How to Blur Your Background on Mobile Devices

For iOS (iPhone and iPad)

1. Before Joining a Meeting:
   • Open the Teams mobile app.
   • Navigate to your calendar and tap Join on that specific meeting.
   • On the pre-join screen, tap Effects and Avatars > Video Effects.
   • Select Blur or upload a custom background.
   • Tap Done to save and proceed with your new, snazzy background.
2. During a Meeting:
   • Tap the More Options menu.
   • Select Background Effects and choose Blur.
   • Again, you can also select a Teams background or upload and apply your own.
   • Apply the change by tapping Done. If you want to turn off background effects, you can tap None.

For Android

1. Before Joining a Meeting:
   • Open the Teams app and go to your calendar.
   • Tap Join and access Video Effects.
   • Choose Blur or upload an image.
   • Confirm by tapping Done.
2. During a Meeting:
   • Access the More Options menu.
   • Select Background Effects and activate Blur.

Requirements for Android:

• Teams app version 1416 or later.
• Android version 10 or higher.
• GPU support (e.g., Qualcomm Adreno 610 or Arm Mali-G71).

Key Considerations for Using Blur in Teams

• Device Compatibility: We just mentioned this in the Android sections, but to reiterate, some features may not work on older devices or operating systems.
• Performance Impact: Blurring effects might use more CPU/GPU power. Turn off effects if performance issues arise or if it is slowing your MS Teams connection.
• Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): Background effects are unavailable for optimized VDI setups.

Custom Background Options and AI Effects

Microsoft Teams also offers some other background options, one of which is especially interesting - the possibility to use AI for customization. Here's a quick walkthrough of the other background options you have:

• Custom Backgrounds: Upload and use images for branding or personal style.
• AI-Generated Effects: Decorate your background with themes like:
  • Clean Up: Remove clutter.
  • Fancy: Add elegance with chandeliers and wallpaper, among other things.
  • Greenhouse: Include plants and greenery into the space behind you.

To apply these effects, follow the same steps as outlined above and select the desired AI-generated theme. While this is quite the opposite of a blurred background, it is still an interesting feature to explore.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Blur Option Missing: Update the Teams app or make sure your device meets requirements outlined above.
• Performance Lag: Disable hardware acceleration in settings or close unnecessary applications that are being used during your meeting.
• Preview Not Loading: Restart Teams or check your internet connection.

Tips for a Great Virtual Background

1. Lighting Matters: Ensure your face is well-lit for optimal video quality, and in general, make sure that your background is nicely lit.
2. Test Before Meetings: Always preview effects to avoid unwanted surprises mid-Teams meeting.
3. Choose Simple Designs: Avoid overly distracting backgrounds during formal meetings. Keep your home office looking smart, or just blur it.

Final Thoughts

Blurring your background in Microsoft Teams is a simple way to improve privacy and professionalism in virtual meetings. They also give you a chance to add a personalized touch to often mundane meetings. Again, make sure you remember that you should also be using Bubbles to record and transcribe Microsoft Teams meetings, especially now that you have such a cool background.