Microsoft Teams is getting animated backgrounds for your meetings

Microsoft is refreshing the backgrounds available in Microsoft Teams and adding in new animated versions. This is the biggest update to virtual backgrounds in Teams since the original collection launched in 2020, with new options to replace the messy room behind you with an idyllic scene.

Initially, these will be a large collection of new still images followed by some animated versions in June. Microsoft is sharing some details on the new still background imagery today, but it looks like we'll have to wait until next month to see how these animated backgrounds compare to those that have been available on rival Zoom for years.

"Featuring all-new images, the reimagined visual library for Teams is thoughtfully designed to represent the people who use them and how they work," the Microsoft design team said in a new blog post today. Are." Let's get to work." "Given the popularity of some of the images, we've noticed that customers are equally excited to be featured in fun and imaginative scenes as they are to be featured in realistic places like a coworking space, office, or home "

There are now six categories of Microsoft Teams backgrounds, including those that focus on wood and light, others that have contemporary backgrounds, and some that feature colorful clouds or mountains. There are even backgrounds that are designed to be accessible and cater to how people on the autism scale may be affected by patterns and materials. These are part of a larger "Related" category that focuses on vision, hearing, mental health, and more.

The new background is rolling out to Microsoft Teams' 300 million monthly active users starting today.