Background blur
How to blur your background in a video call
In a Meeto call in Chrome or Edge, open More, choose Settings & devices and select Blur under Camera background. Everyone sees your face sharp and the room behind you softened. You can also pick a built-in scene or upload up to five of your own images. On iPhone the app offers blur; the Android app has no background effects.
How do I blur my background in Meeto?
The background control lives in the call's settings, next to your camera and microphone choices. It takes three clicks and stays on for later calls.
- Open the settings. On a computer, in Chrome or Edge, select More in the toolbar and choose Settings & devices. You can also open the small arrow beside the camera button and choose All settings & devices. On a phone browser, open the ⋯ menu and choose Settings.
- Go to Camera background. The section shows a live preview of your camera and a row of tiles. Hover a tile to see its name.
- Select Blur. Select the Blur tile. Your preview changes first, then everyone else sees the same picture within a moment.
- Check the edges. Sit facing a light source and keep your head and shoulders in frame; segmentation is most accurate with even light and a steady camera.
- Switch it off with None. Select the None tile to show your real background again. The choice is saved in this browser and applied again when you join your next meeting.
Which devices can blur the background?
Background effects need a browser that can process video frames on the device. Where that is missing, the Camera background section says so instead of showing the tiles.
| Device | What is available |
|---|---|
| Computer, Chrome or Edge | Blur, four built-in scenes and up to five of your own images. |
| Android phone, browser | The same effects as on a computer, if the phone is fast enough. |
| Safari on iPhone | No effects: the section says they aren't available in this browser. Use the iPhone app for blur. |
| iPhone app | Blur only. Turn it on in Device settings before joining, or in the call under ⋯ → Settings → Camera background. |
| Android app | No background effects. Join from Chrome on the same phone if you need blur. |
Guests choose their own effects; the host cannot turn blur on or off for someone else. Blur affects only your camera, not a screen you share.
Can I use a virtual background instead of blur?
Yes. Next to Blur the web app offers four scenes, named Home, Office, Dark and Library, and an Upload your own image tile.
Your own images
Upload a JPEG, PNG, WebP or HEIC picture up to 10 MB. You can keep up to five; to add a sixth, delete one with Delete background.
Stored on this device
Your images stay in this browser. Upload them again on another computer or browser if you want them there.
Pick a calm image
A plain, slightly dark picture without text reads better on small screens and makes the edges around your hair less noticeable.
Read what a virtual background is for how the effect works and why it sometimes clips a hand or a headset.
Does blur hide everything behind me?
Not always. Blur works by finding the person in each frame and softening the rest, and that estimate can slip for a moment.
- Movement. When you turn quickly or stand up, a strip of the room can show for a split second around your outline.
- Objects you hold. A mug, a document or a hand raised to the camera may be blurred with the background or shown sharply with you.
- Sound. Blur changes the picture only. People and televisions in the room can still be heard; use mute or noise suppression for that.
Do not rely on blur to hide a whiteboard with confidential notes or a document on the wall. Turn the camera away or move to another spot, and check your preview in the settings before others join. The video meeting privacy guide lists other checks for a private call.
What happens if the computer cannot keep up?
Blur is processed many times per second on your device. On an older or busy computer that can slow the whole call. Meeto never falls back to showing your real room without telling you: if the effect stops, your camera is paused and a message explains why.
- Your background effect stopped to save CPU — camera paused to keep your room private appears when the device is overloaded.
- Choose Try effect again to restart it, or Turn on without background to show your camera without the effect for this call.
- If an image background fails to load, Meeto uses blur instead and says so.
Closing other tabs and video apps usually helps. If the call itself is choppy, see how to fix a laggy video call; for a camera that does not start at all, see camera or microphone not working.
Frequently asked questions
Is background blur free?
Yes. Blur, the built-in scenes and your own background images work on every plan, including Free, and for guests without an account.
Can I blur my background before I join?
In the iPhone app, yes: open Device settings in the lobby and turn on Blur. In the browser the control is inside the call, under Settings. Meeto remembers the effect for your next call in the same browser, so you only choose it once.
Can I change how strong the blur is?
No. Meeto uses one blur strength chosen to hide the room while keeping your outline natural. If you want the room fully hidden, choose a scene or one of your own images instead.
Does Meeto upload my camera or my background image?
The effect is calculated on your device before the video is sent, and your own background images are stored in this browser only. They are not added to your account and do not appear on your other devices.
Try your first browser meeting
Create a room, share the link and invite someone to join you.