How To Use Zoom Virtual Background Without Green Screen

Learn how to set up a virtual background without a green screen in Zoom as well as a few expert troubleshooting tips. 

How To Get a Zoom Virtual Background without a Green Screen

Anyone hosting or participating in a Zoom meeting has the ability to use a virtual background image or video to replace their current background. You can use this effect if you have a paid Zoom account, if you have a free Zoom account or even if you choose to use Zoom without a Zoom account. In this blog, we'll show you how to use this feature as well as a few troubleshooting tips. 

To get started, first visit Zoom’s FAQ page for virtual backgrounds and compare the system requirements to your machine or device. If you’re experiencing difficulty with the virtual background effect or you do not even see a virtual background option, more often than not this means that your computer or device’s processor is not compatible with the virtual background without green screen effect. If this sounds like you, no worries, we will address this issue later in the blog. 

​If you have a Zoom Account

Login to zoom.us

Click on Settings

Click on In Meeting (Advanced)

Scroll down and make sure that the Virtual Background option is enabled

Launch Zoom and click on the gear icon to open your Settings window

​Click on the Virtual Background tab within the Settings window. Ensure that the “I have a green screen” box is not checked. Select an image or video from the list and your virtual background effect will take place.

You can click on the plus icon beside “Choose Virtual Background” if you would like to add your own image or video. You can purchase a professional background for your business that includes your logo by clicking here. 

​Joining a Zoom Meeting (with or without a Zoom account)

​Now if you’re joining a Zoom meeting with or without an account, you can enable the virtual background by clicking on the arrow at the bottom of your screen next to the video icon. This will open a menu where you can select “Choose Virtual Background.” This is another way to get to your Settings window where you can choose your virtual background. 

​On your mobile device

​You can do the same on your mobile device. Click the 3 dots in the bottom menu where it says “More.” Select virtual background. Then import an image of your preference. 

​Troubleshooting

If you are unable to remove the checkmark from the “I have a green screen box” and it looks like the background itself is blending in to you, that happens because your machine is not compatible with the virtual background without a green screen effect and instead Zoom is trying to force the effect. You can go out and purchase a green screen, we recommend these options: click here for a green screen from WebAround or click here for a green screen from Amazon.

Or you can integrate a tool that is called a virtual camera to enable virtual filters which can add more flair to your calls. A virtual camera takes the form of an augmented camera display and acts as your computer’s webcam. It’s the virtual camera that can enable an otherwise incompatible machine to work with the virtual background effect inside Zoom without a green screen.

You have 2 options to make this work: Snap Camera (free) or Manycam (paid) applications

Let’s walk through how to use this effect in Snap Camera which is an application that offers virtual camera solutions. Snap Camera is free. Snap Camera is full of virtual filters that you can integrate into your Zoom meetings. Once you find a filter that you want to use, proceed with opening Zoom. Click into a new meeting. Navigate to the arrow beside the Video icon and select Video Settings. In the drop box beside camera, select the Snap Camera option. Your virtual filter will now be present.

Depending on the virtual filter that you choose, you can sometimes integrate them along with the Zoom backgrounds. So, click on Choose Virtual Background in Zoom and select a background. Then click the button that says “I have a green screen” and you will see your background on screen with your filters.
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What it’s doing is the virtual camera is acting as your webcam and it’s removing the background on its own. Not only is this a solution for people having difficulty using virtual backgrounds, but these filters are a lot of fun to add to the mix. 

Watch our video: How To Use Zoom Virtual Background Without Green Screen

If you're looking for more help with Zoom, please check out our Zoom Tutorials Playlists 


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