How to change the background image in Google Meet

Google Meet has become more popular for the purpose of conducting school sessions or company meetings. The change wallpaper option is a great way to hide a cluttered bedroom or picture frame behind your back and replace it with a better image.

While this is a basic option offered by Google Meet itself, there are some prerequisites to using it:

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1. If you're using Google Meet on an iOS device, you must have an iPhone 6s and run iOS 12 or later.
2. Android devices must have Android P version or higher, 3 Gb RAM, at least 4 CPU cores, at least 1.6 GHz CPU clock speed, and ARM64 to use Google Meet.
3. If you're using Google Meet on a Mac, you can access the change background option in Chrome.
4. Chrome version must be M84 or higher to use Google Meet on Windows, MacOS, or Linux.
5. If you're using Google Meet on Chrome OS, your Chrome version must be M86 or later.

In case there is no option to change the background on Google Meet, check the version of Chrome you are using.

Users can change the background image before joining a meeting in Google Meet, before everyone sees the actual surroundings.

How to change Google Meet wallpaper before meeting

Step 1: Open Google Meet and log in to the meeting.

Step 2: In the bottom right corner of the self view, click the change background icon.

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Step 3: In the change wallpaper menu, some background options will appear.

1. To blur the background, select the second or third square (a person surrounded by dots).
2. To upload your own wallpaper, click the square with the plus icon. This will access the files on the computer. From there, just find the file you want to use and click on it to upload.
3. People can also select an image from Google Meet's library of background images by clicking the square of the image they want to use.

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After selecting a background image, the user can click on the first square (containing a circle with a line through) to undo any wallpaper selections made.

Step 4: Any image clicked will automatically change everyone's background image.

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How to change the background on Google Meet during a meeting

Users can change the background on Google Meet while joining a meeting by accessing the same menu.

Step 1: Click the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Find and select Change background.

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Step 3. This will bring up the menu to change the background during a Google Meet call.

Step 4: Perform the same operation as changing the background image before the meeting.

Unfortunately, changing the wallpaper is not possible on the Google Meet mobile app. However, the user can blur the background if certain requirements are met.

Users must be using an Android device running Android 9.0 Pie or later. Android device must have at least 3GB RAM, 4 CPU cores, CPU clock speed 1.6 GHz and ARM64.

For iOS users who must have an iPhone 6s and run iOS 12 or later: To blur the background before starting a video, select or add a meeting ID. Click Blur your background and a preview will appear. If the visuals are fine, click Join Now to enter the meeting. Otherwise, press the same button to turn it off.

If you're already in a meeting, tap your video preview. Then tap on the blur icon to enable the feature and use the same option to disable it.

Micah Soto

Update 16 January 2022