300 Zoom Backgrounds + How to Change Your Virtual Zoom Background

Zoom virtual backgrounds have taken the world by storm. What we once assumed was a business video conferencing tool is now used for pub quizzes, family catch-ups, and even school lessons.

Users love Zoom for its ease of use and helpful features (like screen sharing). But, most of all, people are loving Zoom virtual backgrounds.

Let me ask you this: how messy is your home office?

Is your home office actually your bedroom?

Zoomers can opt for a default Zoom virtual background or upload their own. You can even create bespoke videos if you’re fancy.

In this post, we’ll walk through the following:

1. What is virtual background in Zoom?
2. How do you change the background on Zoom?
3. How do you download Zoom background images?
4. How do you download Zoom background videos?
5. The best virtual backgrounds for video conferencing

What is virtual background in Zoom?

A virtual background is used to cover up your own background during a Zoom call. Instead of showing the other meeting participants your bedroom, office, or living room, you can choose to replace the background with an image of your choosing.

How do you change the background on Zoom?

If you want to put a background on Zoom, you’ll first need to download Zoom. You can do that here if you don’t already have it.

Assuming you’ve already downloaded Zoom, follow these steps:

1. Click the gear cog or your face in the top right-hand corner to navigate to Settings.
2. In the left menu, click Virtual Background.
3. Select a background image from the default options included with Zoom (or click here to download your own premium backgrounds).
4. If you wish to use your own, click the + icon to upload your own photo or video.
5. If you wish to change your background during a Zoom meeting, click the ^ arrow next to Stop Video and click Choose Virtual Background.

If you find the virtual background is blurry, patchy, or incomplete, you may need a green screen.

Your virtual background will look like this:

If you untick “I have a green screen”, you will be greeted with this message:

The only way to remedy this is by buying a green screen. You can pick up one cheap on Amazon.

How do I change the background on my Zoom without a green screen?

You don’t need a Zoom green screen if your laptop or desktop meets these requirements:

• Zoom Desktop Client for PC, version 4.6.4 (17383.0119) or higher
• Windows 7, 8, or 10 64-bit
• Supported processors:
• 6th generation i5 quad-core or higher, except u-series
• 4th generation i7 quad-core or higher
• Any processor with a logical core of 8 or higher and frequency of 3.0GHz or higher

Make sure you untick "I have a green screen" when in the background menu.

How do I download more backgrounds for Zoom?

You can either upload your own image or video to set as your Zoom background. If you do use your own, make sure you experiment with sizing and resolution — you don’t want your background to appear blurry or out of shape.

You can either upload your own image or video to set as your Zoom background. If you do use your own, make sure you experiment with sizing and resolution — you don’t want your background to appear blurry or out of shape.

You can also choose from the preset Zoom backgrounds. These are the ones available when you turn on the virtual background feature.

Your final option is to download these Zoom backgrounds which have been created specifically for Zoom.

Here’s a preview:

How do you download Zoom backgrounds?

If you want to use a virtual background outside of the default Zoom options, you have a few choices:

1. Choose your own from your computer
2. Download an image or video from the internet and create your own Zoom background library
3. Download premium Zoom backgrounds from a Zoom background library

Are Zoom virtual backgrounds free?

If you use your own images for your Zoom virtual background, this is free.

You can also use any image that is not subject to copyright. For example, you can use Unsplash or Pixabay to download a virtual background for Zoom.

But, these might not work size-wise. So, using images made just for a Zoom virtual background is your best option.

Zoom background images

When using your own images as your Zoom virtual background, you’ll need to make sure you use a photo with high resolution.

You also need to make sure you have the rights to use this image. Zoom auto-expands the image to fit the screen. This works more times than not. But, sometimes you can end up with a stretched image just as you start a video meeting.

Instead of faffing around with images, you could use custom-made Zoom virtual background images like these, for the price of your weekly coffee.

You could pretend you’re at the beach…

Or relaxing by the pool…

For premium Zoom background images, you can download this package to access 300 beautiful Zoom virtual backgrounds.

Whether you’re after the funniest Zoom backgrounds or formal office Zoom backgrounds, there’s something for everyone in this Zoom background library.

Zoom virtual backgrounds with video

When using your own video for a Zoom virtual background, you’ll need to make sure you use a video with high resolution. You also need to make sure you have the rights to use this video. This works more times than not. But, sometimes you can end up with a stretched video just as you start a video meeting.

Instead of faffing around creating videos, you could use custom-made Zoom virtual background videos for the price of your weekly coffee.

For premium Zoom virtual backgrounds with video, you can download this package.

Best background for video conferencing

It’s not a competition. And some people just prefer their natural background to a virtual background.

But if you are competing, then these premium Zoom virtual backgrounds are right up your street.

And if you use more than Zoom for video conferencing, you’re in luck too. These premium virtual backgrounds are available for Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and even Skype.

For more tips and tricks for Zoom, check out these 13 Zoom best practices.