How to change your Zoom background

Join the virtual fun.

Mashable SEA June 23, 2022

It's very clear that one company uniquely suited for life during the coronavirus pandemic is Zoom.

Despite privacy concerns, hundreds of thousands of people around the world have recently downloaded the video conferencing app.

People are using Zoom to connect with coworkers for video meetings while working from home. Educators are using Zoom to create presentations to teach their students thanks, in part, to Zoom making it free to schools. Teens are even using Zoom to video chat and hang out with friends.

One thing everyone experimenting with Zoom for the first time seems to love is its virtual background feature. It allows users to swap out their real-life background with an image or video while streaming with friends, family, and coworkers — no green screen required.

Here’s how to use Zoom’s virtual background feature:

A screenshot of the Virtual Background tab in the Zoom app for Mac.

Download the Zoom Mac or Windows app.
Open the application, sign in, click your profile picture, followed by the Settings link in the drop-down menu.
Navigate to the Virtual Background tab. (If you do not see this tab, log in to the Zoom website, go to Meeting Settings, and make sure Virtual Background button is toggled on under the Meeting tab.)
In the Virtual Background tab, users can choose from pre-installed backgrounds or upload their own photos or videos.
If you do have a green screen setup, select “I have a green screen” so the software can properly set up your background. If you do not have a green screen, Zoom recommends streaming from a location with a solid background color.

If you’re using Zoom from your iPhone or iPad, you can also change your background in the iOS app:

A screenshot of the Zoom's iOS interface. Click the "More" tab on the bottom right to access Virtual Backgrounds.

Join a meeting, then click the More tab while you are logged into your account.
Tap the Virtual Background option.
Choose a background from the provided library or upload your own photos.

If you have an older computer or mobile device and are experiencing issues getting Zoom virtual backgrounds up and running, check out the system requirements here to see if you can enable the virtual background feature.

It's up to you to decide which exotic locale or classic movie scene to use as your background image. But if you’re looking for some free options to use, check out Zoom Backgrounds, a website set up precisely for that reason.