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You can change your Microsoft Teams background without being on an active call by opening a meeting’s pre-join screen, selecting Effects and avatars, and choosing a background. On desktop, the quickest route is Calendar > Meet now; you can close the pre-join screen or leave after joining if you only wanted to save the choice.
Teams keeps the selected background for future meetings and calls until you change it or select None. There is no standalone Settings > Background page in the current documented desktop interface.
Change your Teams background without joining a call
This method applies to the Teams desktop app for work or school accounts.
- Open Teams and select Calendar.
- Select Meet now in the upper-right corner.
- If Teams asks for a meeting name, edit it if needed.
- Select Start meeting.
- On the pre-join screen, turn on the Camera toggle if necessary.
- Select Effects and avatars.
- Choose a built-in background or Blur.
- For your own image, select More video effects > Add new, then choose the file from your computer.
You can select Join now to enter the temporary meeting, or close the pre-join window if you only wanted to set the background. If you join, leave the meeting when you are done.
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Start the temporary meeting from a chat
From an open Teams chat, type this command in the message box:
/meetnow
Press Enter or Tab to run the command. Teams opens an instant meeting; use Effects and avatars on its pre-join screen.
Use an existing scheduled meeting
If a meeting is already on your calendar, use its pre-join screen instead of creating a temporary meeting.
- Select Calendar in Teams.
- Select the scheduled meeting.
- Select Join.
- On the pre-join screen, select Effects and avatars.
- Choose a background or select More video effects > Add new to upload an image.
- Select Join now to enter, or close the pre-join window after choosing the effect.
The pre-join screen lets you check your camera, microphone, and appearance before entering the meeting.
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On the desktop pre-join screen, select:
Effects and avatars > More video effects > Add new
Choose an image file from your computer. Teams accepts these formats:
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After uploading, select the image from the available background choices. It appears for subsequent meetings on that Teams installation.
Where new Teams stores uploaded images on Windows
For troubleshooting or deleting uploaded images, Microsoft documents this folder for the current new Teams Windows client:
C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams\Backgrounds\Uploads
This is not the normal upload method. Use Add new in the effects panel instead. The older path %AppData%\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads belongs to classic Teams and is not the documented current folder for new Teams.
Change the background in Teams Free
Teams Free on desktop
- Open Meet.
- Select a meeting and select Join.
- On the pre-join screen, select Video effects.
- Choose a background or Blur. To upload an image, select More video effects > Add new.
- Select Join now if you want to enter the meeting.
Teams Free may label the control Video effects rather than Effects and avatars.
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Teams Free on mobile
- Open Calendar.
- Select the meeting and tap Join.
- On the pre-join screen, tap Background effects.
- Select a background, tap Add new, or select None.
- Tap Done.
If the background-effects button is gray, turn on the Camera control on the pre-join screen.
Change the background in the Teams mobile app
For the work or school version of Teams on a phone or tablet, open a meeting’s pre-join screen and follow these steps:
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- Tap a meeting, then tap Join.
- Tap Background effects.
- Choose a background, tap Add new, or select None.
- Tap Done.
For Android, Microsoft lists these requirements for background changes:
- Teams mobile version 1416/1.0.0.2021143402 or later
- Android 10 or later
- A supported GPU, including Qualcomm Adreno 610 or later, Arm Mali-G71 or later, or Arm Mali-T720 or later
What happens after you choose a background?
The selection applies to future Teams meetings and calls until you change it. Selecting None stops Teams from using a background effect; it does not delete the uploaded image from your computer.
Why the background option is missing
The camera is turned off
In Teams Free, Video effects or Background effects may be grayed out when the camera is off. Turn on the camera in the pre-join screen and check again.
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Your device or configuration does not support the feature
Microsoft notes that the background option may not be available on every device or configuration.
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You are using Linux
Microsoft states that background effects are not available to Linux users in the documented Teams meeting workflow.
You are using optimized VDI
Microsoft states that background effects are unavailable in optimized virtual desktop infrastructure configurations. Some WebRTC-based VDI configurations also do not support custom backgrounds uploaded by users.
You are using Teams in a browser
Teams for Web has feature differences from the desktop client, including limitations involving background effects and other video features. If the background control is missing or behaves differently, try the Teams desktop app.
Your organization restricts video effects
An administrator can restrict video effects or control which organization-provided backgrounds users can access. If the option is missing in a managed work account, contact your Teams administrator.
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Common mistakes
| Claim | What is actually true |
|---|---|
| “Go to Teams Settings and choose Background.” | The current documented desktop app does not provide a standalone background page in Settings. Use a meeting’s pre-join screen or meeting controls. |
| “You must already be inside a call.” | You can change the effect from the pre-join screen before entering a meeting. |
| “The old AppData folder is the current upload location.” | The classic Teams path is outdated for new Teams on Windows. Use Add new in the effects panel. |
| “Every Teams client supports the same effects.” | Availability varies with operating system, client, device, VDI configuration, and administrator policy. |
FAQ
Can I change my Teams background without being in a meeting?
Yes. Open a meeting’s pre-join screen, select Effects and avatars or Video effects, and choose a background before joining. On desktop, Calendar > Meet now is a quick way to open that screen.
Does Teams save the background after I leave?
Yes. The selected background remains active in future meetings and calls until you change it. Select None to stop using a background effect.
Why is Effects and avatars missing in Teams?
Check that your camera is turned on, then try the Teams desktop app. Availability can depend on device support, Linux, optimized VDI, browser limitations, or organization policy.
What image files can I upload to Teams?
The desktop workflow accepts JPG, PNG, and BMP files through Effects and avatars > More video effects > Add new.
Can I change the background from Teams Settings?
There is no standalone background page in the current documented Teams desktop interface. Choose a background from a meeting’s pre-join screen or meeting controls.
Where are uploaded Teams backgrounds stored on Windows?
For new Teams, Microsoft documents the folder as C:\Users\{username}\AppData\Local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams\Backgrounds\Uploads. Use the in-app Add new command to upload images.
The Bottom Line
To change a Microsoft Teams background while you are not on a call, open Calendar > Meet now > Start meeting, select Effects and avatars on the pre-join screen, and choose a background. Close the pre-join window or leave the temporary meeting afterward; Teams keeps the selection for later meetings until you change it.
Sources: Microsoft Support: Change your background in Microsoft Teams meetings; Microsoft Support: Start an instant meeting in Microsoft Teams; Microsoft Support: Add a background or video filter to your Microsoft Teams Free Meeting; Microsoft Learn: Teams for Virtualized Desktop Infrastructure; Microsoft Learn: Teams for Web overview and prerequisites; Microsoft Learn: Teams desktop-client features unavailable in the web client; Microsoft Learn: Manage and create custom meeting backgrounds for Teams meetings.
Quick Recap
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