How to Blur Your Background in Microsoft Teams
Working from the kitchen table? Pile of washing behind you? Background blur keeps you sharp and turns everything behind you into a soft haze — so people focus on you, not your room.
Blur your background before you join
This is the best time to set it, so nobody sees your room even for a second.
1. Click the meeting link or Join in Teams.
2. On the pre-join screen, make sure your camera is turned on.
3. Click Effects and avatars (or Background filters / Video effects, depending on your version).
4. Choose Blur.
5. Click Join now.
2. On the pre-join screen, make sure your camera is turned on.
3. Click Effects and avatars (or Background filters / Video effects, depending on your version).
4. Choose Blur.
5. Click Join now.
Blur your background during a meeting
1. Click ⋯ More in the meeting controls.
2. Choose Video effects and settings (or Effects and avatars).
3. Click Blur.
2. Choose Video effects and settings (or Effects and avatars).
3. Click Blur.
You'll see a preview. The blur is applied straight away.
Keyboard shortcut: Ctrl + Shift + P (Command + Shift + P on a Mac) turns background blur on and off.
Use a picture instead of blur
In the same effects panel, you'll see background images — offices, bookshelves, landscapes and more. Click one to use it. Scroll down for more choices.
Upload your own background
1. In the effects panel, click Add new (or + Add).
2. Choose an image from your computer — a JPG, PNG or BMP.
3. Select it to apply it.
2. Choose an image from your computer — a JPG, PNG or BMP.
3. Select it to apply it.
Tip: Use a landscape image about 1920 × 1080 pixels. Some companies provide branded backgrounds for Teams — check your intranet.
Note: Your background appears mirrored to you, but looks the right way round to everyone else. Text on your background will read correctly for them.
Turn the blur off
Open the effects panel again and choose None (the circle with a line through it), or press Ctrl + Shift + P.
Get a better-looking blur
Background effects work by detecting where you end and the room begins. Help them out:
• Good lighting on your face — sit facing a window or lamp, not with a window behind you.
• A plain background helps the edges look cleaner.
• Don't wear the same colour as your wall.
• Stay still-ish — fast movements can make your edges flicker.
• A plain background helps the edges look cleaner.
• Don't wear the same colour as your wall.
• Stay still-ish — fast movements can make your edges flicker.
Does Teams remember my background?
Yes. Your last choice is usually applied to your next meeting automatically. You can change it on the pre-join screen any time.
Blur in the Teams mobile app
In a meeting on your phone, tap ⋯ More > Background effects, then choose Blur or an image. It needs a reasonably recent phone.
Troubleshooting
There's no Blur option. Background effects need a computer that meets Teams' requirements (a reasonably recent processor). Update Teams, then check again. Your organisation can also switch background effects off.
The blur looks patchy. Improve your lighting and move away from busy backgrounds or bright windows.
I can't see the effects panel. Your camera needs to be switched on first.
Wrapping up
Set Blur on the pre-join screen so it's on before anyone sees you, or use Ctrl + Shift + P to toggle it mid-meeting. Add decent lighting and it'll look far more natural.
