Currently, your end users can replace the background in a video meeting or call with an image, if you have enabled this feature for Teams desktop apps and Teams on the web. Microsoft is introducing, via a preview feature, the ability for you to provide backgrounds that end users have access to across the organization. This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 80193.
Organization-wide backgrounds will now be available in preview. This feature will require an Advanced Communications license when it becomes generally available.
Affected Workloads
- Microsoft Teams
Note: This feature will be available as a preview until 12/31/2021. After that, an Advanced Communications license is required to continue using this feature.
When this will happen
Rollout is planned from early June (previously mid-May) to early July (previously mid-June).
How this will affect your organization
Once this feature is in preview, anyone within your organization can view these backgrounds and apply them across calls and meetings via the new background settings panel.
While the feature is in preview, users will be able to view these images in a new background settings panel accessed from the […] options link in the meeting controls, and then apply an image across calls and meetings.
During a meeting or call, users can access Apply background effects from the […] options link in the meeting controls. Before joining a meeting, users can select Background filters below the video image.
What you need to do to prepare
You can upload images in Teams admin center for use in your tenant.
Images can be either PNG or JPG format; they should be no smaller than 360x360px and no larger than 2048x2048px. You can host up to 50 images in your tenant.
Learn more
Message ID: MC249777
Published: 09 April 2021
Updated: 30 July 2021
Effective: July 19, 2021
Alex Lim
Alex Lim is a certified IT Technical Support Architect with over 15 years of experience in designing, implementing, and troubleshooting complex IT systems and networks. He has worked for leading IT companies, such as Microsoft, IBM, and Cisco, providing technical support and solutions to clients across various industries and sectors. Alex has a bachelor’s degree in computer science from the National University of Singapore and a master’s degree in information security from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also the author of several best-selling books on IT technical support, such as The IT Technical Support Handbook and Troubleshooting IT Systems and Networks. Alex lives in Bandar, Johore, Malaysia with his wife and two chilrdren. You can reach him at [email protected] or follow him on Website | Twitter | Facebook
