Using Custom Backgrounds in Microsoft Teams – Star Wars

Microsoft Teams has the ability to create a background for your video conferencing without requiring any special equipment or green screen.  To enable backgrounds make sure you have enabled Video when making a call/meeting and then select the ellipse menu and then “Show background effects”

Once enabled a selection of available backgrounds will appear on the right side of Teams.  Simply select a background and either “Preview” or “Apply”.

Now to add a custom background is easy.  While we’re at it, let’s have some fun and add some official Star Wars backgrounds.  You can find them located here:  https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-backgrounds   Follow the directions and download your favorites to your computer.

Open File Explorer and type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads into the address bar.  Then copy the files you downloaded into that directory.

Now when you go into Teams and “Enable Backgrounds” you’ll find your custom backgrounds after the standard ones.  Select one and Preview/Apply.

You’re not limited to these Star Wars backgrounds, but why not add “The Force” to some of your Teams meetings?!