Got a video call coming up, but your place isn’t quite ready for its close-up? We’ve all been there. Maybe your living room has gone from "lived-in" to "a bit of a disaster zone," and then, bam! An urgent Zoom meeting pops up in 30 minutes. There’s no time to tidy up or set up a fancy backdrop to look professional, let alone show off your personality.
Good news: the internet totally gets it! Zoom has a neat feature called "virtual backgrounds." These let you put a digital image or video behind you, so nobody sees what’s really going on in your room.
Changing your Zoom background is super easy:
- Open Zoom.
- Click on "zoom.us."
- Go to "Preferences."
- Select "Virtual Background."
- Hit the little "+" sign on the right side of the screen to upload your chosen background. Done!
Now, the big question is, where do you find awesome virtual backgrounds that are perfect for your calls? We’ve hunted down seven fantastic spots where you can download them for free. Take a look!
Twitter
Ever since everyone started working from home, Twitter has been buzzing with users sharing all sorts of free and funny backgrounds. You can find everything from pop culture references, like the trench run from Star Wars, to meme-inspired scenes and even official backgrounds from movies like Top Gun. It’s a great place for creative and fun options.
Pexels
If you’re looking for stunning, high-quality images, Pexels is a go-to. It’s packed with beautiful stock photos. You can find breathtaking nature scenes, chic patterns, or crisp, professional-looking office settings to make your calls shine.
Unsplash
Similar to Pexels, Unsplash offers a wide variety of gorgeous photos. What’s cool about Unsplash is its extensive collection of indoor scenes, like cozy homes or sleek offices. Plus, there are plenty of travel-themed backgrounds if you want to pretend you’re calling in from a secluded beach somewhere!
Minted
Minted offers a collection of unique, artsy, and whimsical designs. You can discover some real gems here, including special backgrounds that are just right for your virtual team happy hour.
99Designs
This site got its independent artists to create some backgrounds specifically for Zoom. While the selection might be a bit smaller, you could easily find a stylish option or two that perfectly matches your professional style.
Canva
Canva provides a great selection of customizable Zoom backgrounds. Many of them are professional-looking yet unique enough to stand out. They also have some animated options, which, fair warning, might be a little less "professional" and more "fun," like a conference call bingo card or a secret agent dashboard.
Reddit
The Reddit community is a treasure trove for all sorts of niche content, including a dedicated subreddit where users share and discuss Zoom backgrounds. You can find everything from realistic office setups to hilarious memes, often with direct download links shared by other users. It’s a goldmine for unique and trending backgrounds.