How to Change Your Background in Microsoft Teams Before a Meeting

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Customize your Teams background before you join the call

Written by Stan Kats | Edited by Megaera Lorenz, PhD

Last Updated: January 28, 2026 Fact Checked

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• Changing Your Background
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• FAQ
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• Video

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Do you want to set a new background image or blur your background in Teams before the meeting starts? You can easily do so in just a few clicks. We’ll even show you how to upload a custom background image! Once you set your background, it will stay that way until you change it again.

Change Your Background Pre-Meeting: Quick Steps

1. Open your Calendar.
2. Click an upcoming meeting and click Join.
3. Turn on the camera.
4. Click Background filters.
5. Select a background or blur option from the menu, or upload your own.
6. Click Join now or Cancel. Either way, your settings will be saved.

Steps

Section 1 of 2:

Changing Your Background

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1. 
   1
   Go to your Calendar in Teams. In the Teams app, click Calendar in the left-hand menu bar.
2. 
   2
   Click an upcoming meeting. If you don’t see any of your scheduled meetings, you might need to change the displayed date range using the dropdown menu at the top of the screen.
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3. 
   3
   Click the Join button. Don’t worry, the meeting won’t start right away. You’ll be taken to a screen where you can adjust your settings before you actually enter the meeting.
4. 
   4
   Toggle on the camera. By default, your camera will be turned off. Click the toggle next to the camera icon at the bottom left corner of the window. You might be prompted to give Teams permission to use your camera. Your camera will turn on, and you’ll see a preview of what your teammates will see in the meeting.
5. 
   5
   Click Background filters. It’s under the camera preview thumbnail.
6. 
   6
   Select a background option. A new menu will open on the right side of the window. You have a few options:

   • Select an image from the gallery of thumbnails. It will replace your current background.
   • Click Blur at the top of the menu. Use the dropdown to choose between Standard blur and Portrait blur.
     • Standard blur is a stronger blur effect than Portrait blur.
   • Click Add new to upload a custom background image from your computer. The uploaded image will instantly replace your current background.
   • You can now either click Join now to enter the meeting, or click Cancel to exit without joining. Either way, your background settings will be saved until you change them again–even if you quit and reopen Teams.
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Section 2 of 2:

Frequently Asked Questions

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1. 1
   Can I change my background during a meeting? Yes, you can change your background settings at any time, even during a meeting. At the top of the meeting screen, click ••• More > Video effects and settings. Choose a new background from the gallery, add your own, or select a blur option. When you’re finished, click Apply, then close the Video effects and settings menu.
2. 2
   How do I change my Teams background permanently? You don’t have to do anything special. Whenever you change your background, your settings stay the same until you change them again.
3. 3
   Why won’t Teams let me add my own background? If you’re using an organizational account (i.e., for school or work), the account administrator might have disabled that option. Talk to whoever administers your Teams account about adding a custom background.

   • This could also have something to do with the version of Teams you’re using.
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