//

Articles in this section

Change your background in Google Meet

Avatar
Ryan Barnbrook
Updated
Follow

 

To help limit distractions or make video calls more fun, you can now blur your background or replace your background with an image.   

Mobile: iPad, iPhone, Android

Replace your background is currently not available on mobile. To use Blur your background, enable your camera.  

Before a video call  

  1. Open the Meet app Meet app and then select a meeting.
  2. Before you join, on the bottom of your self view, tap Blur your background  to turn blur on and off.
  3. Click Join Now.

During a video call 

  1. Tap the screen to see your self view.
  2. On your self view, tap Blur your background  to turn blur on and off.  

Blurring your background may increase your battery usage. You may want to turn it off if your battery is low.

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

 

Why don’t I have the option to Change background? 

If you don’t see the change background option, you may not meet the following requirements:

  • iPhone 6s or newer
  • An iOS device with iOS 12 or above
  • An Android device with Android version P or above
  • Minimum hardware:
    • 3Gb of RAM
    • At least 4 CPU cores
    • At least 1.6 GHz CPU clock speed
    • ARM64 Architecture

Windows Desktop/Laptop or Chromebook

Important: Users who join the video call while not logged into a Google account and users which need to knock to get admitted, can only change their background once in the video call. Users who join a G Suite for Education video call can’t select their own background images. 

Before a video call 

  1. Go to Google Meet and then select a meeting.
  2. On the bottom right of your self view, click Change Background .
    1. To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
    2. To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background .
    3. To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
    4. To upload your own image for your background, click Add Add.
  3. Click Join Now. 

During a video call 

  1. On the bottom, click More More.
  2. Click Change background .
    1. To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
    2. To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background.
    3. To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
    4. To upload your own image for your background, click Add Add.

Tip: Your camera is automatically turned on when you click Change background.

Changing your background may slow down your device. You may want to turn this feature off to allow other apps to run faster on your computer.

 

Why don’t I have the Change background option?

If you can’t view the Background blur option, you may not meet the following requirements:

  • A supported browser version:
  • Chrome Hardware acceleration must be enabled.
  • Browser must support WebGL 2.0. 

 

Enable Hardware Acceleration 

Turn on hardware acceleration on Windows or Mac: 

  1. On the top right of a Chrome window, click Menu More and then Click Settings. 
  2. On the left, next to Advanced, click Down Down arrow.
  3. Click System Wrench.
  4. Turn on Use hardware acceleration when available.
  5. Restart Chrome.
  6. If this option is not available for you please contact Tech Services by submitting a ticket or calling 262-5676

Comments

0 comments

Please sign in to leave a comment.