How to Set a Background Video on Zoom

A video background on Zoom replaces the space behind you with a moving image, which can add personality or help conceal a distracting room. You’ll need a video file Zoom supports, an up-to-date Zoom app, and a device that can handle virtual backgrounds; you can set it before a meeting or while one is underway.

What You’ll Need

The Zoom Workplace desktop app for Windows or macOS, or the Zoom mobile app on a supported iPhone or Android device. Menu names can vary slightly by app version and operating system.
A video file stored on your device. MP4 and MOV are common supported formats, but support can depend on the Zoom version and device. If Zoom rejects a file, try a standard MP4 encoded with H.264 video and AAC audio.
A camera and enough device capacity to process the video background. Older devices may not support virtual backgrounds, or may support them only with a physical green screen.
Optional: a plain, evenly lit background or a physical green screen. These can help Zoom separate you from the background video.

Step-by-Step

Check that virtual backgrounds are available. Open the Zoom desktop app and sign in. Select your profile picture, then Settings (or the gear icon). Open Background & effects. In some versions, the section is named Background & Filters. If the option is missing or locked, your device may not support it, or your organization may control the setting.
Open the video background controls. In Background & effects, choose the Virtual backgrounds tab or the background area. Zoom may ask you to download background resources the first time. Allow the download to finish before adding your own file.
Add your video. Select the + button or Add background, then choose Add video if that option appears. Browse to the video file, select it, and confirm with Open or the equivalent button. On some versions, the plus button opens the file chooser directly.
Select the imported video. Click its thumbnail in the background gallery. Turn on your camera if the preview asks you to do so. Wait a few seconds for the moving background to load, then check that your face and shoulders remain visible and that the video loops or plays as expected.
Adjust the result. If you have a green screen, select the option indicating that you have one and follow the prompts to identify its color. Without a green screen, leave that option off. Adjust your lighting, move slightly away from the wall, and make sure your clothing does not closely match the background color.
Use it in a meeting. To set the background before joining, open Zoom settings and select the video thumbnail first. During a meeting, select the arrow next to Start Video or Stop Video, choose Choose Virtual Background or Background & effects, and select the video. The exact wording depends on the app version.
On a phone or tablet, check the available choices. Join or start a meeting, tap More, then look for Background & effects or Virtual background. If your app offers an option to add a video, choose the file and apply it. Mobile support and file-import choices vary; if you cannot add a video, use the desktop app instead.
Remove it when finished. Open the same background controls and select None to return to your real surroundings, or choose an image background. Check the preview before your next meeting, because Zoom may retain your last selection.

Common Mistakes

Using an unsupported file. A file extension alone does not guarantee that its codec, size, or encoding is compatible. Export or convert it to a commonly supported MP4 format and try again.
Expecting every device to support video backgrounds. Hardware, operating system, app version, and account settings can affect availability. A missing option is not always a problem with the video file.
Choosing a visually busy or very large clip. Rapid motion and complicated details can make the outline around your hair and shoulders look uneven. A shorter, calmer clip is often easier for the app to process.
Ignoring lighting and contrast. A dim room, strong backlighting, or clothing that blends into the background can cause parts of you to disappear or flicker.
Assuming the setting is private or permanent. The background changes what other meeting participants see through Zoom; it does not alter the room itself. Confirm the selected background before joining, particularly if you share your screen or switch devices.

Tips

Choose a video with a steady camera, moderate movement, and enough contrast between you and the scene. Avoid text or important details near the edges, where your silhouette may cover them.
Use a well-lit, uncluttered space. Light your face from the front and avoid a bright window behind you. A physical green screen can improve separation, but it should be lit evenly and kept out of your clothing color.
Test the background in a private meeting or preview before an important call. Check the framing, motion, and performance with your usual camera and lighting.
If the computer becomes hot, noisy, or sluggish, switch to a still image or turn virtual backgrounds off. Video effects require more processing than a plain camera feed.
Keep the source file somewhere easy to find. If you use a different computer, the background may not be available there; add the video to that device as well.

Troubleshooting

The background option is missing: Update Zoom through its built-in update controls or the official download source, then restart the app. Check whether virtual backgrounds are disabled by an account administrator. If the device does not meet Zoom’s current requirements, try another supported computer.
Zoom will not import the video: Confirm that the file plays locally, then try a standard MP4 or MOV export. Avoid unusual codecs, damaged files, and files on removable or cloud-only storage; copy the video to the device first. Reopen Zoom and try again.
The background is static or black: Wait for processing, select the video thumbnail again, and check that the clip plays in another media player. Restart Zoom and test a short, compatible clip. If you are on a phone, the app may not support importing video backgrounds on that device.
Your outline flickers or disappears: Improve the lighting, move away from the wall, and wear a color that contrasts with the background. If using a green screen, make sure it fills the camera view and that the selected green-screen setting matches your setup.
Video is choppy or the meeting slows down: Close other demanding apps, use a shorter or lower-resolution clip, and turn off other video effects. If performance remains poor, choose a still image or no background.
Other participants see your real room: Confirm the video is selected in the current meeting’s background controls and that your camera is on. If you joined from another device or switched accounts, set the background again on that device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use any video as a Zoom background?
Not always. Zoom must support the file’s format and encoding, and your device must support video backgrounds. If import fails, try a standard MP4 or MOV export.

Can I set a video background before joining a meeting?
Yes. Select it in Zoom’s background settings before joining. You can also open the background controls during a meeting and apply it there.

Can I use a video background in Zoom on my phone?
It depends on the phone, app version, and available features. Check More during a meeting for background controls; if there is no video-import option, use Zoom on a supported desktop computer.

Why does Zoom require a green screen on my computer?
Some computers do not meet the requirements for separating a person from the background by software alone. A physical green screen may enable the effect, but support still depends on the device and Zoom version.

Will my video background stay selected for future meetings?
Zoom may remember your last selection on that device, but do not rely on it. Check the preview before each meeting, especially after updating the app or changing devices.

Can other people hear the background video?
Zoom uses the clip as a visual background; it is not a way to share the video’s audio. If you need participants to hear audio from a clip, use Zoom’s screen-sharing audio controls instead.

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