Working from home has resulted in workers taking part in more meetings than they did before. It’s inevitable – with everyone working in different places, you can’t just have a quick chat with colleagues in your office. If you need to speak to them, you’ve got two choices – audio or video call.
If your home office isn’t looking quite as tidy as you’d like, but you don’t want to be the only person off camera, there is a way around. In Teams, you can customise your background. Whether you want to have a bit of fun or need something a bit more serious, you can set any image you like as your background. Here’s how!
Microsoft Teams Customised Backgrounds
To change your background in Teams, you’ll want to make sure your app is up to date with the latest version. Changing backgrounds is a relatively new feature – it was introduced earlier this year. To update your Teams app, click on your photo at the top. Then select Check for updates. You can continue working while the app checks for and downloads any updates.
Customise your background at the start
Before you join a meeting, you have the option to join with your video and audio on or off. If you turn your video on, you have the option for a custom background. Turn the background effects on, and you’ll be presented with a number of default backgrounds, preinstalled with Teams. Some backgrounds resemble the inside of a home or office, and others are more for fun. Have a look through to see which you think is most appropriate for your meeting.
Customise your background during a meeting
If you want to change your background during a Teams meeting, click on the More actions (…) button and select Show background effects. From there the process is exactly the same. If you’ve started a meeting without your video on, when you choose a background you can apply it, and it will turn your video on for you.
How do I Add a Custom Background to Microsoft Teams?
If you’ve been on a number of Teams meetings, and you’ve had enough of the default backgrounds, you can add your own.
Adding custom Teams backgrounds is a great idea if you’re looking to stay ‘on brand’ during calls and meetings. Either having photos from around your offices or company logos is a great way to look the part on a call.
To add your own backgrounds in Teams, click on Show background effects and click Add new. Then you can upload any photo you have saved on your computer or OneDrive. Images can be .JPG, .PNG, or .BMP.
Can I Customise my Background on Mobile?
Unfortunately, you cannot change your background in a call or meeting from your phone. The only effect you have available is the background blur. If there’s a lot of mess behind you, blurring your background is a great option to reduce distractions.
Changing Teams Backgrounds
If you’re using Teams and would like to get more out of it, get in touch with ACUTEC today.
