How to change your background in Microsoft Teams

Teams lets you blur your surroundings, pick a built-in image, or upload your own. Unlike Zoom there is no global setting, so backgrounds are always set from a meeting, either on the join screen or once you are already in.

What Teams needs from your image

• JPG or PNG
• 16:9 aspect ratio, matching your webcam
• 1920 x 1080 is the safe size
• Keep the centre clear, since that is where you sit

Teams stores its own copy when you upload. Changing the original file on your computer will not update the background, so a revised logo has to be uploaded as a new file.

Before you join

1. Start joining the meeting to reach the preview screen
2. Turn your camera on
3. Click Background filters, the effects icon under your video
4. Click Add new at the top of the background gallery
5. Choose your file, then select it to apply
6. Click Join now

During a meeting

1. Click More, shown as three dots, in the meeting toolbar
2. Choose Effects and avatars. Older versions call this Apply background effects
3. Click Add new and pick your file
4. Click Preview, then Apply

On a phone or tablet

1. Join the meeting
2. Tap More, shown as three dots
3. Tap Background effects
4. Tap the add option to upload from your device

Mobile support varies by device. Some phones offer blur only.

If Add new is missing

• Use the Teams desktop app. Browser support for custom uploads is inconsistent
• Update Teams. Background controls moved in recent versions
• Your organisation may have switched off custom uploads. Administrators can restrict everyone to approved company backgrounds, which is common in regulated industries and customer facing roles
• If your workplace supplies its own backgrounds, they appear in the gallery automatically alongside the Microsoft ones

Your logo will look reversed to you

Teams mirrors your own self view, so any text or logo behind you reads backwards on your screen. Everyone else sees it correctly. Do not flip the image to compensate, or it will be backwards for the whole meeting.