How to Blur Zoom Background on Windows 10/Mac/Mobile
Blurring your background on Zoom can serve various purposes, from hiding a messy environment to giving you more privacy. Fortunately, this is an easy Zoom feature to use and set up on your device. This feature is also available at no additional cost.
Wondering how to set up a blurred Zoom background for meetings? We’ve got you covered with today’s guide on how to blur Zoom background on Macs, Windows, iPhones, and Androids.
Why do we need to blur Zoom backgrounds for meetings?
Blurring your background on Zoom for meetings can save you time, protect your privacy, and much more. Let’s cover the most common reasons people opt to use a blurred Zoom background during a call.
1. The mess of the house
Having a messy background filled with clutter makes you look unprofessional and can be distracting to your coworkers, which is a significant violation of virtual meeting etiquette. Blurring your background hides your mess and any distractions, like dogs, cats, children, or movement behind you that can distract your coworkers from the presentation. This feature is also a great option if you’re working from a coffee shop or taking a Zoom meeting call while traveling and don’t want your coworkers to know you’re gone.
2. Protect personal information
A massive benefit to blurring your Zoom background is protecting personal information. If your environment has personal information such as family photos, certificates, or even personal effects, like posters or a sports flag, blurring your background is a great way to hide this.
3. For privacy reasons
If you are concerned about privacy, blurring your Zoom background allows you to hide your location easily. Consider blurring your Zoom background to hide your environment if it has identifiable features. This is a great choice if you’re meeting with clients or are a business owner or freelancer, as you’re likely working with people that you don’t know as well.
4. Keep the focus on your presentation
Another benefit of blurring your background is that it keeps the focus on you when you’re presenting. When speaking, you want everyone to focus on you, not your environment. So, consider blurring your background to keep yourself the primary focus and remove hard lines and distracting details in the background.
Things to consider before blurring your background in Zoom Meeting
Before you blur your background in a Zoom meeting, make sure you meet the following requirements on your device:
Zoom desktop client:
● macOS: 5.5.0 (12467.0131) or higher
● Windows: 5.5.0 (12454.0131) or higher
● Linux: 5.7.6 (31792.0820) or higher
Mobile Zoom app:
● iOS: 5.6.6 (423) or higher
● Android: 5.6.6 (2076) or higher
System requirements for Blurred background without a green screen set-up:
● Zoom desktop client 5.2.0 version or higher
● Windows: 7, 8, and 10 (64-bit)
If you have a green screen, you only need:
● Zoom desktop client 3.5 version or higher
● AMD Ryzen 5/7/9 or higher
● Intel 2 cores with 2.0 GHz or higher processor
How to blur Zoom background on Windows 10?
Before your meeting
1. Sign in to your Zoom desktop application.
2. Click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the screen.
3. Click on ‘Settings.’
4. Scroll down to the In Meeting (Advanced) under settings and find the virtual background section. Toggle the bubble next to the virtual background so that it is blue. Check the box next to ‘Allow use of videos as virtual backgrounds.’
In the meeting
1. Join your Zoom meeting normally.
2. Click the ‘^’ key next to Stop Video at the bottom of the screen. Then click ‘Blur My Background.’
The blur my background setting will be your default setting from now on with future Zoom meetings. If you want to end the blurred background at any time, click ‘USB Video Device’ under the camera settings to have your regular camera setting back.
How to blur Zoom background on Mac
Before your meeting
1. Sign in to your Zoom desktop application.
2. Locate and click on your profile picture in the top-right corner of the Zoom dashboard. Click on ‘Settings.’
3. Scroll down to the In Meeting (Advanced) section of settings. Find virtual background. Click the bubble next to the virtual background section to make it blue. Check the box next to ‘Allow use of videos as virtual backgrounds.’
In the meeting
1. Join your Zoom meeting as you would typically.
2. Click the ‘^’ key next to Stop Video at the bottom of the Zoom screen. Click ‘Blur My Background.’
During future Zoom meetings, the blur my background setting will be your default setting. If you want to stop the blurred background at any point, click ‘USB Video Device’ under the camera settings to return to your regular set.
How to blur Zoom background on a mobile device
For either an iPhone or Android device, you’ll need to activate the following setting to have access to blurring your Zoom background during a meeting:
1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client.
2. Click ‘Settings’ on the left-hand side of the Zoom dashboard.
3. Scroll down until you find the Meeting (Advanced) section. Locate the virtual background option. Click the bubble next to the virtual background. Check the box next to ‘Allow use of videos as virtual backgrounds.'
How to blur Zoom background on iPhone
In the meeting
1. Start your Zoom meeting normally.
2. Tap on the ‘More’ button at the bottom of the Zoom meeting screen.
3. Tap ‘Backgrounds and Filters.’
4. Click on the ‘Blur’ option to immediately blur your background.
How to blur Zoom background on an Android device
In the meeting
1. Start your Zoom meeting as per usual.
2. Tap the ‘More’ button at the bottom of the Zoom screen.
3. Tap ‘Virtual backgrounds.’
4. Click on the ‘Blur’ option, and Zoom will immediately blur your background.
After you’ve enabled the blur feature on Zoom, it will automatically be used during future meetings. To disable this feature, open the virtual background options again and tap ‘None.’
FAQs:
1. Should we blur the Zoom background?
Yes, it’s recommended that you blur the Zoom background, especially if you have privacy concerns or a distracting background. If your environment has identifying features, is messy, or is unprofessional in any way, consider blurring it during a Zoom call to keep things more professional and less distracting. It’s essential to choose a background that isn’t visually noisy and keep the blur to a slight, realistic blur, rather than a heavy one, as this can be equally distracting.
2. Is it free to blur zoom background in meetings?
Yes, it is free to blur Zoom backgrounds in meetings. Any Zoom user can set their background to blur if they meet the system requirements and have an up-to-date Zoom interface.
3. What are the limits of blurring the background in Zoom？
The limits of blurring the background in Zoom are based on system requirements, your Zoom version, and your background set-up. A green screen or solid background is ideal for a better quality Zoom experience and a blurred background for your colleagues. You’ll also want to check that you meet all the system requirements and have an up-to-date Zoom interface before your hop on the call.
4. Do you need a green screen to blur your background in Zoom?
No, you do not need a green screen to blur your background in Zoom. However, a green screen set-up can make a blurred background or virtual background look more crisp and professional on Zoom. If you blur your background on Zoom without a green screen, we recommend choosing a plain background to sit in front of, like a solid colored wall, and wearing a different color, so your features stand out. Make sure that you and your background are well lit so that the Zoom software can better separate you from your environment.
5. What should you not do in a Zoom meeting?
You should not do many things in a Zoom meeting, including having a messy, distracting background, interrupting your coworkers, dressing inappropriately, and coming unprepared. Take time before your session to tidy up your environment or set up the blurred background setting on Zoom. Double-check that you have all necessary materials for the meeting, such as important documents and the meeting agenda. We also recommend setting up Notta to transcribe the meeting for you so that you can operate hands-free during the meeting but still have a detailed record of everything that went on.
Conclusion
Blurring your background on Zoom can hide a multitude of things in your background, from a messy environment to personal items you don’t want your coworkers to see. If possible, choose a background that is solid or a different color than what you are wearing to make the blurred effect more seamless. We recommend testing your background blur setting before hopping on your next work call to make sure that everything is working properly.
