We are almost 3 whole years past the start of the pandemic. But, wherever you are, there are a couple of things that we all had in common over these last couple of years. The most prevalent is, of course, Zoom calls. Our dependence on virtual meetings and workspaces has increased 10 times the amount it was in February 2020.
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Zoom calls and virtual meetings do not seem like they are going anywhere anytime soon. Most workers have remained remote because it makes more sense for employees and businesses than going back to in-person. That means a lot of people are probably working out of their home office (or a bedroom that becomes a home office during the day).
We all know how hard it is to keep a room clean and organized every day, especially if, most of the time, you are the only one looking at it. Luckily, Zoom has you covered if your room is a cluttered mess. No, Zoom does not offer a cleaning service, but it does allow you to blur your background easily.
We have put together this guide so you can learn how to blur your background for any Zoom meeting. Don’t worry, these steps apply to Apple and Windows devices! We even have those mobile Zoom users covered, with a guide on how to blur your background using iOS devices and most Android devices.
Using a Computer
There are two different ways to blur your background in Zoom. You can either enable it before you join a meeting, or you can wait until you are in a meeting to blur your background. Before we get started, make sure you are using the most up-to-date Zoom app for the best results.
Method #1: Enabling Blur Before Joining a Meeting
Step 1. Open The Zoom App
If you already have the Zoom app, go ahead and open it and sign into your account. If you don’t have the Zoom app installed on your computer, click this link and select your device to download the app.
Step 2. Click on Your Profile Picture
In the top right-hand corner, click on your profile picture. Unless you have a custom photo set, the box will show the first letter of your name.
Step 3. Select Settings
From the drop-down menu, click on Settings.
Step 4. Click on Backgrounds & Effects
On the left-hand side of the settings menu, find the option called Background & Effects. Click on it.
Step 5. Blur Your Video
In the Background & Effects menu, you will see 6 different options by default. For this tutorial, we will be selecting Blur. But you can also choose different virtual backgrounds from this screen.
Note that sometimes the blur effect does not always work perfectly, but it does tend to perform better in good lighting conditions.
Method #2: Enabling Blur in a Meeting
Step 1. Join a Zoom Meeting
Using the Zoom app, join a meeting or host a meeting like you normally do.
Step 2. Click on the Arrow by the Video Option
On the bottom toolbar, you will see an option that is labeled Start Video or Stop Video. You will see an upwards pointing arrow to the right of this icon. Click on the arrow.
Step 3. Blur My Background
From this menu, you will see your video options. For this tutorial, click on Blur My Background. Note that you can also start a virtual background or a filter from this menu.
Again, the blur effect works better in ideal lighting conditions. Zoom has a more challenging time effectively blurring your background when in a darker room.
Blurring Your Background Using a Mobile Device
Unlike the desktop app, there is only one way to enable a blurred background in the Zoom app. You have to be in a meeting to turn on the blurred background instead of being able to enable it before joining a meeting.
Step 1. Launch The Zoom App
If you already have it installed, open the Zoom app on either an iOS or Android device. If you do not already have the app installed, click this link to select your device and install the app.
Step 2. Join or Host a Meeting
If you are joining a meeting, you already have planned to go ahead and join it, but to test it out for the first time, we recommend hosting a test meeting by yourself.
To host a meeting, click the orange New Meeting option on the home screen of the app.
Step 3. Show the Controls
Now that you are in a meeting, you may see a bottom toolbar, but if you do not tap anywhere on the screen to show the toolbar.
Step 4. Tap on More
In this bottom toolbar, scroll to the left until you see an option called More with three dots. Tap on that option.
Step 5. Click on Backgrounds & Filters
From this menu, tap on Backgrounds & Filters.
Step 6. Tap on Blur
This menu will look similar to the Backgrounds & Filters menu on the desktop. For this tutorial, tap on Blur to blur your background. You can also enable virtual backgrounds and filters from this menu.
Just like on the desktop, the blurred background works best in ideal lighting conditions, especially depending on the camera on your phone.
