• Source:JND
Add as a preferred

MICROSOFT Teams will soon get new dynamic backgrounds in the form of animations which can be considered the 'biggest' update to virtual scenery on the platform since launch, as per The Verge. Initially, a collection of still images will debut, followed by animated iterations next month, as per the news platform.

The Microsoft Design Team shared a few details about the update in a blog. With the update, a video participant would have scenic options to replace the cluttered background.

"Featuring all-new images, the reimagined visual library for Teams has been thoughtfully designed to represent the people that use them and how they work best," reads the blog post.

"Looking at the popularity of certain images, we noticed that customers are equally enthusiastic about being depicted in fun and imaginative scenes as they are being portrayed in realistic spaces like a coworking space, office, or home."

The team at Microsoft crafted background across six categories. They are:

1) Zone - a collection of 'contemporary rooms' in calm tones

2) Escape artist - A balance between real and mythical to infuse a "sense of wonder."

3) Feeling Dreamy - The category packs a "touched-by-human experience" with backgrounds like lush scenery, floating petals and more.

4) Imagination at play - This category bundles backgrounds with bright colours, with "otherworldly spaces" to leave a lasting mark on the viewer.

Other than these, Belonging (5) and Sustainability (6) categories have been emphasised in the blog.

How to change Microsoft Teams background images

Step 1: Install or update to the latest version of Microsoft Teams

Step 2: Join or create a call on the app or web.

Step 3: Tap on 'change background' if using a smartphone or click the 'background filter' option on your PC.

Step 4: Select the picture options to swap your real-life background.

Microsoft Teams new backgrounds: Availability

Having close to 300 million users, Microsoft Teams is live in 181 countries across the globe in 44 languages.

Microsoft Teams is a popular app enabling calls, chats, collaborations and more across work and education profiles. In its attempt to amp up the user experience, the tech giant regularly brings updates to its products. Meanwhile, video chat platforms like Zoom and Google Meet have had custom backgrounds for quite some time.