Whether you are taking an important video call from a cluttered bedroom or joining a massive corporate presentation, maintaining a professional visual appearance is crucial. If you cannot easily clean your physical surroundings, Google Meet provides a powerful tool to completely mask your background.
Using advanced machine learning algorithms running directly in your browser, Google Meet can separate your silhouette from the background in real-time, allowing you to blur the room or replace it entirely with a custom image or video.
How to Add a Background Before the Call Starts
The best time to configure your visual settings is in the “green room” (the preview screen) before you actually join the meeting.
- Click the Google Meet invitation link provided by the organizer.
- On the preview screen where you can see your webcam feed, look at the bottom-right corner of your video box.
- Click the Apply visual effects icon (it looks like a silhouette of a person surrounded by sparkles).
- A right-hand sidebar will slide open displaying a massive gallery of options.
From this menu, you have several choices:
- Blur: The first two circular icons allow you to apply a “Slight blur” or a heavy, aggressive blur to your real background. This is often the most professional option.
- Pre-loaded Images: Scroll down to select from dozens of high-quality static images (like a modern office, a library, or a beach) or subtle, looping video backgrounds provided by Google.
- Custom Upload: Click the square icon with a + (plus) symbol inside it to upload your own corporate logo step-and-repeat or a custom JPEG from your hard drive.
How to Change the Background During an Active Call
If the meeting has already started and someone unexpectedly walks into your room, you can change your background on the fly.
- Look at the bottom toolbar of the active Google Meet window.
- Click the three vertical dots (More options) icon.
- Select Apply visual effects from the pop-up menu.
- The same right-hand sidebar will appear. Clicking any new image or blur option will instantly apply it to your live webcam feed without interrupting your audio.