Video con­fer­enc­ing tools like Zoom have become an in­dis­pens­able part of everyday life. They fa­cil­i­tate so­cial­iz­ing with friends and family, but also fa­cil­i­tate com­mu­ni­ca­tion with customers and col­leagues. Every new tech­nol­o­gy also raises new questions. One question that many Zoom users are probably familiar with is: How do I change my Zoom back­ground? Virtual back­grounds on Zoom are quick to set up - learn how here!

Image re­quire­ments for Zoom back­grounds

To ensure that your Zoom back­ground looks the way you want it to, you should follow a few rules. The following applies to static image back­grounds:

  • File format: JPG, JPEG, PNG, GIF
  • Size: minimum 1280x720 pixels

If you decide to use a video back­ground, you should consider the following re­quire­ments:

  • File format: MP4, MOV
  • Size: minimum 480x360 pixels (360p), maximum 1920x1020 pixels (1080p)

Enable virtual Zoom back­grounds

Before you create your own Zoom meeting or join a Zoom meeting, check if you have enabled virtual Zoom back­grounds.

  • Step 1: Log in to your profile menu in the browser via the “zoom.us” web portal.
  • Step 2: Go to “Settings” in the left sidebar.
  • Step 3: Under the “Meeting” tab, scroll down until you get to “Virtual Back­ground”.
Image: Meeting settings on Zoom website
Virtual back­ground in­for­ma­tion can be found via settings.
  • Step 4: Allow the use of virtual back­grounds by ac­ti­vat­ing the slider. If you want to allow the use of videos for virtual back­grounds, ad­di­tion­al­ly activate the blue checkmark below it.
Image: Settings when zooming to virtual backgrounds
Enable the switch to allow virtual back­grounds.
Note

Users without a Zoom account only have the option to change Zoom back­grounds during a meeting. To do this, click the “^” icon at the bottom next to “End Video” during the Zoom call and go to “Virtual Back­ground”. Use the “+” icon to create your own back­grounds from your personal gallery.

How to change Zoom back­grounds

Getting your per­son­al­ized Zoom back­ground isn’t out of reach. First, create a gallery of images or videos that you save as possible Zoom wall­pa­pers on your device for access at any time. Usually, Zoom also offers preset back­ground templates in the app. Once your personal gallery is created, it’s time to set a custom Zoom back­ground.

In a Desktop Client (Windows/Mac)

  • Step 1: Launch the desktop client and log in to your Zoom profile.
  • Step 2: In your profile menu, click on the profile picture and then on the gear icon “Settings”.
  • Step 3: In the left sidebar, go to “Back­ground & Filters”.
  • Step 4: Create your own Zoom back­ground in the “Back­ground & Filter” menu under “Virtual Back­ground”. To do this, click on the “+” symbol, upload your files and insert the desired image into the video. In the preview image you can see how the back­ground looks. For easier selection, Zoom will add the uploaded image or video as a tile to the back­ground templates.
  • Step 5: If you are using a physical green screen, also check the bottom green screen checkbox under Virtual Back­ground.
Image: Background settings in Zoom client
You can preset a back­ground in the desktop software settings.
  • Step 6: To change your Zoom back­ground during a meeting, go to the “^” icon at the bottom next to “End Video”. Select “Virtual Back­ground” and upload a back­ground with the “+” icon.
Image: Change Zoom background during a meeting
You can also adjust the Zoom back­ground during the meeting.

In App (iOS/Android)

  • Step 1: Launch the Zoom app.
  • Step 2: Go to “New Meeting” and “Start Meeting”.
  • Step 3: Click the “...” icon at the top right corner.
Image: Meeting settings in the Zoom Android app
In the Android app, you can also set the Zoom back­ground in the meeting.
  • Step 4: Now go to “Back­ground & Filters”.
  • Step 5: Under “Back­ground & Filter”, click “+” to upload a Zoom back­ground or use preset templates. Select the file you want.
Image: Add Zoom background in Android app
Choose from pre-installed back­grounds or add your own Zoom back­ground.
  • Step 6: To change your Zoom back­ground during or before a meeting, also click the “...” icon and click “Back­ground & Filters”.

Tips and tricks for the best Zoom back­grounds

To get your Zoom back­ground just right, follow these simple tips:

  • Make sure the back­ground and camera area are evenly lit - not too bright, not too dark. An LED ring light is ideal for ensuring even lighting.
  • If possible, use a physical back­ground that is high-contrast and a solid color (such as a uniform wall color).
  • If you are using a physical green screen, place it close behind you.
  • If you want to display text in the back­ground, uncheck the “Flip my video” option.
  • Avoid clothing the same color as your virtual or physical back­ground.
  • Crop back­ground images to fit your camera’s size ratio - for a 16:9 camera ratio, 1280x720 or 1920x1080 pixel images are optimal.
  • Use a camera with high image quality.

As a rule, virtual back­grounds can be used with Zoom without problems with newer devices - whether PCs, notebooks, smart­phones, or tablets. In rare cases, though, a physical, mono­chrome green screen may be required as a back­ground on sig­nif­i­cant­ly older devices so that the actual back­ground can also be replaced by the image.

Where to find templates for Zoom back­grounds

Zoom offers very few preset back­ground templates in the app. Since your own back­ground images are more creative anyway, you can easily compose back­grounds from your own images or videos or download free Zoom back­grounds. You can find a good selection for example in various image databases. But make sure to use only royalty-free images.

All the ad­van­tages of a Zoom back­ground

Virtual zoom back­grounds offer you the following ad­van­tages:

  • You get to be creative.
  • You protect your privacy by hiding your home from view.
  • You adapt back­grounds depending on who you’re talking to, the topic of con­ver­sa­tion, seasons, or projects (e.g., through company logos, headlines, photos).
  • You’ll lighten the mood with lively, cheerful images.
  • You seem pro­fes­sion­al by using back­grounds like business cards or marketing tools (e.g., by ref­er­enc­ing the corporate brand or providing details about pro­fes­sion, name, and contact in­for­ma­tion).
Tip

Zoom is far from being the only video con­fer­enc­ing software out there. Meanwhile there are numerous Zoom al­ter­na­tives.

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