Backgrounds, filters, and avatars

Zoom virtual backgrounds, filters, and virtual avatars

Virtual backgrounds can set the tone for any type of Zoom meeting, from a fun team call to a big sales presentation. Whether you enjoy nature images, seasonal backdrops, or a simple company logo, you can choose a background that reflects your personality, celebrates the time of year, or helps you look more professional.

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Why use a virtual Zoom
background?

Virtual backgrounds are easy to change depending on your mood or the meeting you’re attending. They also serve an important purpose: they help mask or hide your real background. Here are a few reasons why you might want to use a virtual background:

You want to maintain your privacy. You don’t want people in the meeting to see inside your home or wherever you’re taking your call.
You want to look polished. Perhaps you’re presenting with a group and want to have matching virtual backgrounds.
You want to show off your personality or inject a little fun into your meeting.
You want to avoid becoming a distraction. Maybe you’re in a busy coffee shop or have a pet jumping around behind you.
You didn’t have time to tidy up your real background (we’ve all been there!).
You want to clearly display your title or company.

How do I get Zoom
backgrounds?

If you want to find the best background for Zoom, start with our curated collection of virtual backgrounds from around the web, with options to fit every mood and occasion. Browse seasonal and holiday backgrounds like festive lights, falling snow, and spooky jack-o’-lanterns; TV show sets; and travel destinations. Or, simply search “Zoom backgrounds” along with any other keywords like your favorite sports team or TV show.

Once you’ve found your background, you can add it right into Zoom— just make sure it’s a PNG or JPG/JPEG file for images, or MP4 or MOV for videos. Read on to see how you can get your new Zoom background ready for your next meeting.

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Customizing your Zoom
background

What if you want to create a custom Zoom background using your own photo, GIF, or video file? You can do that, too. Sites like Canva offer Zoom background templates to help you get started, or use your favorite photo editing or design software. You can turn a photo into a background, or create a solid backdrop in any color you like. Check out our support page for dimensions, file types, and other virtual background specifications.

Use your imagination with AI
virtual backgrounds

The world is yours with the help of generative AI and AI virtual backgrounds. Eligible users can now leverage AI Companion* to generate creative meeting backgrounds. AI virtual backgrounds create custom backgrounds based on simple text prompts. Based on the prompt (preset or your own), AI will generate up to two options. Whether you dream of a serene beach scene, a bustling metropolis, or something out-of-this-world, it’s time to bring your vision to life.

Fun with Zoom filters

Filters offer another way to customize your Zoom experience. Some are for fun (ever worn a pizza hat or unicorn horn in a meeting?), but others can give you a more professional look.

Explore the preloaded Zoom filter options available in your settings under “Background & Effects.” You can even create a custom filter by uploading a PNG or JPG image. You can easily resize and move the logo or other image to customize how it appears on your video tile.

Use Zoom virtual backgrounds
and filters your way

Showcase your brand: Account owners and admins can use the custom filter option to upload your company’s logo to appear as an overlay on your video feed. This filter will appear as an option for all account users, so your employees will be able to select it for their next sales call or business meeting.
Present yourself more professionally: Warmly, a Zoom-curated Essential App, allows you to create a personalized filter with your name, job title, location, credentials, and more. Your custom “name tag” is overlaid onto your video, almost like a virtual business card.
Get festive: If you’re one to deck the halls during the holidays or enjoy changing wardrobe colors to match the seasons, try uploading seasonal borders and filters to add some festive flair to meetings. On occasion, we’ll add themed filters, available for a limited time, to the preloaded options to help you celebrate.
Touch up your appearance: Add a touch of glam or give yourself a new look with studio effects. You can choose your lip color (ranging from subtle to bright), facial hair, and eyebrow shape.

Using Zoom avatars

Zoom avatars are another way to add some fun to your meeting or participate without being on camera. If you’re not feeling quite camera-ready, avatars can help you express yourself more than a static profile picture by showing emotion and body language like nodding. When you choose to show your avatar in a meeting, the avatar on screen will mirror your head movements and facial expressions if you have your camera turned on. Avatars are available in the Background & Effects section of your settings.

Custom avatars: Make a custom avatar by choosing your hair color and style, facial features, clothing, and accessories. Have fun creating a character that looks just like you, or let your creativity unfold with several different avatars that you can change depending on your mood.
Animal avatars: Transform into a dog, cat, rabbit, bear, or other creature with animal avatars! These are a fun conversation starter in more casual meetings and a unique way to engage with participants during events like virtual story time.

Try Zoom Meetings

Enjoy Zoom virtual
backgrounds, avatars, and
filters

Make your meetings fun. Engage with your audience. Skip tidying up your office clutter. There are many reasons why you might want to use a background or filter for your next virtual meeting. And with tons of background images to choose from, plus the ability to design your own, the options are virtually endless.

Download Zoom Meetings today to experience virtual backgrounds, avatars, and filters!

Download Zoom Meetings

Enjoy Zoom virtual backgrounds, avatars, and filters

FAQs

Got questions? We’ve got answers.

Find a background you like and save it to your device. Then go to your Zoom settings, select “Background & Effects,” and click the + sign in the virtual backgrounds tab to add your image. You can even add a video file for a moving background!

We also have several preloaded background images available, or you can choose Blur to add a blurring effect to your real background for a more subtle look that still maintains your privacy.

You can see and choose from all the backgrounds you’ve added by revisiting “Background & Effects” in your settings.

If you’re already in a meeting, we’ve got a couple of Zoom Apps to help you select your virtual background on the fly and apply it instantly. Virtual Backgrounds and Pexels Virtual Backgrounds let you choose from millions of free photos and images. You can search for a specific keyword or browse by categories like nature, interiors, or art. Simply click on the image you want to apply as a virtual background.

Don’t have either of these Zoom Apps set up? Just click on the upward arrow (^) next to Start/Stop Video during your meeting, then click “Choose Virtual Background.” You’ll be taken to your settings, where you can add an image or video, or select one from your library.

Visit our support article for more in-depth instructions on changing your virtual background.

If you find your virtual background flickering or showing parts of your real background, here are a few troubleshooting tips to help you look your best.

Use a green screen or solid background
A green screen will give you the best virtual background effect while using fewer system resources during the meeting. You don’t have to have an actual green screen — you can use a solid-colored wall or curtain — but a bright, distinct color like green or blue works best.

Check “I have a green screen” in your settings under “Background & Effects,” which will allow you to select the correct color for your green screen.

Don’t forget to avoid wearing clothing that is the same color as your background. You don’t want to appear as a floating head!

Camera tips
If you don’t have a green screen, fear not — you can still use virtual backgrounds! You’ll just want to make sure you’re using a higher-quality camera with good lighting so your face and background are illuminated. Both these factors will help distinguish you from your background, giving a sharper, more defined effect. Be sure the “I have a green screen” box is unchecked in your settings under “Background & Effects.”

Check our system requirements
If you can’t get your Zoom background to work at all, make sure your computer or device supports this feature by checking our system requirements. Things like video backgrounds may have higher system requirements. On the other hand, lower system requirements are required if you’re using a green screen.