How to Change Microsoft Teams Video Settings

How to Change Your Microsoft Teams Video Settings

Getting your video settings right in Microsoft Teams can make a big difference to how you come across in meetings. Whether you’re dealing with poor lighting, a distracting background, or just want to look more professional on camera, Teams has a range of settings you can adjust.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to configuring your video settings in Teams.

Before a Meeting

You can adjust your video settings before joining a meeting:

1. When you click Join on a meeting invite, you’ll see a preview screen.
2. Use the toggles to turn your camera on or off.
3. Click the Background filters icon (the person icon with sparkles) to choose a background.
4. Select from blur, a default image, or upload your own custom background.

During a Meeting

Already in a meeting? You can still change your settings:

1. Click the three dots (…) in the meeting toolbar.
2. Select Video effects to change your background.
3. Select Settings > Device settings to switch cameras or adjust video quality.

Choosing a Camera

If you have multiple cameras connected (e.g., a laptop webcam and an external USB camera):

1. Go to Settings (gear icon in the top-right corner of Teams).
2. Click Devices.
3. Under Camera, select the device you want to use.
4. You’ll see a preview of the selected camera.

Background Options

Teams offers several background options:

• Blur: Softly blurs your background while keeping you in focus.

• Portrait Blur: A more cinematic depth-of-field effect (available in newer versions of Teams).

• Default images: Microsoft provides a selection of pre-loaded background images.

• Custom images: Upload your own. Recommended size is 1920x1080 pixels in JPG, PNG, or BMP format.

• Video backgrounds: Some versions of Teams now support animated/video backgrounds (requires Teams Premium).

Adjusting Video Quality

Teams automatically adjusts video quality based on your internet connection. However, if you’re experiencing issues:

• Close other apps that might be using bandwidth.

• Use a wired connection instead of WiFi where possible.

• Turn off incoming video if your connection is slow – this reduces bandwidth usage significantly.

• Lower your resolution – go to Settings > Devices and check if there’s an option to limit resolution.

Lighting Tips

Your camera is only as good as your lighting. A few simple tips:

• Face a window or light source – avoid having a bright light behind you.

• Use a ring light or desk lamp if natural light isn’t available.

• Position your camera at eye level – this is more flattering and feels more natural for other participants.

Teams Settings for IT Admins

If you’re an IT admin managing Teams for your organisation, you can control video settings at scale:

• Meeting policies: Control whether users can use video in meetings, enable/disable backgrounds, and set bandwidth limits.

• Device policies: Manage which cameras and peripherals are approved for use.

• Quality of Service (QoS): Prioritise Teams traffic on your network to improve video quality.

Need Help?

If your team is having trouble with video quality in Teams meetings, or if you need help configuring Teams settings across your organisation, get in touch with our team. We help businesses across the UK get the most from their Microsoft Teams environment.

Further reading: Best Practices For Teams Meetings | Teams Tips For Beginners

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