How to Change Your Background in Google Meet

One of the most popular reasons as to why individuals choose to only enable audio rather than video during online meetings is attributed to either not wanting other users to view their background or choosing to hide their face/identity. Now for the face, you can use an avatar and for the background, you can blur features or upload a picture. Google Meet understands this clearly that is why it provides you with a variety of background options. The background feature on Google Meet allows users to blur the background, set a picture as a background, or change the style of the background. This way you can hide your background or create a new mood for your business meeting. Here is how you can change your background in Google Meet.

Computer

Before a video call 

1. Go to Google Meet and select a meeting.
2. On the bottom right of your self view, click Apply visual effects.
   • To completely blur your background, click Blur your background.
   • To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background.
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
   • To upload your own image for your background, click Upload a background image.
   • To add a style to your video, click a style. 
3. Click Join Now. 

During a video call 

1. On the bottom, click More.
2. Click Apply visual effects.
   • To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
   • To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background.
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
   • To upload your own image for your background, click Upload a background image .
   • To add a style to your video, click a style. 

Note: Your camera is automatically turned on when you click on an effect. Your device may slow down when you use effects and backgrounds. You may want to turn this feature off to allow other apps to run faster on your computer.

Androids

Before a video call 

1. Open the Meet app then select a meeting.
2. Before you join, on the bottom of your self view, tap Effects .
   • To slightly blur your background, tap Slightly blur .
   • To completely blur your background, tap Blur background .
   • To upload your own background, tap Add .
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, tap the background you want to use.
   • To select a style, at the bottom, tap Styles > the style you want to use.
   • To select a filter, at the bottom, tap Filters > the filter you want to use.
     • Tip: If the filter is interactive, follow the directions on the screen to activate it.
   • To remove the effect, tap No effects or tap .
3.  When you are done, tap Done. 
4. Tap Join.

During a video call  

1. On your self view, tap Effects .
   • To slightly blur your background, tap Slightly blur .
   • To completely blur your background, tap Blur background .
   • To upload your own background, tap Add .
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, tap the background you want to use.
   • To select a style, at the bottom, tap Styles > the style you want to use.
   • To select a filter, at the bottom, tap Filters > the filter you want to use.
     • Tip: If the filter is interactive, follow the directions on the screen to activate it.
2. When you are done, tap Close .

Background effects may increase your battery usage. You may want to turn the effects off if your battery is low. Your video may be cropped to view other participants so some of the background or effect may not be visible to other participants.

Tip: To see how you look with a different background, check your self-view.

iPhone and iPads

Before a video call  

1. Open the Meet app and select a meeting.
2. Before you join, on the bottom of your self view, tap Effects .
   • To slightly blur your background, tap Slightly blur .
   • To completely blur your background, tap Blur background .
   • To upload your own background, tap Add .
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, tap the background you want to use.
   • To select a style, at the bottom, tap Styles > the style you want to use.
   • To select a filter, at the bottom, tap Filters > the filter you want to use.
     • Tip: If the filter is interactive, follow the directions on the screen to activate it.
   • To remove the effect, tap No effects or tap .
3.  When you are done, tap Done. 
4. Tap Join.

During a video call 

1. On your self view, tap Effects .
   • To slightly blur your background, tap Slightly blur .
   • To completely blur your background, tap Blur background .
   • To upload your own background, tap Add .
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, tap the background you want to use.
   • To select a style, at the bottom, tap Styles > the style you want to use.
   • To select a filter, at the bottom, tap Filters > the filter you want to use.
     • Tip: If the filter is interactive, follow the directions on the screen to activate it.
2. When you are done, tap Close .

Background effects may increase your battery usage. You may want to turn the effects off if your battery is low. Your video may be cropped to view other participants so some of the background or effect may not be visible to other participants.

Tip: To see how you look with a different background, check your self-view.