Meanwhile, if you're running Zoom on a mobile device, you’ll need to make sure you have Zoom version 5.3 or higher. If you need to manually update your system, you can tap on your profile picture in your Zoom Desktop Client then select 'Check for Updates.' You only need version 3.5 for both macOS and Windows to use virtual backgrounds with a physical green screen. Check To Make Sure You’ve Updated Zoomįirst things first, you'll want to make sure your PC or Mac system is running an up-to-date version of the Zoom Desktop Client (4.6 or higher for macOS and 5.2 or higher for Windows) to use a Zoom virtual background without a green screen. If you're uploading a MP4 or MOV video, it'll need to have a minimum resolution of 360 pixels and a maximum resolution of 1080 pixels. Your background image will work best with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and minimum resolution of 1280 by 720 pixels. You'll also want to use a high quality camera and make sure you’re in a setting with uniform lighting and color. It's best to have a solid color backdrop, preferably green, and to not wear clothing that's the same color as the background.

In addition to different operating system requirements for using a virtual background without a green screen, Zoom also has certain tips to help you get the optimal virtual background. Here's what you should check to pinpoint what’s going wrong. If your Zoom virtual background is not working during your video calls and you are wondering why you can't get Zoom backgrounds, there might be a few different culprits to blame.

Zoom’s virtual background feature has become a mainstay on the platform, thanks to its ability to swap out your IRL backdrop for a photo or video of your choosing.

Solid zoom backgrounds