Blur the Scene: Expert Tips for Hiding Distractions During Google Meets

What to Know

• Click thethree-dot menu, thenApply visual effects >Slightly blur your background orBlur your background .
• To turn off background blur, return to the blur options and deselect your choice.
• You can blur your background before or during a meeting.

This article explains how to blur or unblur your background before or during a Google Meet call.

How to Change Your Background in Google Meet

If you want to hide your background while on a video call and don’t want to use a virtual background, you can blur it in Google Meet. Below are directions for blurring the background during a call and before a call.

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Blur Your Background While in a Call

It’s not too late to blur your Google Meet background if the call already started. Here’s what to do:

1. Click thethree-dot menu button at the bottom of the screen.
2. SelectApply visual effects .
   
3. There are two options. For a subtle change, selectSlightly blur your background . If you need more cover, chooseBlur your background .

You can toggle between options to see which one looks the best. The messier (or more chaotic) your background is, the more blur you’ll want.

Turn on Background Blur Before Joining a Call

You can also blur your background before you join a meeting.

1. Click the meeting link from the invite to enter the waiting room.
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2. Click the icon in the lower right corner of the video preview.
   
3. Choose one of the two background blur options.
   
4. You can now exit the Effects window and join the call with the background already blurred.

Disable Background Blur in Google Meet

To turn off background blur, whether you’re on a call or waiting to join, open the visual effects menu by following either set of directions above. Then, select the blur option you’re currently using to toggle it off. The background will return to normal instantly.

Why Blur Your Background?

Blurring your background is useful for a few reasons. It can obscure clutter behind you for a more professional look. Hiding your backdrop can also protect your privacy and others in your household or office. Additionally, it also just looks nice and keeps the focus on your face, not on what’s going on behind you.

However, if you have an older computer, the blur feature could slow it down as it is resource-heavy. If you find it’s interfering with the quality of the Google Meet call, you can quickly turn it off.

A lighter-weight solution might be to use a virtual background. Google Meet has many options built-in, and you can also upload images.

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