Cats are wonderful creatures. They are not, however, always the best coworkers. Have I had to change camera settings in the middle of a call because Beans and Toast were reenacting the balrog scene from The Fellowship of the Ring on my kitchen cabinets? Maybe.
But none of my coworkers will ever know because I blur my background on video calls.
Here's how to blur backgrounds in Webex before Toast gets to "You shall not pass!"
Table of contents:
How to blur your background in Webex on desktop
Webex functions pretty much the same for Windows and Mac (I used Windows for screenshots here based on personal preference).
Open the Webex app on your desktop, and join a scheduled meeting or start a new call.
Once you're in the meeting, click the small down arrow next to the Stop video button at the bottom of the screen.
In the video options menu, click the Blur option to activate the blur effect.
I've noticed that Webex's blur is stronger and has more of a "glow" effect than some other video meeting platforms, like Teams and Meet, so use with caution.
Blurring your background during a Webex call on desktop
Already in a Webex call? The steps for blurring your background are nearly identical whether you adjust before or during a call.
From within a Webex call, click the down arrow next to the Stop video button to bring up a menu.
Select the Change virtual background option.
This will open a pop-up with a range of virtual background options, where you can select Blur.
Make sure to click the Save button before navigating away.
How to blur your background in Webex on mobile
Now I'll walk you through how to blur your background on both Android and iPhone devices (it's similar enough on both).
Open the Webex app on your mobile device, and join a scheduled meeting or start a new call by clicking the Calendar button.
When the preview screen appears, tap the magic wand button to access the video options menu.
From here, just tap Blur.
Blurring your background from within a call on mobile
If you want to change your background when you're already in a Webex meeting on mobile, there are a few more taps involved.
From within the Webex meeting, tap the three dots at the bottom of the screen.
Tap the Advanced tab in the menu that appears.
Choose Change virtual background. This will bring up the same menu we saw when selecting video options before the call.
From here, just tap Blur.
Automate your next Webex session
Whether it's hiding cats with a flair for the dramatic or just keeping a cluttered backdrop out of your coworkers' sight, Webex helps you focus on the conversation at hand.
You can also use Zapier to integrate Webex with other apps you depend on to automate your virtual meetings. Zapier's no-code automations handle routine tasks like scheduling and managing meeting follow-ups, so you can spend more time on the tasks that actually matter—or just on getting your cats off the kitchen counter. Get started with one of these pre-made workflows.
Send a Slack reminders for new Cisco Webex Meetings
Create Microsoft Outlook events for Cisco Webex Meetings
Zapier is a no-code automation tool that lets you connect your apps into automated workflows, so that every person and every business can move forward at growth speed. Learn more about how it works.
Webex backgrounds FAQ
Does Webex have blur background?
Sure does! You can blur your background on Webex calls, whether you're using Webex for desktop, mobile, or in your browser. You can use this feature to keep your home office background looking professional and clean, no matter how many pet shenanigans you may have going on back there.
How do I change the background in a Webex meeting?
To change your background in a Webex meeting, click on the little down arrow next to the video button. From there, you can pick from a veritable smorgasbord of background options—including blur, some lovely pre-set virtual backgrounds, or your own uploaded image.
How do I blur a video in Webex in a browser?
Blurring your background in the Webex browser app is the same as blurring it in the desktop application. When in a meeting, find the Stop video button, and click the little down arrow to the right. This will bring up a video options menu, where you can select Blur as a background option.
I recommend using the desktop app here, as the browser version has fewer background options, and not all browsers support all video options.
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