How to Blur Your Background in a Microsoft Teams Video Call

Working from home has revolutionized modern business, but it also introduces unique privacy challenges. When you join a corporate video meeting, you likely do not want your boss or clients to see the messy bookshelf, the unmade bed, or family members walking through the hallway behind you. To instantly protect your privacy and maintain a professional appearance, Microsoft Teams includes a powerful artificial intelligence feature that can analyze your webcam feed, identify your silhouette, and artificially blur everything in the background.

How to Blur Your Background Before Joining a Meeting

The best time to blur your background is before anyone else sees you. Teams allows you to configure your video settings in the “pre-join” lobby screen.

1. Click the join link for your scheduled meeting in the Teams calendar.
2. You will be taken to the pre-join screen where you can see your webcam preview.
3. Look for the Background filters icon located directly beneath your video preview window. (It looks like a person with a striped background behind them). Click it.
4. A “Background settings” panel will slide out on the right side of the screen.
5. In this panel, the very first option (next to the international “No” symbol) is the Blur option. Click it.
6. Your webcam preview will instantly update. Your face and shoulders will remain in sharp focus, but the entire room behind you will blur out, obscuring all details.
7. Click the Join now button to enter the meeting securely.

How to Blur Your Background During an Active Meeting

If you already joined a call and suddenly realize your background is messy, you can activate the blur effect on the fly without disconnecting.

1. While in the active meeting, wiggle your mouse to bring up the main meeting control toolbar at the top of the Teams window.
2. Click the More button (represented by three horizontal dots).
3. From the dropdown menu, select Apply background effects (or Video effects in newer Teams versions).
4. The background settings panel will open on the right side.
5. Select the Blur tile.
6. Click the Apply button at the absolute bottom of the panel.

Your video feed will instantly blur for all other participants on the call.

Using Virtual Backgrounds Instead of Blur

If you prefer not to use the blur effect, Microsoft Teams also allows you to completely replace your environment. In the exact same “Background settings” panel where you found the Blur option, you will see dozens of high-quality stock images provided by Microsoft (modern offices, beaches, abstract art). Simply click one of these images instead of the Blur tile to digitally transport yourself to a new location. You can even click the + Add new button at the top of the panel to upload your own custom corporate logo or photo to use as a backdrop.