's virtual background adds a touch of professionalism to your virtual business or office.

Secondly the Microsoft Teams virtual background masks the clutter and muddle of your remote or home workspace. More often than not you’ve to join in a digital discussion or consultation on short notice leaving you with hardly any time to organize your home office. And that is exactly where a Microsoft Teams background comes to your aid not only enabling you to hide a disorganized room but also letting you impress your colleagues and superiors with a striking backdrop.

How to Get a Background on Microsoft Teams?

To add your virtual background Microsoft Teams on your desktop just follow this stepwise guide:-

Ensure you have the most updated edition of Microsoft Teams

For having and using your own Microsoft Teams background,you’ll first need to create an account for installing the Teams app. Log into this link - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app for downloading the most up-to-date version of smartphone or desktop.

Choose ‘Show Background Effects’ after opening a new conference

Once you’ve downloaded and installed the Microsoft Teams app, select ‘new meeting’ and open it. Now click on the menu for opening it, and then look for the ‘show background effects’ option. You’ll find the ‘show background effects’ on the menu towards your right.

Look for the Microsoft Teams background to the right of the menu

After clicking on ‘show background effects’ you’ll see quite several preselected Microsoft Teams virtual backgrounds. Click on the different available images and make up your mind on the illustration you’d prefer as your background for digital meetings. All you’ve to do for uploading your choice background is simply select ‘add new’.

Pick and choose your preferred Teams virtual background

Now focus your attention on the ‘background settings’ listing in Microsoft Teams. The virtual background image that you had selected will show up on the base of the thumbnails. Just click on ‘Preview’ if you wish to check out how the Teams background looks before other participants in the meeting can see the same.

After making sure that your preferred Microsoft Teams background appears perfectly okay, you can proceed, and click on ‘Apply’ for installing the backdrop.

You’re ready to go

Though you’ll see a mirrored version of the video depiction (of your chosen background) others will see the perfect image. You’ll want to correct this anomaly to see the correct representation at your end but Windows 10 doesn’t have a setting for making the change. On the other hand, if you use software for rotating the mirrored image and setting it right, your colleagues and superiors will get to see the mirrored version.

However, it doesn’t matter even if you see a mirror image of the virtual background because everybody else is looking at the backdrop in the correct position.

Changing Microsoft Teams virtual background for Teams meetings

Are you bored of looking at the virtual background picture that you set up a long time ago and want to replace it? You have the option of replacing your Microsoft Teams virtual background with an entirely new one or blurring the existing image. However, keep in mind that replacing the background or blurring the same will still enable other meeting participants to view personal or sensitive information.

How to change background during a digital discussion?

1. Look for meeting controls from the drop-down menu and click on ‘More actions’ > Apply background effects

2. Choose ‘Blur’ for distorting or smearing the background or select from preset images for replacing the background. For setting up an illustration of your choosing, opt for ‘Add new’ and thereafter select a . BMP, PNG, or .JPG file from your desktop or laptop.

3. Click on ‘Preview’ to test out how your selected virtual Microsoft Teams background appears and then choose ‘apply’ for uploading it.