The COVID-19 pandemic has forced humankind into isolation. We are forced to stay in, maintain social distancing, and work from the comfort of our homes. In the grand scheme of things, working from home is, without a doubt, the least of our concerns. However, one can’t simply underestimate the power of monotony and boredom.

Working from home is almost synonymous with remote conference calls. From Microsoft Teams and Skype to Zoom and BlueJeans, there is a bunch of options to choose from. Yet, when it comes to mindless customization options, none of them can hold a candle to the app we’re discussing today: Zoom Meetings.

Today, we’ll take a look at how you can add a dash of spunk to your online meetings with the help of Zoom Virtual Backgrounds.

Download more Zoom backgrounds: Disney and PixarFantasy Football | Funny

What is Zoom Virtual Background?

This widely-celebrated feature allows you to pick an image or video and use it as your background during a video conference. There are some pre-uploaded images to choose from, but there’s the option of uploading your favorites as well. However, before jumping in, you should know a few basics about the features, ways to get the best results.

Related: Change Zoom background on your PC, Mac, iPhone, and Android

New backgrounds added (Feb 5th, 2021) | Valentine’s Day special

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Pexels

Download Link | Via: Unsplash

New backgrounds added (May 12th, 2020)

Everything is fine (video)

Click here to download | Via: u/quagdarr

IT Crowd office

Click here to download | Via: u/thunderpachachi

Menacing (video)

Click here to download | Via: u/ShiningFractal

White Ninja

Click here to download | Via: u/marshallw

Hospital interior

Click here to download | Via: u/drud23

Happy Gilmore RIP Chubs

Click here to download | Via: u/myclueis

Jason Statham dancing (video)

Click here to download | Via: u/twicethehalfling

Harry Potter Daily Prophet headline

Click here to download | Via: u/aynicebackground

Anime Lover’s room

Click here to download | Via: u/gojirakitty1122

Area 51 bar

Click here to download | Via: @dbeltwrites /Unsplash

Pebble zen arrangement

Click here to download | Via: @theforestbirds /Unsplash

Alien Invaders mosaic

Click here to download | Via: @Francesco Ungaro /Pexels

Area 51 stop sign

Click here to download | Via: @EliasSch /Pixabay

Sci-Fi Moon background

Click here to download | Via: @TrinidadPhotoshopMan /Pixabay

Area 51 entry point

Click here to download | Via: @MartinStr /Pixabay

Area 51 road sign

Click here to download | Via: @brucebmax /Unsplash

Horse in the police force

Click here to download | Via: @Pixabay /Pexels

New backgrounds added (April 27th, 2020)

COVID-19 DVD bounce around background (video)

Click here here to download | Via: u/itaioi /Reddit

Disinfectant IV

Click here here to download | Via: u/Iamnofunatparties /Reddit

The weather here is fine here (video)

Click here here to download | Via: u/JediMasterWiggin /Reddit

Matrix blue pill (video)

Click here here to download | Via: u/m00s3knuckl3s /Reddit

Abide by this background (video)

Click here here to download | Via: u/itaioi /Reddit

Super Smash Bros. background

Click here here to download | Via: u/Satanlovesyou123 /Reddit

Moe’s Tavern

Click here here to download | Via: u/CobraCabana /Reddit

White House press room

Click here here to download | Via: u/Blissrat /Reddit

Super Mario background (video)

Click here here to download | Via: u/birdybro /Reddit

The Office: Lumbergh drinking coffee (video)

Click here here to download | Via: u/Type11 /Reddit

Stormtrooper army

Click here here to download | Via: u/NetosTaquitos /Reddit

Donald Glover chair

Click here here to download | Via: u/Mateenaa1er /Reddit

Osama hideout cave

Click here here to download | Via: u/thegreogorath /Reddit

Joe Biden sniffing background

Click here here to download | Via: u/cestlavie1215 /Reddit

One flew over cuckoo’s nest

Click here here to download | Via: u/uptwolait /Reddit

Space ghost coast to coast background

Click here here to download | Via: u/JourdanWithaU /Reddit

True Detective

Click here here to download | Via: u/Travern /Reddit

Joker staircase background

Click here here to download | Via: u/imQ1X /Reddit

New backgrounds added (April 17)

Find a collection of photo and video backgrounds for your next Zoom meeting hand-picked by us.

How to download a video background: Click the given link above first, let the video in the new tab, and then right-click on the video and choose ‘Save’.

Screaming Cowboy Video Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

To download a video background, click the given link above first, let the video in the new tab, and then right-click on the video and choose Save.

Stonks Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Off-white Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

The Truman Show Stairs Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Futurama Jar Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

The Good Place Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Backseat Video Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

BBC News Interruption Video Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

The Living Room Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Back to the Future Delorean Interior Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Bob’s Burgers Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Find more FOX Backgrounds here.

Sweet Victory Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Delaware Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Large Toilet Paper Stack

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Bridge of the Enterprise NCC-1701D

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

Oh no Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit

This is fine Background

Click here to download | Via: Reddit


Download Zoom Virtual Backgrounds

Here are a few images to get you up and running:

Strip club Background

Click here to download | Via: Pinterest

Click here to download | Via: Deviantart

Click here to download | Via: Pixabay

Click here to download | Via: Pixabay


Happy Birthday Backgrounds

To download the Happy Birthday Zoom backgrounds from the gallery above, tap on the image to expand it, and then right-click (or touch and hold) on it to get the download image option.

Jurassic Park Backgrounds

To download the Happy Jurassic Park Zoom backgrounds from the gallery above, tap on the image to expand it, and then right-click (or touch and hold) on it to get the download image option.

Game Of Thrones Backgrounds

To download GOT Zoom backgrounds from the gallery above, tap on the image to expand it, and then right-click (or touch and hold) on it to get the download image option.

Hillarious Backgrounds

To download Hollarious Zoom backgrounds from the gallery above, tap on the image to expand it, and then right-click (or touch and hold) on it to get the download image option.

Starship Enterprise Background by Simon John

Download Starship Background


Tiger King Joe Exotic Background by Zach Love

Download Tiger King Background

Batcave Background by DC

Download Batcave Background

Friends’ Kitchen Background by bees?

Download Friends’ Kitchen Background

The Office Background by bees?

Download The Office Background

Shining Hallway Background by bees?

Download Shining Hallway Background

This Is Fine Background by Shell

Download This Is Fine Background

The Oval Office Background by RedEye Security

Download The Oval Office Background

Seinfeld Living Room Background by Seinfeld Current Day

Download Seinfeld Living Room Background

Top Gun Maverick Background by Top Gun

Download Top Gun Maverick Background

Pixar Backgrounds

To download a wallpaper, tap on it in the gallery above to enlarge it, and then right-click (or touch and hold on a phone) to get the save option. Click on the Save Image option to save it on your PC/phone.

Download all Pixar 6 backgrounds

► Find more Pixar backgrounds: Wallpaper Cave | Wallpaper Access

Schitt’s Creek Backgrounds

To download a wallpaper, tap on it in the gallery above to enlarge it, and then right-click (or touch and hold on a phone) to get the save option. Click on the Save Image option to save it on your PC/phone.

Download all 4 Schitt’s Creek backgrounds

Frozen Backgrounds by Disney

Download all 4 Frozen Background

Spongebob Background

Download Spongebob Background

Parks and Rec Background

Download Parks and Rec Background

Distracted Boyfriend by Shell

Download Distracted Boyfriend Background

Minecraft Background

Download Minecraft Background

Harry Potter Background

Download Harry Potter Background

Happy birthday background

Download Happy Birthday Background

John Wick Parabellum Background by Official Twitter Handle

Download John Wick Parabellum Background

Funny and Cool Backgrounds Collection

► Download the Funny and Cool Backgrounds Collection


Video Background

As mentioned, you can also use a video as your meeting background. Setting an exceptional or funny video background can set you apart, and maybe even earn you the “cool” tag you were gunning for.

Here are some examples:

Create a clone (and skip meetings)

Skip virtual meetings by using a video of yourself as your background from zoombackgrounds

A couple more

A countdown maybe?

Everyone loves X-Wing

Animated X-Wing Cockpit I put together from a couple of Youtube videos from zoombackgrounds

A looping video

Zoom background video for difficult meetings (loops perfectly) from zoombackgrounds

Beach Day


Potato background

Well, you may mean the potato filter. Actually, you can turn yourself into a potato on a Zoom call, but for that, you need to install the snap camera software on your PC which will apply the potato filter on your face when the webcam is being used.

So, once you have installed and set up Snap Camera, the next time you are on a video call or meeting with anyone on Zoom (or Microsoft Teams, for that matter), the Snap Camera will turn your face into a potato (or any other filter that you select).

How to change the Zoom background?

Changing the Zoom Virtual Background is a two-part operation — first enabling the Virtual background on the website and then changing it using the desktop client.

Let’s see first how to enable the Virtual Background option in your profile settings on Zoom. Make sure you are signed in and then visit Profile Settings (click the link or go to Zoom Web > My Account > Settings). Then click the In Meeting (Advanced) option, and enable Virtual Background by toggling the slider.

After you’ve successfully performed the steps above, fire up the Zoom desktop client. Head over to Settings and go to Virtual Background. Select any of the backgrounds you see there. If you’re not happy with the presets, click on the little ‘+’ icon to load your own image or video.

If you want to change your background during a Zoom Meeting, click on the upper arrow just adjacent to the Stop Video icon. Click Choose Virtual Background to pick a new image or video.

What kind of files can you use?

As mentioned, Zoom allows you to pick the popular image and video files. So, as long as you have the media file on your PC, Zoom will happily entertain your request. However, before using an image, make sure it is cropped according to the 16:9 aspect ratio.

Can I use GIF?

Well, no, at least not officially. However, there is a trick through which you add the GIF as Zoom background.

How to use GIF for Zoom background

Recommended Size and Resolution

  • Image size: 1280 by 720 pixels
  • Video size: Minimum res: 640 by 360 pixels (360p);  Maximum res: 1920 by 1080 pixels (1080p)
  • Aspect ratio: 16:9
  • Maximum file size: 5MB

Zoom Virtual Background Tips

Although there aren’t staunch restrictions, there are a few things to consider before using Virtual Backgrounds. For your convenience, we have created a small bullet-list, containing the points Zoom recommends.

  • Ample, even lighting
  • A solid background — greenscreen preferred
  • Avoid wearing clothes that match your background
  • Use external webcam if possible
  • Crop the image as per your camera’s aspect ratio

Why black bars are appearing on a background image

Well, if the aspect ratio of an image is not 16:9, you will see the black bars. To remove the black bar on your custom Zoom background, resize the background to 16:9. You can use any photo editor app on your PC or mobile phone to do this.


Which ones are your favorite backgrounds for Zoom? Let us know if you want us to add any particular backgrounds.