---
title: "Change the Virtual Background in an 8x8 Meeting"
slug: "change-the-virtual-background-in-an-8x8-meeting"
updated: 2026-05-22T01:41:51Z
published: 2026-05-22T01:41:51Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/change-the-virtual-background-in-an-8x8-meeting"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Change the Virtual Background in an 8x8 Meeting

## Objective

Enabling virtual backgrounds in 8x8 Meetings. If you’re sharing video from a location where people or objects in the background could prove distracting; 8x8 Meetings enables you to use virtual backgrounds! Select from a preset background image or simply blur your real-world background. Your chosen background remains selected across future meetings until you select a different background option.

> [!NOTE]
> Note
> 
> This article is for setting an individual user's virtual background. To configure the static, account-wide background image, see [Add a Custom Logo to 8x8 Meetings](/support/docs/add-a-custom-logo-to-8x8-meetings).

## Applies To

- 8x8 Meetings
- Virtual Backgrounds
- 8x8 Work for Desktop

## Procedure

### Before a Meeting

1. In 8x8 Work for Desktop, click **Select background** to open a selection prompt with a preview of how your video will look to other participants. ![meetingsSelectBackground.png](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/1667(1)?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T23%3A21%3A36Z&se=2026-11-04T00%3A21%3A36Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2F7goUkrYgT54nh8j8Htz0RQs2julBeIqBs55XP4RO0%3D)
2. Select:
  - **Blur**/**Half Blur**: Blur the background visible behind you.
  - **An image**: Replace your background with the selected image.
3. Select **OK** to confirm your selection. Your chosen background remains selected across future meetings until you select a different background option.

### From Within a Meeting

1. While in a meeting on 8x8 Work for Desktop, select **More Options![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-more_18x18(34).png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T23%3A21%3A36Z&se=2026-11-04T00%3A21%3A36Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2F7goUkrYgT54nh8j8Htz0RQs2julBeIqBs55XP4RO0%3D)** to open a menu of advanced meeting controls. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/17175(1)?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T23%3A21%3A36Z&se=2026-11-04T00%3A21%3A36Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=2F7goUkrYgT54nh8j8Htz0RQs2julBeIqBs55XP4RO0%3D)
2. Click **Select background** to open a selection prompt with a preview of how your video will look to other participants.
3. At the prompt, select:
  - **Blur**/**Slight Hlur**: Blur the background visible behind you.
  - **An image**: Replace your background with the selected image.
4. Click **OK** to confirm your selection. Your chosen background remains selected across future meetings until you select a different background option.