Google Meet Now Supports Custom Backgrounds on the Web
Oct. 31, 2020Asannouncedin August,Google Meet is getting support for custom backgrounds. The feature offers Google’s default set of default images including office spaces, landscapes, and abstract backgrounds. You also have theoption to upload your own image.
Google Meet‘s virtual backgrounds feature isinitially limited to the web. You can use it onChrome OSandChromebrowser on Windows and Mac. Google has plans to offer admin controls to organizations for controlling the availability of custom backgrounds later this year. According to Google, virtual backgrounds support on mobile apps of Meet is ‘coming soon’.Image: Google
To change backgrounds on Google Meet, select a meeting andclick on the ‘Change Background’ optionpresent in the bottom right corner of the screen. You can also change the background during an ongoing meeting by clicking onMore -> Change background. Here, you have the option to choose a pre-uploaded image or your custom one.Image: Google
In case you’re not seeing the change background option, make sure that the Chrome browser is updated to the latest version. According to Google, the feature works on Chrome 84 and above. On Chrome OS, you might needChrome 86.
Google warns thatchanging your background may slow down your PC. If you’re facing performance issues on your computer, you may have to skip using virtual backgrounds for increased overall efficiency of the system.
Virtual backgrounds feature is available to the following users: Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers, and personal Google accounts. Notably, this excludes meetings organized by Education customers.
Subin writes about consumer tech, software, and security. He secretly misses the headphone jack while pretending he’s better off with the wireless freedom.
