How to set a background in a Microsoft Teams Video conference

Overview

If you want to change what appears behind you in a video conference, you can either blur your background or replace it entirely.

Notes:

• Blurring or replacing your background might not prevent sensitive information from being visible to other meeting participants.
• Background effects won't be availalbe to you if you're using Teams through virtual desktop infrastructue (VDI).
• If you don't see Show background effects as an option in th emenu, the feature might not be available on your device yet.

How do I use this technology?

Change your background before a meeting starts 

1. While you're setting up your video, and audio preferences as you're joining a meeting, click the Background effects button. It's just to the right of the Turn camera on switch.
   
   
   • If the Background effects switch is disabled, you'll need to turn on your video camera first, by clicking the Turn camera on switch to the left.
2. The available background options will display on the right.
   
   
    
   • Choose Blur to blur your background. You'll aappear nice and clear while everything behind you is subtly concealed.
   • Alternativy, you can also replace your background by selecting on of the images provided.
3. After selecting your Background effect, click Join Now.
   
   

Change your background during a meeting

To alter your background after you've already joined a meeting, do the following:

1. Go to your meeting controls.
   
   
    
2. Click More actions (...)
   
   
    
3. Click Show background effects.
   
   
    
4. The available background options will display on the right.
   
   
   • Choose Blur to blur your background. You'll aappear nice and clear while everything behind you is subtly concealed.
   • Alternativy, you can also replace your background by selecting on of the images provided.
5. Click Apply.
   • If your video camera is currently turned off the button will say Apply and turn on video.
   
   

Is there any additional information I should know about?

For additional assistance contact the IT Services Technical Support Center via phone at (907) 786-4646, toll-free at (877) 633-3888, email us at uaa.techsupport@alaska.edu, or visit the Services section to open a support ticket.