Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (2024)

To help limit distractions or make meetings more fun, you can now blur your background or apply:

  • An immersive background
  • A static background
  • A seasonal background
  • A custom image provided by you or your organization
  • Special effects such as filters

You can also apply styles to customize your video with various lighting, color filters, and stylized backgrounds.

Tips:

  • Sensitive information might be visible when you change your background.
  • In your self view, your background will appear mirrored or inverted. However, the other participants in the meeting will see the correct orientation.
  • Availability of backgrounds, filters, and styles are subject to client type, account type, and settings applied by Google Workspace admins. Workspace admins can let users apply backgrounds and special effects.
  • To improve real-time video on devices, you can process these in the cloud:
    • Static background images
    • Blur effects
    • Light adjustments
  • This feature saves battery, reduces processor usage, and improves meeting quality.

Learn what you need to apply visual effects on a computer

  • A browser version that supports WebGL and automatic video lighting adjustment:
    • Windows, Mac, or Linux: Chrome version M114 and up or Firefox 110 and up. Learn how to check your browser version.
    • ChromeOS: Version M114 and up. Learn how to upgrade your Chromebook.
    • Windows or Mac: Edge (Chromium) 114 and up.
  • Turn on graphics acceleration.

Enable graphics acceleration

Turn on graphics acceleration on Windows or Mac:

  1. At the top right of a Chrome window, click Menu Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (1) Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (2)Click Settings.
  2. On the left, click SystemChange background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (3).
  3. Turn on Use graphic acceleration when available.
  4. Restart Chrome.

Check WebGL support

Check if your browser supports WebGL at webglreport.com and verify that “Major Performance Caveat” is marked as “No”. Your browser might disable WebGL if the device is unstable or cause crashes. You can’t enforce WebGL on unstable WebGL devices. In some cases, it may help to update graphic card drivers or restart your browser. Learn more about WebGL support.

Meet adjusts between device & cloud-based processors

Adjustments between device and cloud-based effects processors are done automatically by Meet. It prioritizes cloud-based effects processing for devices:

  • With a 4-core CPU or lower (fewer than 8 logical cores)
  • That use Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

Tip: If you use VDI, but no GPU is available, cloud-based effects processing is used. This may result in limited effects feature availability. Learn how to prepare your network for meetings.

Learn what you need for cloud-based effects processing

Adjustments between device and cloud-based effects processors are done automatically by Meet. It prioritizes cloud-based effects processing for devices:

  • With a 4-core CPU or lower (fewer than 8 logical cores)
  • That use Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI)

This feature is currently available for Windows, ChromeOS, and Linux machines that comply with device-based processing requirements.

Device-based effects processing is available for all Workspace editions.

Cloud-based effects processing is currently available for:

  • Curated static background images (not available with VDI)
  • Blur
  • Lighting adjustment

Important: Visual effects that use cloud-based effects processing are available to those with the following Workspace editions and in the following countries or regions.

Workspace users for:

  • Google Workspace Individual
  • Business Standard
  • Business Plus
  • Enterprise Essentials
  • Enterprise Starter
  • Enterprise Standard
  • Enterprise Plus

Users in eligible countries or regions:

  • Central Asia
  • Europe
  • North Africa
  • North America
  • South America (Chile, Bolivia, Peru)
  • Southeast Asia

Support for additional regions is being added.

Change your background and use visual effects

Important:

  • Participants who join the meeting while not logged into a Google account and participants who need to knock to get admitted, can only change their background or use visual effects once in the meeting.
  • Your camera is automatically turned on when you click on an effect. Your device may slow down when you use effects and backgrounds. If you experience performance issues, you can turn off effects.
  1. Before you join a meeting, at the bottom of your self-view, click Apply visual effects Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (4).
    • During a meeting, hover to your self view.
    • At the center of your self view, click Apply visual effects Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (5).
      • You can also click More options Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (6) Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (7) Apply visual effects Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (8).
      • You can adjust and stack visual effects across different categories. Click the category and scroll down.
        • Under the “Backgrounds” tab
          • To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (9).
          • To completely blur your background, click BlurChange background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (10).
          • To upload your own background, click Add yourown personal backgroundChange background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (11).
          • To select a pre-uploaded background, click the background you want to use.
        • Under the “Filters” tab
          • Click the filter you want to use.
            • To turn on an interactive filter, follow the on-screen instruction.
        • Under the “Appearance” tab
          • You can adjust your video lighting or framing.
          • To change the style, click the style you want to use.
  2. To select or remove the stacked effects, on the right of your self view in the Effects panel, click Stack Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (12).
    • The number in the green bubble indicates the number of effects you’ve applied.
    • Select the effects you want to remove or to remove all effects, click Remove all.
    • To minimize the stack view, click Close Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (13).
  3. To close the Effects panel, click Done Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (14).

Need more help?

Try these next steps:

Post to the help community Get answers from community members

Get the new Meet app in the play store or app store

Google Meet is your one app for video calling and meetings across all devices. Use video calling features like fun filters and effects or schedule time to connect when everyone can join.

Change background & apply visual effects in Google Meet - Computer (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Pres. Carey Rath

Last Updated:

Views: 5640

Rating: 4 / 5 (61 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Pres. Carey Rath

Birthday: 1997-03-06

Address: 14955 Ledner Trail, East Rodrickfort, NE 85127-8369

Phone: +18682428114917

Job: National Technology Representative

Hobby: Sand art, Drama, Web surfing, Cycling, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, Leather crafting, Creative writing

Introduction: My name is Pres. Carey Rath, I am a faithful, funny, vast, joyous, lively, brave, glamorous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.