How to Change Video Background in Teams (Before & During)

Last Updated: 2026-04-24 19:34:13

Microsoft Teams allows users to customize their video background to improve privacy, professionalism, and visual consistency during online meetings. Whether you want to prepare your look before joining a call, adjust your background while speaking, or edit a recorded meeting afterward, Teams provides multiple options to manage your video environment.

This guide walks you through how to change your video background in Teams before a meeting, during a meeting, and after a meeting recording.

Part 1. How to Change Video Background in Teams Before a Meeting

One of the most common concerns for users is preparation.

"Can I change my Teams Video Call Background before going into a Meeting?" - User on Reddit

The short answer is Yes. Microsoft Teams allows you to preview and adjust your video settings in a "pre-join" lobby, so you never have to worry about an accidental reveal of your surroundings.

Change or Blur Background in Teams Before Meeting on Desktop

Step 1.Open your Teams and go to your Calendar from the sidebar. Select a meeting ad click Join.
Step 2.In the pre-join screen, look for the Video effects or Background filters button (usually located right under the video preview).
Step 3.A sidebar will appear on the right labeled Background settings.
Step 4.Select Blur to soften your room, or choose from the available stock images.
Step 5.Click Add new if you wish to upload a custom company logo or professional office image.

Change or Blur Background in Teams Before Meeting on Mobile

If you are joining from an iPhone or Android device:

Step 1.Tap to join the meeting.
Step 2.On the pre-join screen, tap the Background effects icon at the top of the screen.
Step 3.Tap on Add New + icon to change the background, or tap on None to remove effects.
Step 4.Tap Done to save the settings before hitting "Join now".

Part 2. How To Change Video Background In Teams During A Meeting

Sometimes you realize mid-call that your background is distracting, or someone walks into the frame. Don't panic; you can switch your scenery without leaving the meeting.

On Desktop

Step 1. Navigate to the meeting toolbar at the top of your call window.

Step 2. Click the More (...) icon.

Step 3. Select Video effects and settings.

Step 4. In the Video effects:

To blur your background, select the dropdown arrow next to Blur and choose Standard blur or Portrait blur.
Select one of the available Teams background images and apply it directly to your video feed
Select Add new to upload and use an image from your computer. Make sure it's a .JPG, .PNG, or .BMP file.

Step 5. Click Preview to see how it looks (others won't see the change yet) and then click Apply and turn on video.

On Mobile

Step 1.Tap the More (...) icon at the bottom of your screen.
Step 2.Tap Background effects.
Step 3.Choose your new background or blur level.
Step 4.Tap Done to apply the changes instantly.

Part 3. Change Video Background After a Teams Meeting

Microsoft Teams does not allow direct background changes after a meeting ends. However, if your meeting was recorded, you can still edit the video using AI tools.

Modern AI video editors can automatically detect subjects and replace or remove backgrounds without requiring green screens or manual masking.

One of the most efficient tools for post-meeting editing is HitPaw VikPea, which uses AI to intelligently process video backgrounds.

Unlike traditional editing methods that require frame-by-frame masking or chroma key setups, VikPea automates the entire process.

Key Features of VikPea AI Background Remover

Automatic Background Detection & Removal
AI precisely identifies the subject and separates it from the background.
Three Background Options: Be Transparentwhich removes background completely; Background Blur which softs professional effect and Background Fill which replaces with custom visuals.
Real-Time Preview: Instantly preview changes before exporting.
All-in-One AI Toolkit: Beyond background removal, it offers AI video upscaling to 4K, video repair for flickering or noise, and AI video generation tools.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Recorded Backgrounds:

Step 1. Import:Launch HitPaw VikPea and find the AI Toolbox from the sidebar. Choose the Background Removal feature and upload your recorded Teams meeting file.
Step 2. Choose Mode:If you want to change Teams video background, tick "Background Fill" option. Here you can change the background to a bold color or switch to Image and replace the background with a custom image.
Step 3. Preview & Export:Click "Preview" to process a segment. Once satisfied, click Export to save your polished, professional video.

Part 4. FAQs

1. How to add background image to Teams without being in a meeting?

You can do this by clicking on Settings in the main Teams app > Devices. Under the camera section, look for Video effects to manage and upload your custom backgrounds so they are ready for your next call.

2. Why does Teams not allow me to change my background?

This usually happens if your computer's processor does not support Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) or if your IT administrator has disabled the feature for your organization.

3. Why is the background option not showing on Teams?

Ensure you are using the desktop app rather than the web browser version, as some browsers do not support background effects. Also, check for pending app updates.

4. How to update Teams background in settings?

Open Teams, go to your profile picture > Manage account > Settings > Devices. Here you can toggle video settings and ensure your camera is correctly calibrated with the background software.

Conclusion

Changing your video background in Microsoft Teams is simple whether you do it before, during, or after a meeting. Teams provides built-in tools for real-time customization, while AI solutions like HitPaw VikPea extend your control to recorded videos with automatic background removal, blur, and replacement. This makes it easier to maintain a professional appearance across all your video communication workflows.