How to Change Your Zoom Background: Step-by-Step Guide, Tips, and Ideas

Introduction

With the global pandemic forcing many of us to work from home, video conferencing tools like Zoom have become a staple in our daily lives instead of casual meetups. Zoom not only allows us to connect with our colleagues and clients remotely, but it also lets us customize our backgrounds for a more personalized touch. In this article, we’ll explore how to change your Zoom background, including step-by-step instructions and best practices. We’ll also highlight creative and unique background ideas beyond the standard library of Zoom backgrounds.

A Step-by-Step Guide

Changing your Zoom background is straightforward and only requires a few clicks:

Log in to your Zoom account on your desktop computer or mobile device.
Join or start a Zoom meeting.
Click the up arrow next to “Start/Stop Video” in the bottom left corner of your screen.
Select “Choose Virtual Background.”
If you’re using Zoom on a desktop computer, you’ll be presented with a library of built-in backgrounds. Click on any of the images to preview it as your background. You can also click the plus (+) sign to upload your own image as your background. If you’re using a mobile device, follow the same steps but select “More” in the bottom right corner to upload or preview virtual backgrounds.
Select the background of your choice by clicking on the image.
You’re all set! Your chosen background will now appear behind you in your video calls.

It’s that simple! However, keep in mind that not all computers and mobile devices can support virtual backgrounds. If you’re using an older device or don’t have a powerful processor, virtual backgrounds may not work in your Zoom calls.

Exploring the Possibilities

Zoom provides a limited number of built-in backgrounds, like a serene nature scene or the Golden Gate Bridge. However, there are many creative and unique backgrounds beyond Zoom’s standard library that can showcase your personality and style. Here are some ideas:

Movie or TV Show Theme: Love Harry Potter or The Office? Show your fandom with a background from your favorite movie or TV show.
Travel: Missing your summer vacation to Hawaii? Set yourself against a beach sunset or a tropical forest scenery.
Sports: Support your favorite sports team with a background showing the team’s logo or game highlights.
Artistic: Showcase your taste in art by using impressionistic or abstract artworks as your virtual background.
Humorous: Inject some humor into your virtual meetings with comical backgrounds featuring memes or funny quotes.

You can also create your own custom backgrounds using simple photo editing tools like Canva or Adobe Spark. Just make sure your image is high-resolution and fits Zoom’s recommended aspect ratio of 16:9.

Best Practices

Choosing the right background can make all the difference in your virtual presence. Here are some tips on how to select a background that looks great on camera:

Choose a neutral or solid color background: Busy or distracting patterns can make your appearance on camera look pixelated and unclear. Opt for a solid color background or a minimalistic pattern like stripes or dots.
Good lighting is key: Ensure that there is plenty of light on your face and that your background is not too bright or too dark. Test out different times of day to find the perfect lighting for your virtual meetings or events.
Limit movement in your background: Moving objects or distracting elements in your background can be challenging to focus on when you’re speaking in a video call. Choose a stationary background to avoid distraction.

If you’re new to Zoom and virtual meetings, it’s worthwhile to explore more tips and best practices on lighting, camera quality, and sound.

Custom Backgrounds

Creating your custom Zoom background can add a touch of personalization to your virtual meetings. Here are a few tools that can help you do so:

Canva: An easy-to-use graphic design tool that offers pre-sized virtual background templates and a library of images to choose from.
Unscreen: A free tool that automatically removes the background from any image, making it easier to create custom backgrounds with a transparent or white background.
Adobe Spark: A robust design tool that is suitable for creating more graphic-heavy custom backgrounds. It allows you to adjust images, colors, and text according to your needs.

You can also look for websites that offer royalty-free images or stock photos to incorporate into your custom backgrounds.

Real-life Applications

People use virtual backgrounds for multiple reasons, from keeping their workspaces private to adding an element of fun to virtual events. Here are some creative ways people have incorporated virtual backgrounds in their everyday lives:

Remote Working: Many people use virtual backgrounds to block out their messy homes or keep their work environment private from colleagues.
Virtual Events: Weddings, parties, and happy hours have all been held virtually, with people customizing their backgrounds to fit the event’s theme.
Teaching: Teachers create virtual backgrounds to personalize their virtual classrooms, adding visual aids and messaging relevant to their class’s subject
Personal Branding: Job seekers or freelancers use custom backgrounds to brand themselves professionally.

Regardless of why you’re using virtual backgrounds, they can add a sense of excitement and creativity to routine video calls.

Conclusion

Changing your Zoom background is a fun and easy way to add personality to your virtual meetings or events. From using Zoom’s built-in backgrounds to creating your custom backgrounds, the possibilities are endless. Keep in mind tips around lighting, colors, and your use-case when selecting a background, and explore different themes and patterns beyond Zoom’s standard library.