Mastering Background Obscurity in Microsoft Teams

Have you ever needed to join a Teams gathering but ran out of time to tidy up your room? Or perhaps you prefer not to alter your Teams backdrop with personalized images? Thankfully, there's a handy solution to eliminate background online directly within Teams. This feature provides the option to obscure your background, acting as a swift and effective way to enhance the visual appeal of your video call. It's excellent for concealing disheveled rooms, non-work environments or simply retaining a degree of privacy without the need for a green screen. In this piece, we'll be leading you on how to obscure your background on Teams via desktop and mobile.

Continue reading to discover how to obscure your background in Microsoft Teams!

How to Obscure Background on Microsoft Teams Before a Meeting

The swiftest approach to obscure your Microsoft Teams meeting background is by executing it before a video call. This spares you the hassle of adjusting your settings mid-meeting. Additionally, you can effortlessly transition from obscuring to substituting it with one of Microsoft Teams' virtual backgrounds if you desire. There are several methods to obscure the video background seamlessly, and this is achievable across diverse devices and operating systems.

On Windows

Below are the steps to obscure video background in Microsoft Teams on your Windows device:

1. Commence Microsoft Teams.
2. Participate in a Teams video meeting.
3. Click the Background filters icon (or person icon).
4. A side panel for Background settings will emerge.
5. Enable background obscurity by selecting Obscure.
6. Hit the Join now button.

Pro Tip: Within Background settings, you can incorporate a custom background image by utilizing the plus symbol.

On Mac

If you're utilizing a Mac device, follow these guidelines to obscure your background in Microsoft Teams before a video call:

1. Initiate Microsoft Teams.
2. Choose your Team meeting link or join a new meeting.
3. Click on the person icon below your video preview.
4. In the Background settings menu, opt for the Obscure feature to apply the obscured background effect.
5. Commence the meeting by clicking Join now.

On Chromebook

In case you're wondering how to obscure your Microsoft Teams backdrop on Chromebook before a video call, follow these steps:

1. Access Microsoft Teams.
2. Join a new video meeting.
3. A popup will preview your video stream.
4. Click the Background filters icon present in the meeting controls.
5. Within the background settings, pick the Obscure option to obscure the backdrop.
6. Upon satisfaction with the obscured feature preview, hit Join now.

On Android

To obscure your Microsoft Teams background before initiating a video call using Android, follow these instructions:

1. Lanuch the Microsoft Teams app.
2. Join your Teammeeting link, or tap the Meet button at the base of your screen to commence a new meeting.
3. Press Meet now, and choose Start meeting.
4. Access Background effects at the top of your screen.
5. Opt for the Obscure option.
6. Lastly, tap Done to obsure your background.

On iPhone

If you possess an iPhone device and wish to obscure your video background in Microsoft Teams, adhere to these steps:

1. Open your Microsoft Teams mobile app.
2. Tap your meeting link or start a new meeting by choosing the Meet button.
3. Select Meet now. Tap Start meeting.
4. Subsequently, tap the three dots on the lower right side of your screen.
5. Choose Background effects to access the Background settings.
6. Obscure the background by clicking on Obscure to preview your video display.
7. Finally, tap Done to apply the obscure effect.

How to Obscure Background on Microsoft Teams During a Meeting

Occasionally, unforeseen interruptions may arise during a video call, necessitating the prompt obscuring of your background. Fortunately, you can still achieve this while engaged in your Microsoft Teams meeting! There's a rapid and straightforward method to enact this without disrupting your planned meeting.

On Desktop

Desktop users can obscure their Microsoft Teams background during a meeting by following these steps:

1. Initiate your Microsoft Teams app.
2. Locate the three dots button on your meetings control panel.
3. Click on Apply background effects.
4. Then, select the Obscure option to obscure your background in Microsoft Teams
5. Click on Preview to assess its appearance.
6. Finally, select Apply to obscure the backgroundand activate the video.

Remark: These procedures are consistent across major OS such as Windows, Mac, or Chromebook. Simply tap the three dots icon to access the Background filters option, select the Obscure tile, Preview as needed, then apply.

On Mobile

Below are the steps on how to obscure your Microsoft Teams background during a video call on your mobile device:

1. Open the Microsoft Teams mobile app.
2. Access your meetings control panel situated at the bottom right corner of your screen.
3. Select the three dots button.
4. Thereafter, tap on Background effects.
5. EnableBlur the background by selecting the Blur option. It will give you a preview of the video appearance after selection.
6. Lastly, press Done located on the top right corner to implement the blurred background.

Remember: You can perform these actions irrespective of whether you're using an iPhone or Android device. Simply locate the three dots icon, opt for either Background effects or Background filters, choose the Blur option to blur the background, and then select Done to confirm.

What's Preventing Me From Blurring My Microsoft Teams Background?

• Device Compatibility. Due to advancements in communication tech, background blurring has emerged as a favored method to enhance the professionalism of video calls. Nevertheless, not all devices support this feature – while Windows 10 and Mac OS X users can leverage it on MS Teams, those on Linux systems are left out, as well as users with an optimized VDI configuration. Even custom background uploads from other sources are limited by device compatibility: unsupported systems will not have access!
• Missing Advanced Vector Extension (AVX). This is the hardware essential for face recognition and delineating the background area to be blurred. AVX hardware functionality is restricted to Mac and PC systems equipped with Advanced Vector Extension2 (AVX) graphics.
• Permissions. If you are utilizing a company MS Teams account, your admin or IT department might have deactivated certain features. This could include altering your video background or using the blur feature. Reach out to your admin to enable these permissions for your Microsoft Teams meetings.
• Outdated Software. Keep your Teams software up to date for an optimal experience! Ensure you have the latest version of Microsoft Teams installed to access its full range of features. This will grant you access to impressive background effects and guarantee that your virtual collaboration is smoother and more efficient than ever.

Enhancing Video Calls with Teams' Background Blurring Capability

Microsoft Teams offers a handy feature to enhance the professional look of your video calls – the ability to blur your background. With a simple click, you can maintain your privacy or draw attention to yourself. Elevate any call by using this fantastic feature accessible via Background effects and Filters on both desktop and mobile platforms!

By adhering to the instructions detailed in this guide, you can prepare your device to utilize the popular background blur function. In case you encounter any difficulties, remember to review your settings and compatibility to achieve the best outcomes. Begin blurring your background today by following our comprehensive guide!