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Updated Oct 8, 2026 · 6 min read

How to Set a Custom Background in Microsoft Teams (2026 Guide)

The exact click path for Teams and Zoom, what file types each app accepts, and why your own preview sometimes looks mirrored. No account or editor needed.

Works on WindowsMacMobileTeams + Zoom
Video walkthrough

Two short official demos. Pick your app.

Written steps and troubleshooting below if you get stuck.

Microsoft TeamsOfficial demo · 3:10
ZoomOfficial step-by-step · 2:53
Need a file to test with?The Thanksgiving collection has 16 free HD JPGs, and the Zoom hub covers the rest of the year.Thanksgiving rooms →Zoom backgrounds →
The mirror problem

Why your background looks flipped.

It is almost never the file. It is your self-view.

If your own preview looks like a mirror — text on your shirt reversed, a logo pointing the wrong way — that is self-view mirroring, not a broken background.

Zoom and Microsoft Teams mirror your own preview by default so the picture feels like a mirror. Other participants receive the unmirrored feed, so what they see is correct.

Zoom: open Settings → Video and turn off Mirror my video. Inside a meeting, use the arrow next to the Video button → Video settings.

Microsoft Teams: open Settings → Devices → Camera and turn off Mirror my video on desktop builds that offer it.

If the saved JPG itself is mirrored — common with front-camera photos — flip it horizontally in any image editor and upload it again. Every MeetBG background is stored unmirrored.

Before you upload

What Teams and Zoom accept.

Use these numbers unless your organisation publishes its own standard.

PlatformRecommended sizeRatioFormatsTypical upload cap
Microsoft Teams1920×108016:9JPG, PNGUp to 30 MB
Zoom desktop1920×108016:9JPG, PNGAround 5 MB
Google Meet1920×108016:9JPG, PNGVaries by account
Webex1920×108016:9JPG, PNGVaries by version

Platform limits change between versions. If an upload is rejected, run the file through the background compressor or the size fixer.

Exact click path

Teams and Zoom in three steps.

The same three moves work on desktop and, with small label changes, on mobile.

STEP 01

Download the JPG

Choose any room from the library. The file is already 1920×1080 and needs no editing.

STEP 02

Open backgrounds

Teams: More → Video effects → Backgrounds. Zoom: Settings → Background & effects.

STEP 03

Add and select

Choose Add new / the plus icon, upload the JPG, then select it. Leave green screen off unless you use one.

FAQ

If it still does not work.

The five problems people hit most often.

Are these backgrounds really free for work calls?
Yes — every MeetBG background is free for personal and commercial use, including client calls and interviews. No attribution required.
Why is my custom background not showing?
Teams only supports JPG/PNG under 30MB. Also check that your Teams app is updated — older versions hide the Add new button.
Where are backgrounds stored on my computer?
Windows: %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads. Mac: ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams/Backgrounds/Uploads.
Why is my Zoom background flipped?
Zoom mirrors your own video preview by default, so your background and any text on your clothes look reversed to you. Other participants see the unmirrored image. Turn off Settings → Video → Mirror my video if you prefer a true preview.
Why does my uploaded background look reversed?
Usually the source image was saved mirrored, which happens with front-camera photos. Flip the JPG horizontally in an editor and upload it again. MeetBG downloads are already stored the right way round.

Ready to try it? Pick a room first.

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