Google Meet is adding a new feature that will make every meeting more comfortable for you. The new Background Blur feature will blur out your background during a conference call, so you don’t have to worry if your surrounding is messy or not the appropriate setting for an important call.
The tech giant company, Google, announced in June this year that they are adding the background blur along with other new features in Google Meet. Now, they are rolling it out to their users globally. This feature has been around for sometime on videoconferencing tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams.
How Does the Background Blur Work on Google Meet
When enabled, the Background blur will blur out the environment surrounding the subject. It will focus on the subject alone and keep it clear, much like in a portrait mode. There is no need to install any software or add an extension to use the feature. The Background Blur will be available on Chrome browsers both on Windows and Mac. Google is yet to announce when it is rolling out on mobile devices and ChromeOS.
Add and Use Google Meet Background Blur Feature
To start using the Background Blur on Google Meet, you need to turn it on manually. There is no admin control, so anyone can turn it on or off.
- Launch Zoom and join or start a meeting.
- At the bottom right, click the More button or the three-dotted icon.
- Select Turn on Background Blur.
Unfortunately, Google offers a warning that the blurring your background may slow down your device. So, only try to turn the feature on when necessary or when you don’t need to open other apps.
Other Added Features on Google Meet
Aside from the Background Blur, Google Meet is also adding new features. If you don’t like any noise distraction during your call, you can make use of the noise reduction feature.
Google Meet is also adding a new Tile Layout, where you can view all the participants in a tiled layout. This feature helps improve your video calling experience, where you can see each person right in front of you. The new Tile Layout will support up to 49 participants at once. By default, it will show 16 participants. You can change it to 49.
Are you excited to try the new features of Google Meet? Let us know what you think by dropping us a comment below.
