Enhancing your video in Zoom

Zoom has many built-in features to improve video and picture quality, as well as enhance video conferencing with Virtual Backgrounds and filters. These features allow for a better meeting, webinar, and remote work experience, as well as allow hosts and participants to add some flair to their video.

Additionally, account owners and admins can upload custom filters for their users.

Note: You can also test your video to ensure these built-in features are configured correctly before joining a Zoom meeting.

Requirements for high-quality Zoom videos

Touch up my appearance, HD video, and lighting adjustment features

Notes:

Video filters and studio effects features

Note: The video filters and studio effects features may not be available for all regions and account types. If you do not see a specific feature, you may not have access to use it.

Table of Contents

How to enhance meeting video and picture quality

Enable HD video

Our HD video capabilities allow you to experience high-resolution video conferencing.

You can enable HD video, to utilize 720p or 1080p for high-quality video when in a meeting or a webinar. To enable HD video in your Zoom client:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click your profile picture, then click Settings .
  3. Click the Video  tab.
  4. Select the HD check box.
  5. Click Close.

Even with the setting enabled, your device must meet the bandwidth requirements. Make sure you follow the guidelines on how to enable HD when in a meeting or webinar. If your video is freezing or buffering when HD video is enabled, check your network connection. Learn more about troubleshooting Zoom video crashes to get help on common video and camera issues.

Touch up my appearance

The touch up my appearance feature gives your picture display a softer focus and enhances your digital appearance in real-time.

Windows | macOS | Linux
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click your profile picture and then click Settings .
  3. Click the Background & effects tab.
  4. Select the Touch up my appearance check box.
  5. Use the slider to adjust the effect.
    Zoom will remember your preference and use it the next time you start or join a meeting on this device.
  6. Click Close.
iOS
  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. In the lower-right corner, tap More .
  3. Under Settings, tap Meetings.
  4. Tap Touch up my appearance.
  5. Toggle this option to display your video with and without the touch up.
  6. Use the slider to adjust the effect.
    Zoom will remember your preference and use it the next time you start or join a meeting on this device.

Adjust lighting

Zoom's light settings allow you to improve video brightness and quality.

Adjust for low light

Zoom’s low light settings allow you to combat poor lighting conditions during remote video conferences by brightening your video in dark environments.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click your profile picture and then click Settings .
  3. Click the Background & effects   tab.
  4. Select the Adjust for low light check box.
    The setting will default to Auto. However, you can select Manual, and adjust the setting to the desired effect.
  5. Click Close.

Portrait lighting

Portrait lighting in Zoom allows the system to dim your background while brightening you in the foreground, making you stand out more during meetings.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click your profile picture and then click Settings .
  3. Click the Background & effects   tab.
  4. Select the Portrait lighting check box.
  5. Click Close.

Use virtual backgrounds

The virtual background feature allows you to display an image or video as your background during a Zoom Meeting. This feature works best with a green screen and uniform lighting, to allow Zoom to detect the difference between you and your background.

Apply avatars

The avatar feature allows you to replace your appearance with a 3D virtual avatar that mimics head movements and facial expressions. When you turn on this feature during a meeting, Zoom’s technology uses your device’s camera to detect where a face is on the screen and apply the selected avatar effect.

Apply video filters

Video filters use a variety of overlays, color filters, and other custom video frames during meetings and webinars - all within the Zoom desktop app and mobile app.

When you turn on this feature during a meeting, Zoom’s technology uses your device’s camera to detect the movements and positioning of your face to apply the selected filter effect. Such data does not leave your device, is not retained, is not used to identify you, and is only used to generate the selected effects.

Note: The video filters feature may not be available for all regions and account types. If you do not see a specific feature, you may not have access to use it.

Windows | macOS
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click your profile picture and then click Settings .
  3. Click the Background & effects tab.
  4. Click the Video filters tab.
  5. Select the desired filter.
  6. (Optional) Enable or disable the Apply to all future meetings toggle to set this filter as a default for all meetings you join or host.
  7. Click Close.
Android | iOS
  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. While in a Zoom meeting, tap More  in the controls.
  3. Tap Background & effects, then tap the Video filters tab. 
  4. Tap the filter you want to use. 
  5. (Optional) Tap the Apply to all meetings option to continue using this filter for all meetings joined on this device. 
  6. When finished selecting a filter, in the top-left corner, tap the minimize icon   to return to the meeting.

Apply studio effects

The studio effects feature allows you to apply eyebrows, mustache or beard, and lip color filters as part of your video appearance. 

When you turn on this feature during a meeting, Zoom’s technology uses your device’s camera to detect the movements and positioning of your face to apply the selected filter effect. Such data does not leave your device, is not retained, is not used to identify you, and is only used to generate the selected effects.

Note: The studio effects feature may not be available for all regions and account types. If you do not see a specific feature, you may not have access to use it.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Click your profile picture and then click Settings .
  3. Click the Background & effects tab.
  4. In the lower-right corner, click Studio effects.
  5. Choose your desired settings from the Eyebrows, Mustache & beard, and Lip color sections.
  6. (Optional) Enable or disable the Apply to all future meetings toggle to set this filter as a default for all meetings you join or host.
  7. Click Close.