When enabled, the virtual background feature allows you to display an image or short video as your background during a Zoom meeting, which can provide you with more privacy or a consistent and professional look for a presentation. If you don't have your own images or videos for use as a virtual background, you can create custom backgrounds with AI, go without a virtual background, or blur the background instead. You can also use a virtual background in a Zoom Room. Some virtual background options, such as virtual background without a green screen or using a video as your virtual background, require more system resources and have higher system requirements. Learn more about the system requirements for virtual backgrounds. Requirements for applying or changing your virtual background Your device meets the system requirements for virtual backgroundVirtual background setting is enabledZoom desktop app for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higherZoom mobile app for Android or iOS: Global minimum version or higherZoom Web App Table of Contents Recommended setup for virtual backgroundsImage and video specifications for virtual backgrounds Background image dimensionsBackground video dimensions How to apply or change a virtual backgroundTroubleshooting virtual background issues Recommended setup for virtual backgrounds With a green screen Virtual background with a green screen provides the best virtual background effect and uses less system resources during the meeting. This method requires you to have a solid-colored screen, curtain, or wall behind you, which Zoom will replace the selected color with the image or video you selected. This method improves the sharpness and definition of the virtual background effect around you. For best results: Use a very bright and distinct color, such as a green or blue screen. The contrast in colors makes it easier to distinguish you in the foreground from the bright background.Higher quality cameras result in a better virtual background. See camera recommendations for details.Use uniform lighting and color.Do not wear clothing that is the same color as the virtual background. Without green screen Virtual background without a green screen provides the same effect as when using a green screen, only with less sharpness and definition around you. This is because without a solid, contrasting color behind you, the system is less likely to accurately distinguish you in the foreground from the background. This method requires more system resources, so it has higher system requirements. For best results: Higher quality cameras result in a better virtual background. See camera recommendations for details.Use uniform lighting and color. Make sure not only your face is illuminated, but also some of your background as well, as the contrast can help distinguish you from the background. Image and video specifications for virtual backgrounds Background image dimensions 24-bit PNG or JPG/JPEG image format.There are no size restrictions when adding your own virtual backgrounds, but we recommend cropping the image to match the aspect ratio of your camera before uploading it. For example, if your camera is set to 16:9, an image of 1280 by 720 pixels or 1920 by 1080 pixels, both being the same 16:9 ratio, would work well.If you're not sure about your camera aspect ratio, use a background image with a minimum resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. Browse some of the virtual backgrounds Zoom has collected, or use these sources for other royalty-free images: Pexels, Unsplash, Pixabay. Background video dimensions A MP4 or MOV video file.Minimum resolution of 480 by 360 pixels (360p) and a maximum resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p). How to apply or change a virtual background Windows | macOS | Linux Change your virtual background before a meeting Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.In the top-right corner, click your profile picture, then click Settings.Click Backgrounds & effects .Click the Virtual backgrounds tab.Note: If you do not see the Virtual backgrounds tab and you have enabled it on the web portal, sign out of the Zoom desktop app and sign in again.(Optional) Choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:Note: If you are currently in a meeting or webinar with your video on, your virtual background will change in the live session if you change it from these settings. Click None to remove your virtual background.Click Blur to blur your background.Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images or videos.To upload your own virtual background, click the add icon and choose if you want to upload an image or a video. Then continue with choosing a file on your device. If prompted, click Download to download the package for virtual background without a green screen.To generate a custom virtual background using AI Companion, enter your virtual background idea into the text box and click Generate. If you'd like a different result, click Try again to generate a new background. You can also select an artistic style for your image from the available options. (Optional) Click the I have a green screen toggle if you have a physical green screen set up. Ensure that you are using a solid background color when this option is enabled. You can then click on your video to select the correct color for the green screen. Change your virtual background during a meeting Join a meeting on the Zoom desktop app.In the bottom-left corner of the video window, click the arrow icon next to Video.Click Adjust background & effects.(Optional) Choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:Note: If you are currently in a meeting or webinar with your video on, your virtual background will change in the live session if you change it from these settings. Click None to remove your virtual background.Click Blur to blur your background.Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images or videos.To upload your own virtual background, click the add icon and choose if you want to upload an image or a video. Then continue with choosing a file on your device. If prompted, click Download to download the package for virtual background without a green screen.To generate a custom virtual background using AI Companion, enter your virtual background idea into the text box and click Generate. If you'd like a different result, click Try again to generate a new background. You can also select an artistic style for your image from the available options. (Optional) Click the I have a green screen toggle if you have a physical green screen set up. Ensure that you are using a solid background color when this option is enabled. You can then click on your video to select the correct color for the green screen. Android | iOS Change your virtual background during a meeting Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.Join a Zoom meeting.In the meeting controls toolbar, tap More.Tap Background & effects.(Optional) On the Backgrounds tab, choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:Note: If you are currently in a meeting with your video on, your virtual background will change in the meeting if you change it from these settings. Tap None to remove your virtual background.Tap Blur to blur your background.Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images.To upload your own virtual background, tap the plus icon + and choose an image on your device.The background will be automatically applied. After selecting your virtual background, tap the close icon . Change your virtual background outside of a meeting (iOS only) Sign in to the Zoom mobile app for iOS.In the bottom-right corner, tap More.Under Settings, tap Meetings.Under Video, tap Background & effects.(Optional) On the Backgrounds tab, choose from the following options to change or remove your virtual background:Note: If you are currently in a meeting with your video on, your virtual background will change in the meeting if you change it from these settings. Tap None to remove your virtual background.Tap Blur to blur your background.Choose from the available default or recently uploaded images.To upload your own virtual background, tap the plus icon + and choose an image on your device.The background will be automatically applied. After selecting your virtual background, tap the close icon . Web app Join or start a meeting through the Zoom web app.In the meeting controls toolbar, next to the Start Video / Stop Video icon, click the up arrow icon .Click Choose Background.Choose from the following options: Under Choose Background, click on an image to select the desired virtual background.Add your own image by clicking the add icon to select the image you want to upload. Note: If you cannot add an image, you can contact your Zoom admin to enable this feature. Close the window to return to the meeting. Troubleshooting virtual background issues If you are experiencing issues with virtual background, try the following troubleshooting tips: If you do not have the Virtual background tab in your desktop app settings after enabling it, sign out of the app, sign back in again, and check the settings again.Manually pick the background color to ensure the correct color is selected. This option is only available after you click an image and have I have a green screen selected. Click the color selector box and the virtual background will disappear temporarily, so that you can click on the color in your background that you want to replace with the virtual background. Zoom will automatically make a best guess as to which color should be replaced, but sometimes there are too many choices to accurately guess the correct one. This is why sometimes the virtual background will cover some of your face, as the color it selected was too close to your own skin tone. Ensure that the background is a solid color with minimal shadows. Also, ensure the background is uniform in lighting. A 3-point lighting setup is ideal.Ensure that your green screen color does not match your shirt, hair, or eye color.Black bars on the sides of your video when virtual background is enabled? Ensure that HD video is enabled in your Video settings. If you are using VDI, some plugins do not support virtual backgrounds and less powerful thin client machines may also be unable to support the feature. Support for additional VDI platforms is in development and customers should check with their sales representative for updates. Set up, learn, and use Zoom Meetings. Get started with Zoom's virtual meeting platform using our onboarding support experience. Get Started