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Microsoft Teams lets you upload a personal JPG, PNG, or BMP image and use it behind you during meetings. You can add the image before joining or switch to it after a meeting has started, and a Teams Premium subscription is not required for personal uploads.
Menu names vary slightly across desktop, Teams Free, mobile, and web. Use the instructions for your device, and turn on your camera if the background control is unavailable.
Image requirements for a personal Teams background
Microsoft currently lists these supported file types for personal uploads:
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- PNG
- BMP
Microsoft does not specify a required resolution, maximum file size, or mandatory aspect ratio for personal uploads. The often-repeated requirement that every image must be exactly 1920×1080 is not part of Microsoft’s current user instructions.
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If your image is in another format, such as WebP, HEIC, or GIF, convert it to JPG or PNG first. Renaming the extension does not convert the file and may not allow it to upload.
Add your own background before joining on desktop
- Open Calendar in Teams.
- Select the meeting you want to attend.
- Select Join.
- On the pre-join screen, select Effects and avatars.
- Select More video effects.
- Select Add new.
- Choose the image file on your computer.
- Select the uploaded image in the effects panel.
- Join the meeting.
Your choice remains available for future meetings and calls until you select a different background. To return to your normal camera view, open the same panel and select None.
Upload or change a background during a meeting
- Join the Teams meeting.
- In the meeting controls, select More actions (…).
- Select Video effects and settings.
- Open Video effects.
- Select Add new.
- Choose the image file from your computer.
- Select Preview to check how it looks.
- Select Apply.
This changes the background for your camera feed without requiring you to leave the meeting. Select None in the same area to remove it.
Use a custom background in Teams Free
Teams Free supports personal background uploads. Depending on the app version, the control may be called Change background or Background effects.
Before joining
- Open Calendar.
- Select the meeting and select Join.
- Choose Change background or Background effects.
- Select Add new.
- Choose your image, apply it, and join the meeting.
During a meeting
Open More actions (…), choose Change background or Background effects, select Add new, and choose the image. If the background button is disabled before joining, turn on the camera first.
Add a background on an iPhone, iPad, or Android device
Before joining
- Open the Teams Calendar.
- Open the meeting and tap Join.
- On the pre-join screen, tap Background effects.
- Tap Add new.
- Select an image stored on the device.
- Tap Done.
During a meeting
- Tap More (…).
- Tap Background effects.
- Tap Add new.
- Select the image.
- Tap Done.
Microsoft lists these Android requirements for changing the background: Teams Android app version 1416/1.0.0.2021143402 or later, Android 10 or later, and a supported GPU: Qualcomm Adreno 610 or later, Arm Mali-G71 or later, or Arm Mali-T720 or later. See Microsoft’s background support instructions.
Use a custom background in Teams on the web
Teams on the web supports custom backgrounds, background blur, and Microsoft’s default backgrounds. The web client supports the latest three versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Firefox. On macOS, Safari supports its latest two versions.
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The web version does not include every desktop video effect. Microsoft lists video-effect filters, soft focus, brightness adjustment, and Decorate among effects that may be unavailable on the web. See Microsoft’s web client prerequisites and desktop features unavailable in the web client.
Open the meeting in a supported browser. Before joining, open the pre-join video-effects panel; after joining, select More actions and Video effects and settings. Choose Add new and select the image.
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How to remove an uploaded background
To stop using an image, open the background or video-effects panel and select None. This removes the effect from your camera view but does not necessarily delete the uploaded file from Teams.
On current Windows installations, personal uploads are stored under:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams\Backgrounds\Uploads
The equivalent full path is:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams\Backgrounds\Uploads
This location can be useful if an organization policy prevents you from viewing or deleting an upload in Teams. Close Teams before manually deleting files, and do not treat this folder as the normal upload method. Microsoft documents the current location in its custom meeting backgrounds guidance.
The commonly quoted path below belongs to classic Teams, not the current Windows app:
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads
Manually copying an image into either location is not a supported replacement for Add new. The current client may use generated internal filenames and thumbnail files, so a copied image may not appear.
For the current Mac client, Microsoft community documentation identifies this location:
~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.teams2/Data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MSTeams/Backgrounds/Uploads
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The container directory can vary with the installed Teams package. Uploading through Add new remains the more reliable method. See the Microsoft Q&A discussion of the Mac location.
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If Effects and avatars, Background effects, or Video effects is missing, check the following:
- Turn on the camera. Teams Free may disable the background control until the camera is enabled.
- Update Teams. An old app version can lack current controls or have upload problems.
- Check the client. Try the desktop app or a supported, up-to-date browser.
- Check your organization’s policy. An administrator can disable video effects or allow only background blur.
- Check the platform. Microsoft says background effects are unavailable on Linux.
- Check virtual desktop use. Background effects are unavailable in optimized VDI according to Microsoft’s support documentation; support varies by VDI technology and configuration. See Microsoft’s VDI feature guidance.
If the image does not appear in the picker, confirm that it is actually a JPG, PNG, or BMP file. Changing photo.webp to photo.jpg in the filename is not enough.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Personal backgrounds versus organization backgrounds
Personal uploads and organization-managed backgrounds are separate features:
| Feature | Who manages it | Teams Premium required? |
|---|---|---|
| Personal upload through Add new | Individual user | No |
| Organization-managed background library | Teams administrator | Yes, for users selecting those managed backgrounds |
An administrator publishes company-approved images through the Teams admin center:
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- Go to Meetings > Customization policies.
- Open an existing policy or create one.
- Open Meeting backgrounds.
- Turn on Use background images from my organization.
- Select + Add.
- Upload the images in the Managing Backgrounds pane.
- Select Save.
Organization-managed images must be PNG or JPEG files between 360×360 and 3840×2160 pixels. A policy can contain up to 50 custom background images. Only users with Teams Premium can select these organization-uploaded backgrounds. See Microsoft’s organization background guidance.
Administrators can require a specific uploaded image by selecting it and choosing Set as required. Users assigned that policy cannot change the required background.
To restrict users from personal video effects and backgrounds, an administrator can go to Meetings > Meeting Policies, set Participants can use video effects to Off or Only background blur, and enable organization backgrounds in a customization policy. Users assigned a policy requiring organization backgrounds cannot view their personal uploads in the Teams background panel.
External and anonymous participants cannot select organization-managed backgrounds for themselves, although they can see one when another participant has applied it.
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Practical tips for a cleaner result
- Keep important text and logos away from the area where your head and shoulders will appear.
- Preview the image before applying it. Camera placement, lighting, and the room behind you affect how cleanly Teams separates you from the background.
- Use a simple image if your camera or computer struggles with effects. Blur or replacement effects require processing power.
- Do not treat a background effect as a privacy guarantee. Microsoft warns that sensitive information may still remain visible around you or through imperfect edge detection.
FAQ
Do I need Teams Premium to upload my own background?
No. Teams Premium is not required for a personal image uploaded through Add new. Premium is required for users selecting organization-managed custom backgrounds published by an administrator.
Which image formats does Teams accept?
Personal uploads support JPG, PNG, and BMP files. Convert unsupported formats such as WebP or HEIC instead of only changing the filename extension.
What size should a Teams background be?
Microsoft’s current personal-upload instructions do not specify a required resolution, maximum file size, or mandatory aspect ratio. The 1920×1080 requirement often mentioned online is not a current Microsoft requirement for personal uploads.
Why can’t I see Background effects in Teams?
Turn on the camera, update Teams, and try a supported desktop app or browser. Your organization may have disabled video effects. Microsoft says background effects are unavailable on Linux and unavailable in optimized VDI; support can vary by VDI technology and configuration.
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That is not the supported workflow. Use the Teams effects panel and select Add new. The current client may use generated filenames and thumbnail files, so manually copying an image may not make it appear.
Does Teams remember my selected background?
Yes. The selected background persists across future Teams meetings and calls until you change it or select None.
Can guests use my organization’s custom backgrounds?
External and anonymous users cannot select organization-managed backgrounds for themselves. They can see an organization background when another participant applies it.
The Bottom Line
For an individual user, the reliable desktop method is Effects and avatars > More video effects > Add new; on mobile, use Background effects > Add new. Choose a real JPG, PNG, or BMP file, turn on the camera if the control is unavailable, and remember that organization policies can override personal background options.
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