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How to Enable and Use Zoom Virtual Backgrounds
Edited 3 months ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team
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In today's digital world, virtual meetings and calls have become a part of our daily lives. Zoom is one of the most popular platforms that enables people to connect, chat, and hold meetings from anywhere around the world. One of the attractive features of Zoom is the ability to use virtual backgrounds. This feature allows you to change your background during a video call, making your virtual meeting more engaging and at times, more professional. This can come in handy when you are working from home and want to hide a cluttered background or simply want to add a bit of fun to your conversation. Let's learn in detail how to enable and use Zoom virtual backgrounds.
What are Zoom virtual backgrounds?
Zoom virtual backgrounds are images or videos that you can set as your background during a Zoom meeting. Instead of showing your real, physical environment, Zoom digitally replaces it using technology. This can be helpful for a number of reasons. It can promote privacy, help maintain a professional look, or just add some fun to your virtual meeting.
Zoom allows you to either use its preset backgrounds or upload your own photos and videos. However, using high-quality photos and maintaining good lighting and camera positioning can greatly enhance the virtual background experience.
System requirements
Before enabling Zoom virtual backgrounds, it is important to understand if your system can support this feature. Generally, virtual backgrounds are supported on devices that meet certain requirements related to their operating system, processor, and memory. Below are some common requirements:
- A stable and good quality camera.
- Operating system requirements: Windows 7 or above, or macOS 10.13 or later.
- Processor Requirements: i5 dual-core or higher for Windows, and the same applies to Mac.
- Participants must have the latest version of Zoom, although versions 4.6.4 and above support virtual backgrounds.
- Your system should sometimes have the most updated video card drivers installed.
Steps to enable Zoom virtual background
Step 1: Open Zoom on your computer
The first step is to open the Zoom application on your computer. You can find the Zoom app in your Start menu on Windows or in your Applications folder on macOS. Click to open it and log in with your Zoom credentials when prompted.
Step 2: Go to Settings
After logging into the Zoom software, you will find the Settings option. The Settings icon looks like a gear and is usually located in the upper right corner of the Zoom window. Click this gear icon to open the Settings menu.
Step 3: Go to Virtual Background
Once the Settings menu opens, look for an option labeled "Background and Filters" in the sidebar. Click this option. This will open the virtual background settings. If you don't see this option, make sure it's enabled at the administrative level on your account (you may need to check your account settings on zoom.us to enable it).
Step 4: Choose the Background
In the Virtual Background settings, you can see some default images provided by Zoom. You can select any of these images to see how they look with your video feed in the preview window. If you are satisfied, the Virtual Background feature is ready to use.
Alternatively, if you have your own image or video you want to use, click the "+" icon labeled "Add image or video." Select a file from your computer, and it will be uploaded for use as your virtual background.
Advanced settings and views
Use a green screen
To get the best quality virtual background, Zoom recommends using a green screen behind you. With a green screen, your camera can more accurately distinguish between you and your background, resulting in a clearer image. To enable this feature, check the “I have a green screen” option in the Virtual Background menu. If you’re not using this, you may want to make sure your physical background is a uniform color that matches well with your clothing and skin color.
Maintain good lighting
Lighting plays a key role in the effectiveness of Zoom virtual backgrounds. Make sure your face is well-lit and avoid lights directly behind you, as this can create a shadow effect, which can hinder virtual background performance. Natural light is always best, but in its absence, an evenly lit room works well too.
Keep the camera steady
To ensure that the virtual background works efficiently, it is advisable to keep your camera steady and at eye level. If you use a laptop, placing it on a stand can help get the right angle. A wobbly camera can ruin your virtual background and lead to poor results.
Common problems and troubleshooting
Blurring or blending with the background
Sometimes you may see parts of your body blurred or blending into the background. This may be due to inadequate lighting, improperly coloured clothing or the quality of the camera. Increasing the lighting in the room, wearing clothes of solid colour and contrast to the background and ensuring that the camera is steady can help solve this problem.
Virtual background not showing
If you don't see the virtual background option in your settings, check that your Zoom client is up to date. Also, make sure your device meets the system requirements. You can check your Zoom client version by clicking your profile picture in the Zoom app, selecting "Help" and then "About Zoom."
Slow system performance
Using a virtual background can sometimes slow down your system performance, especially if it doesn't meet the recommended requirements. If you experience system lag, try using a still image instead of a video background as it requires fewer resources. Alternatively, upgrading your hardware or closing other applications during a meeting can also help improve performance.
Improving your virtual background experience
To get the most out of Zoom virtual backgrounds, consider these additional tips:
- Choose an appropriate background to suit the context of the meeting. A business meeting might have a plain or office-like background, while an informal call might require a more fun atmosphere.
- Update the Zoom application regularly to take advantage of new features and improvements that can enhance virtual background performance.
Conclusion
Zoom virtual backgrounds offer a unique way to tailor your video call experience to your privacy, style, and professional needs. By choosing the right background and ensuring your system is set up for optimal performance, you can present yourself in the best possible way during online conversations. Remember that the key components are good lighting, quality images or videos as a background, and ensuring your device meets the necessary requirements. With these elements in place, you're ready to take full advantage of Zoom's virtual background capabilities.
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