Change background and apply visual effects in Google Meet

To help limit distractions or make video calls more fun, you can now blur or replace your background or replace it with an image, an immersive background, or a video. You can also apply styles to customize your video with various light, color filters and stylized backgrounds. 

Important: 

• Sensitive information might be visible when you change your background.
• Availability of styles and backgrounds are subject to client type, account type, and settings applied by Google Workspace admins.

Requirements to apply visual effects on computer

If you can’t use visual effects, you may not meet the following requirements: 

• A browser version that supports backgrounds:
  • Chrome version 91 or above on Windows, Mac or Linux. Learn how to check your browser version.
  • Version 91 or above on Chrome OS. Learn how to upgrade your Chromebook.
  • Edge (Chromium) 91 or above on Windows or Mac.
• A browser version that supports immersive effects and styles: 
  • Chrome version 91 or above on Windows, Mac or Linux. Learn how to check your browser version.
  • Version 91 or above on Chrome OS. Learn how to upgrade your Chromebook.
  • Edge (Chromium) 91 or above on Windows or Mac.
• Hardware acceleration turned on.
• A browser that supports WebGL. 
• A 64-bit operating system. 

Enable Hardware acceleration 

Turn on hardware acceleration on Windows or Mac: 

1. On the top right of a Chrome window, click Menu  Click Settings. 
2. On the left, next to Advanced, click Down .
3. Click System .
4. Turn on Use hardware acceleration when available.
5. 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. 

Change your background and use visual effects

Important: Participants who join the video call 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 video call.  

Before a video call 

1. Go to Google Meet select a meeting.
2. On the bottom right of your self view, click Apply visual effects .
   • To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
   • To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background .
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
   • To upload your own image for your background, click Upload a background image .
   • To add a style to your video, click a style. 
3. Click Join Now. 

During a video call 

1. On the bottom, click More .
2. Click Apply visual effects .
   • To completely blur your background, click Blur your background .
   • To slightly blur your background, click Slightly blur your background.
   • To select a pre-uploaded background, click a background.
   • To upload your own image for your background, click Upload a background image .
   • To add a style to your video, click a style. 

Tip: Your camera is automatically turned on when you click on an effect. Your device may slow down when you use effects and backgrounds. You may want to turn this feature off to allow other apps to run faster on your computer.