Virtual Backgrounds

Let's get into the details of virtual backgrounds.

Enable virtual backgrounds

Virtual backgrounds are automatically enabled in your Dialpad Meetings app — no need to modify any settings. Just sit back and find your favorite background!

Admins can also control their team's ability to use custom backgrounds by updating the team settings. 

1. Click the Menu button on the Dialpad Meetings dashboard (thats the 3 horizontal stripes)
2. Select "Team"
3. Toggle on (it will turn purple) 'Allow virtual backgrounds during video meetings'

Use virtual backgrounds

Once the virtual backgrounds have been enabled, Dialpad Meetings provides several options: 

• Remove background
• Apply blur
• Surprise me!
  • Selects a random virtual background from all available options.
  • It will be different for each meeting. 
• Add your own custom background image
• Choose from our backgrounds
  • Admin-uploaded backgrounds
  • Stock backgrounds
  • User-uploaded backgrounds

Once selected, the background reflects behind your silhouette.

Custom team backgrounds

If you're on a paid Business Plan, Admins can enable custom backgrounds, allowing you to upload company-branded backgrounds for everyone at the company to use. This gives employees a professional option that also promotes your company's brand!

Head to your Team Settings and enable 'Allow custom backgrounds during video meetings' (it's enabled by default).

Select Choose File to upload your photo from within the Team settings and it will be available for your entire time.

Once you have enabled a virtual background, all of the participants will get a video stream with the selected background.

Custom personal backgrounds

If permitted by your Team Admin, Users can upload their own image to use as a virtual background. 

Admins must first go into the Team Settings and tick the checkbox beside 'Allow team members to upload custom virtual backgrounds'

To add your own custom background, select More from your Meeting's bottom bar menu. 

1. Select Change video background
2. Select Add New 
3. Upload your desired background

Frequently asked questions

What platforms support virtual backgrounds?

• Chrome 94 and above only
• Dialpad Meetings native app

When I use virtual backgrounds, the CPU shoots up, how can I resolve it?

Virtual background is a CPU-heavy feature. Depending on the machine you’re using, the CPU may shoot up. Here are different ways to debug it:

• Ensure that no CPU heavy applications are open
• Close unused tabs from your browser

If the issue isn’t resolved, then it’s best to disable virtual backgrounds.

My video flickers and sometimes has a green tint. What should I do?

This is a known issue in Google Chrome for Windows machines. Please ensure you are using the latest version of Google Chrome. 

I can’t see the virtual background option. Why?

If your machine is not compatible with virtual backgrounds, we automatically hide the feature. 

Here are some of those scenarios that could prohibit you from using virtual backgrounds:

• Any browser apart from Google Chrome v94 and above
• Mobile apps
• Blacklisted GPU by browsers

If you are unable to access the virtual background features, first, ensure you are not using any browser except for Google Chrome 94+ or the native Dialpad Meetings app. Even mobile apps are not yet supported. 

If the virtual background still does not work, go to  this site, and verify that WebGL 2 is supported and that the Major Performance Caveat displays as "no"

If it mentions 'not supported', then there is a good chance that your hardware is either not powerful enough or your GPU is blacklisted. In this situation, it is better to upgrade your hardware. If it mentions WebGL 2 supported and still the virtual background does not work, contact our support team.  

Why have my virtual backgrounds stopped working?

Due to an issue with Google Chrome v116, the virtual backgrounds feature may not work as expected. Fortunately, it's an easy fix! 

1. Update Google Chrome to the latest version
2. Restart your machine

If the issue persists, avoid using a virtual background. This issue will be fixed by Google Chrome v117.

Why is my camera stream flipped, or upside-down? 

Due to an issue with Google Chrome v116, the virtual background camera stream may appear upside-down or flipped. Fortunately, this is an easy fix! 

1. Update Google Chrome to the latest version
2. Restart your machine

If the issue persists, avoid using a virtual background. This issue will be fixed by Google Chrome v117.