How to Blur Your Background in Teams (2026)
Background blur in Microsoft Teams keeps you in focus and hides the mess behind you, without picking a full virtual background. You can turn it on before you join or mid-meeting. Here’s how on desktop and mobile, and why the option sometimes disappears.
Blur Before You Join
The easiest time to set it is on the pre-join screen:
- Start to join the meeting — you’ll land on the preview screen with your camera on.
- Click Background filters (or the Effects icon under your video).
- Select Blur.
- Confirm the preview looks right, then click Join now.
The blur stays active for the entire meeting.
Blur During a Meeting
Already in the call?
- Click More (the …) on the toolbar.
- Choose Effects and avatars (older versions: Apply background effects).
- Select Blur.
- Click Preview to check, then Apply.
You can switch blur on or off anytime without leaving the meeting.
Blur on Mobile (iOS/Android)
- Before joining or during the call, tap More (the …).
- Tap Background effects (or Video effects).
- Tap Blur, then Done.
Troubleshooting
There’s no background-effects option
Older or unsupported hardware can’t run blur — it needs a processor that supports the feature (AVX2). On Teams for web, background effects are limited or unavailable, so use the desktop app.
Blur is greyed out
Your camera has to be on first. Turn on video, then the blur and effects options become available.
Blur looks patchy around my head or hair
Improve your lighting — face a window or lamp — and use a plain backdrop. Harsh backlighting and busy backgrounds confuse the edge detection.
Blur turns off every meeting
Set it on the pre-join screen each time, or some versions remember your last effect. If it keeps resetting, update Teams to the latest version.
My admin disabled it
Background effects can be turned off by an IT policy. If no one in your org has the option, that’s an admin setting in the Teams admin center.
Quick Reference
| Goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Blur before joining | Background filters > Blur |
| Blur in a meeting | More > Effects and avatars > Blur |
| Blur on mobile | More > Background effects > Blur |
| Turn blur off | Effects and avatars > None |
| Use a custom image instead | See change your background |
Related Teams guides: How to change your background on Teams · How to turn off your camera on Teams · How to record a Teams meeting · How to share your screen on Teams · The best AI note takers for Zoom, Teams & Meet
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