Custom Background In MS Teams

[seanwindrem]

UPDATED It looks like this is in the process of being rolled out or at least actively tested.

If you have the version with the option to select a background image, custom images can be added.

Save your image /s in the Uploads folder below

C:\Users\YOUR_USER_NAME_HERE\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads

Then, in teams while on a call; click the 'More Actions' (Three Dots) at the bottom, select 'Show Background Effects'

The pictures you added should show up on the right hand side of the screen with the default options from Microsoft.

Good Luck!

S

[#2]

That's great news!  Are there any kind of specifications about size, dimensions, or resolution to be most effective?

[#3]

@kalyanamitras Don't feel bad, it seems 1/2 my co-workers or more have the ability and yet my account still does not. 

[#4]

Are they all on the same version?

[#5]

If you suddently don't see the Backgrounds option on a Mac, even if you previously saw the Background Blur option, it's likely because Microsoft Teams developers made an unfortunate decision to exclude any CPU that doesn't support AVX 2.0, which is a lot of slightly older CPUs.

More here:  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams/blur-background-on-mac-os/m-p/1268681

[#6]

@seanwindrem 

Thanks you so much.  The internet provided the wrong folder and I was going crazy.  

[#7]

@potad see below.

~/Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/Teams/Backgrounds/Uploads

[#8]

@seanwindrem 

For some reason the print on my added virtual background is reversed (mirrored) - is there any easy fix on Teams?

[#9]

Generally it's only reversed in your preview window but other people should see it properly.

[#10]

Yeah, I had to create the Backgrounds folder, then under that, create the Uploads folder.
I put my jpg file in Uploads and the image was available for use as a background..

[#11]

I was wondering that too! - I have one with text so I guess I'll need to flip it first, the copy it to the folder.

[#12]

@HIPRM I don't know, but I can say that I have the latest version, still no background options other than blur.  Since I'm one of the "techy" people in my office that people come to, it's getting a bit frustrating not having the capability.  It's less about the capability which I'll seldom use and more the fact the software appears to just not be updating to allow that specific functionality even if the version is current. 

[#13]

@CiiZii - so if once these folders are created the feature works?  That's great!  What version are you on?

[#14]

@HIPRM  - Version currently is 1.3.00.9267 (64-bit) updated on 5/5/20 - but I started using the feature on 1st of May so I it would have been an previous version.  The feature was already available on that day, with some existing backgrounds that microsoft provides.  Adding those folders and then putting a file in "uploads" simply caused that image to be one of the background image options...

[#15]

Weird I have version 1.3.00.4461 (64-bit) and it says that this is the latest version. It was last updated on 5/2/20. It obviously isn’t the latest based on what you have! I wonder what causes this discrepancy? I’m on Windows 10. Policy rules don’t allow me to update Windows on my own. Could that be the reason for the different version? I also have a personal Macbook Air, but I can’t get custom backgrounds on it either. My Windows laptop is a Dell made in 2018 and the Macbook Air is an old one built in 2013. Anybody else with my problems?

[#16]

@HIPRM  - Definitely restart teams if you haven't done that - or it could be due to enterprise group policy, or who know what.  Another forum was seeing your same situation where latest update showed that older version number, but had no solution.

Maybe you could get the MSI from here and see if installing that works (create a restore point first!) - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/msi-deployment

Also I saw a comment that someone had to use the path with "local" instead of "roaming" to see the custom background images - but of course N/A to you since option doesn't appear at all...

[#17]

@CiiZii I downloaded a fresh package from the Microsoft site, but I get the same version after I re-install!  My suspicion is that it reacts to the version of a Windows component.  Because I can't update my Windows install, I'm stuck.  I need to experiment with a non-work machine and see if I get the same results.

[#18]

Well I ran it on another Windows machine. Windows 10N ver 1909
Installed Teams and this time the Teams version installed was 1.3.00.12058, but still no backgrounds folder.

[#19]

@HIPRM  - mine is Enterprise 1809, OS Build version 10.0.17763.1158 - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4549949/windows-10-update-kb4549949

Run Winver and see the build, then consult https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/release-information/ - Release history 

So it is possible one of the recent KBs enabled teams "background effects".

OR maybe this is even more likely - it could be video capability issue:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/hardware-requirements-for-the-teams-app

which has link to

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/hardware-decoders-and-encoders

[#20]

@HIPRM  - also, remember what you are looking for is the "show background effects" option.  And it will only show if you are in a meeting. (per OP "...in teams while on a call; click the 'More Actions' (Three Dots) at the bottom, select 'Show Background Effects' ") 

You need to be able access that option first before worrying about seeing or creating the folder to add the custom images....

[#21]

@HIPRM  and @Brian_Myers  - I think this previous reply is most likely explanation, and it would apply to Windows and Mac as it is simply hardware related....  And see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Vector_Extensions - the "CPUs with AVX2" section

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MontyPyspock
replied to  seanwindrem
‎04-26-2020 02:07 PM

If you suddently don't see the Backgrounds option on a Mac, even if you previously saw the Background Blur option, it's likely because Microsoft Teams developers made an unfortunate decision to exclude any CPU that doesn't support AVX 2.0, which is a lot of slightly older CPUs.
More here:  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams/blur-background-on-mac-os/m-p/1268681