How to Set Background in Teams Before And During a Meeting

Every detail matters when making a strong impression in your virtual meetings. While most people focus on their appearance and content, the space behind them—their background—often tells a story of its own. It’s not just a backdrop; it’s a subtle yet powerful part of their professional image. Knowing how to set background in Teams is the first step to establishing that. 

Whether working from home, in a shared space, or on the go, knowing how to change background in Teams allows you to create a consistent and controlled virtual environment. It’s an opportunity to align your surroundings with your personal or corporate brand, adding another layer of credibility to your presence.

In this article, we’ll explore how to tailor your Teams background to fit the context of your meetings, helping you maintain focus and command attention no matter where you are.

How to Change Background in Microsoft Teams Before Meeting

In Microsoft Teams (free version), users have the option to blur their background or apply custom background effects during video meetings and calls. This feature allows you to select from various pre-installed backgrounds or upload a personal image to customize the visual setting according to your preference.

This customization not only helps create a professional Teams background environment but also adds an element of fun or creativity to your virtual interactions.

Before you join any call, you usually have a pre-join screen where all the magic with Teams background becomes possible. 

To set Teams background before call: 

1. Simply go to your Teams calendar, 
2. Select the meeting and select join, and you’ll appear in the said pre-join screen,
3. Select Effects and Avatars, and then Video Effects. 
4. If you want, you can choose to blur your background here, 
5. You can also pick a suitable background image from the available backgrounds.
6. If you want no background, you can turn off your background effect by selecting None.

Tap Done when you’re done selecting. On the top of the screen, tap the “X” if you don’t see the Done button. Now you’re all set and can join your meeting. 

How to Add Custom Background in Teams

If you’re a highly visual person, you must have preferences for many aspects of the interior and your surroundings. The same goes for your background image on Teams. You might not like what the app offers and want to upload your custom image. 

• To do so, select More video effects > Add new
• Choose one to upload from your computer that’s a JPG, PNG, or BMP file.

And you’re set. Next, let’s discuss how to set Teams background when you’re already in a meeting. 

How to Set Background in Teams During a Meeting

There are many situations where you’ll need to change Teams background during a meeting:

• You’re joining last minute and haven’t managed to do it beforehand, 

• You suddenly notice a mess behind you,

• You just want to add a little touch of professionalism to your presentation. 

Whatever the reason, it shouldn’t be too complicated to do so: 

To do this, you first need to join your meeting. 

• In your meeting controls, go to More Actions and pick the Video effects.

• Select Video settings. From there, you can choose to blur your background, set an existing image, or upload a custom image from your computer. Note: your image should be a JPG, PNG, or BMP file.
• You can preview the background before applying it by selecting Preview.

After you choose, tap Done. If the Done button isn’t visible, simply tap the “X” at the top of the screen and continue with your meeting.

Bringing Smart AI Technology to Your Virtual Meetings

Clear communication is key in virtual meetings, and that’s where Krisp comes into play. It is more than just a noise-canceling app—it’s a sophisticated AI Meeting Assistant designed to make your online interactions smooth and professional.

Cut The Noise With Advanced AI

Imagine you’re in the middle of an important virtual meeting, but your environment isn’t cooperating. Maybe you’re dialing in from a shared office space filled with chatter, or even your home where everyday life sounds like a TV in the next room or a noisy neighbor’s dog can interrupt your focus. This is where Krisp’s AI-driven noise cancellation becomes invaluable.

Krisp’s technology intelligently distinguishes between your voice and the background noise, muting everything not meant to be part of the conversation. 

Consider a scenario where you’re presenting a critical update to your team. The last thing you need is the sound of someone making coffee in the background distracting your colleagues. With Krisp, you can speak confidently, knowing that all those extraneous sounds are filtered out in real time, allowing you to focus entirely on your message.

Never Miss a Detail With Seamless Transcription

Besides noise cancellation, Krisp offers a Meeting Transcription feature that’s a real game-changer. Instead of splitting your attention between speaking and taking notes, Krisp’s transcription tool captures every word spoken in your meetings. This means you can stay fully engaged in the conversation, knowing that all the important details are being recorded for you to review later.

With Krisp, maintaining a professional Teams background and presence in your virtual meetings becomes effortless. Whether you’re dialing in from a busy location or a quiet room, Krisp ensures that your voice is always the focus. Plus, it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, making it an essential tool for anyone looking to elevate their remote work experience.

How to Choose The Best Teams Background For Your Meetings

Before you decide on a background, think about who will be on the other side of the screen. The nature of your audience can guide your choice. Whether aiming for a professional Teams background look, a creative touch, or something in between, it’s important to choose wisely.

Consider The Attendees 

Think about who will join the meeting:

• clients, 
• potential partners, 
• higher-ups, 

It’s crucial to project a professional image. Choose a background that mirrors your work environment or aligns with your company’s branding. For instance, a background with your company’s logo subtly placed or a clean, modern office setting can reinforce your brand identity and convey professionalism. 

Imagine you’re presenting a new proposal—using a background that echoes your company’s aesthetic can make your presentation cohesive and well-thought-out.

• Internal Team Meetings: Internal meetings with colleagues may offer more flexibility. This is an opportunity to showcase your personality or creativity without sacrificing professionalism. A well-organized home office setting can make you appear approachable yet competent. Or, if your team has a laid-back culture, you might choose a background that reflects a shared interest or an inside joke, helping to foster camaraderie. For example, if your team enjoys light-hearted banter about coffee, a virtual café background could set a relaxed and enjoyable tone for your discussion.

• Creative Brainstorming Sessions: A more vibrant and stimulating background might be appropriate if you’re leading or participating in a brainstorming session. Something abstract or colorful can help set a creative tone, encouraging out-of-the-box thinking. For instance, a background featuring a bustling cityscape or an art gallery can spark inspiration and keep the energy levels high during a brainstorming session.

Match the Mood of the Meeting

The tone of your meeting plays a key role in determining the most suitable background. A neutral or formal background is often the best choice for serious, formal meetings—such as strategic planning sessions, financial discussions, or presentations to senior management. This could be a simple, uncluttered home office, a virtual office space, or even a plain background that keeps the focus squarely on you and your content. A neutral setting projects professionalism and helps minimize distractions, ensuring that the attention remains on your words and ideas.

On the other hand, if you’re leading a brainstorming session or participating in a creative discussion, your background can afford to be more vibrant and stimulating. Choosing an abstract, colorful image or a dynamic scene like a cityscape or nature view can energize the atmosphere and inspire more innovative thinking. These backgrounds can subtly encourage creativity, making participants feel more open and engaged in generating ideas.

Test Your Background

Before you join your meeting, it’s essential to preview how your chosen background will appear on camera. Spend a few moments checking the overall look, ensuring it complements your appearance rather than detracting from it. A good background should create a harmonious visual effect that frames you nicely without overwhelming the viewer.

Pay close attention to the lighting in your room—too much brightness or darkness can make you blend into the background or appear too harsh on screen. Adjust your lighting or move your position slightly to find the best balance. 

Additionally, consider how your attire contrasts with the background; you want to avoid any clashing colors or patterns that might be distracting. For instance, a simple, solid-colored background might work best to avoid a busy visual effect if you’re wearing a patterned shirt. This extra step ensures that your background enhances your presence rather than competing with it, helping you maintain a polished, professional appearance throughout the meeting.

Best Teams Backgrounds For Remote Work

Finding out how to set background in Teams for your remote work setup can make a huge difference in maintaining a professional appearance. Here are some of the top options:

Home Office Backgrounds

These are ideal to create the impression that you’re working from a well-organized, dedicated workspace.

Virtual Office Spaces

Choose a virtual office background that exudes professionalism without revealing your actual home environment.

Outdoor Scenes

Sometimes, a calm and peaceful outdoor background, like a park or beach, can help set a relaxed tone, especially during informal meetings.

Troubleshooting Common Issues With Teams Backgrounds

Even though Microsoft Teams is designed to be intuitive, you might still face occasional hiccups when changing background in Teams. Here’s how to tackle some common issues:

• Background Not Loading: If your background doesn’t load as expected, the first step is to ensure that your Microsoft Teams app is up-to-date. An outdated app version sometimes prevents features like background customization from working correctly. Updating to the latest version can often resolve this issue.

• Blurry Background Image: If your custom background appears blurry, it’s likely because the image resolution is too low. Microsoft Teams supports image files in JPG, PNG, or BMP formats, but to avoid a blurry appearance, make sure your image has a high resolution. The recommended resolution is at least 1920×1080 pixels to ensure clarity.

• Background Resetting to Default: Sometimes, after selecting a custom background, you might notice that it resets to the default option when you join a meeting. This issue can usually be fixed by reselecting your preferred background and ensuring that your settings are saved before exiting. Also, check that the background feature is enabled in your Teams settings to prevent it from defaulting to the original background.

Following the above steps will allow you to make the most of your favorite communication tool. 

Conclusion

To wrap up, getting the hang of how to set background in Teams can help you put your best foot forward in virtual meetings. 

It’s not just about looking good on camera—it’s about creating an environment that supports your message. Whether you’re in your home office or joining a call from somewhere unexpected, taking a moment to choose the right Teams background can make a big difference in how you come across. 

And with a few simple tricks to manage any hiccups, you’ll be all set to keep your meetings smooth and focused, no matter where you are.

Frequently Asked Questions