Webex Virtual Backgrounds

Users may utilize a virtual background to hide the space that they are connecting from. Users may choose from a few default backgrounds, upload their own, or apply a background blur effect.

Virtual Backgrounds will require your computer processor to work harder than usual during the Meeting. Your computer will use edge-finding and shape recognition in order to process your camera image to extract you from your background without using a green-screen. You may notice your computer operating slowly and/or your cooling fan speed increasing in response to this extra processing. Webex may ask you to either disable the virtual background or to close other applications if your computer begins to struggle.

Using Virtual Backgrounds

  1. Optional: Download a custom background onto your computer.

  2. You may enable the Virtual Background before you join, but you may also alter or disable and re-enable it during the Meeting.

  3. Click on your Join link or begin your Meeting.

  4. To enable your Virtual Background now, click on the Change background button that sits in the upper right-hand corner of your video preview.

    1. Your camera must be on in order to see the button. If your camera is not on, you will see either your initials or your profile picture shown in the window. Please click on Start video to turn on your camera.

      change background button
  5. You will see the default backgrounds appear in a popup. You may choose to blur your background, use a default virtual background, or upload a custom background.

    default background options
  6. To add a custom background, click on the "+" at the end of the list. You may add up to 3 custom backgrounds.

  7. Once you see your background appear, you may join your Meeting.

UConn Virtual Backgrounds

During the Session

When setting your virtual background, you will notice the image is mirrored. This mirroring is only on your end; it is meant to make you more comfortable, as it mimics your experience of standing in front of a mirror. On the participants' screens, your image is not mirrored. Text will appear correctly on your Participant's screens.

  1. Attached to the Start/Stop video button is a caret. Click on the caret to expand the menu. Click on Change virtual background.

  2. This will open the Virtual Background manager.

  3. From here, you may select None to disable the Virtual Background, Blur to blur your background, or use a virtual background. The "+" to add a custom background will always be at the bottom of the list. You may add up to 3 custom backgrounds.

System Requirements

Windows

Webex Version

  • WBS40.6.6—Blurred background and background replacement

  • WBS40.8 and later—Blurred background, background replacement, and custom backgrounds

Operating System

  • Windows 8 or Windows 10 32-bit/64-bit

Processor

  • Intel Core i3, i5, or i7 4000 series or higher

  • AMD Ryzen 5, 7, 9, or higher

Memory

  • 4 GB or more of RAM

  • 2 GB or more of VRAM for dedicated GPUs

Mac

Webex Version

  • WBS40.6.6—Blurred background and background replacement

  • WBS40.8 and later—Blurred background, background replacement, and custom backgrounds

Operating System

  • macOS High Sierra (version 10.13) and later

Processor

  • Intel Core i7 4000 series quad-core or higher processor

  • Intel Core i7 5000 series dual-core processor or higher

  • Intel Core i5 6000 series dual-core processor or higher

Memory

  • 2GB or more of VRAM for dedicated GPUs

iOS

Webex Version

  • WBS39.8 and later

Device

  • iPhone 7 and later

  • iPad (5th generation) and later

  • iPad Pro and later

  • iPad mini (5th generation) and later

  • iPad Air (3rd generation) and later

Android

Webex Version

  • WBS40.7 and later

Operating System

  • Android 9.0 (Pie) and later

Processor

  • Snapdragon 845

  • Samsung Exynos 9810

  • Equivalent processors with eight or more cores

Memory

  • 3.5 GB or more of RAM

Only Android devices that meet these requirements are supported.