Change your background in a video meeting

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You can use this feature only if your organization supports it. For help, contact your administrator.

To help limit distractions or make video meetings more fun, you can now blur or replace your background or replace it with an image, an immersive background, or a video. You can also apply styles to customize your video with various light, color filters and stylized backgrounds.

Note: People who join the video meeting and are not signed in to a Google Account, as well as those who need to ask to get admitted, can only change their background after the meeting starts. If you have Google Workspace for Education, you can't upload custom background images.

Requirements to change your background

If you can’t use visual effects, you may not meet the following requirements:

A browser version that supports backgrounds:
- Chrome version 91 or above on Windows, Mac or Linux. Learn how to check your browser version.
- Version 91 or above on Chrome OS. Learn how to upgrade your Chromebook.
- Edge (Chromium) 91 or above on Windows or Mac.
A browser version that supports immersive effects and styles:
- Chrome version 91 or above on Windows, Mac or Linux. Learn how to check your browser version.
- Version 91 or above on Chrome OS. Learn how to upgrade your Chromebook.
- Edge (Chromium) 91 or above on Windows or Mac.
Hardware acceleration turned on.
A browser that supports WebGL.
A 64-bit operating system.

Turn on hardware acceleration on Windows or Mac

Open Chrome browser.
Click More Settings.
Next to Advanced, click the Down arrow .
Click System.
Turn on Use hardware acceleration when available.
Restart Chrome browser.

Check WebGL 2.0 support

Check if your browser supports WebGL 2.0 by visiting the WebGL Report.
Verify that Major Performance Caveat is marked as No.

Your browser might disable WebGL if the device is unstable or cause crashes. You can’t enforce WebGL on unstable WebGL devices. In some cases, it may help to update graphic card drivers or restart your browser.

Change your background and use visual effects

Before a video meeting

Go to Google Meet select a meeting.
On the bottom right of your self view, click Apply visual effects .
- To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
- To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background .
- To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
- To upload your own image for your background, click Upload a background image .
- To add a style to your video, click a style.
- To select a filter, at the bottom, tap Filters the filter you want to use.
- Tip: If the filter is interactive, follow the directions on the screen to activate it.
Click Join Now.

During a video meeting

On the bottom, click More .
Click Apply visual effects .
- To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
- To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background.
- To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
- To upload your own image for your background, click Upload a background image .
- To add a style to your video, click a style.
- To select a filter, at the bottom, tap Filters the filter you want to use.
- Tip: If the filter is interactive, follow the directions on the screen to activate it.

Tip: Your camera is automatically turned on when you click on an effect. Your device may slow down when you use effects and backgrounds. You may want to turn this feature off to allow other apps to run faster on your computer.

Note: Sensitive information might be visible when you change your background during a video meeting.

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