Link to home
Start Free TrialLog in
Avatar of Richard Korts
Richard KortsFlag for United States of America

asked on

Can't get to blur / unblur background option on Zoom

Using Zoom, a technically challenged person has a blurred background. During our last group meeting, one of the others showed me how to get rid of that. Today, as a test I started our normal meeting with just me, I can't find that. It's the setting where the background is blurred. I thought it was obtained by the up arrow on the Video icon (lower left), that shows the attached.


How can I get to that option?


User generated image

Avatar of Scott Fell
Scott Fell
Flag of United States of America image

Are you are on the free service?

On my zoom, signed in with a paid service, the blur background is available. 


User generated image
On place I am reading is saying just to make sure your zoom client is up to date.
Avatar of Richard Korts

ASKER

Scott, on my Backgrounds & Filters it says "None".

I have a paid service, I just upgraded this AM.

Perhaps the upgrade does not take place till reboot, but I KNOW this is not a new feature, it's been around at least a year.

I have to explain how do this to non-tech people a thousand miles away, I cannot assume it will work for them.
Let us know what happens after you reboot
After the above also:

Test what happens when you uncheck "I have a green screen" at the bottom, does it produce an error or restore the blur and other options:

User generated image

Does the (+) sign work in Zoom on the far right to choose or add a custom virtual background photo too instead of blur?

User generated image

It's possible that the computer or system they are on does not support Virtual Backgrounds nor meet the minimum requirements. Do you know their computer model?


It is possible they have not updated Zoom as well as Scott stated also.
I rebooted the computer, same thing. It's a Windows 10, Dell all in one.

I suppose it's possible it does not work on this computer but does on my laptop, I was on the laptop when anther person showed me how to do this.

I can't believe this is sooooooooo complex, everything Zoom is almost intuitive.

Richard
The computer is about 3 months old.
Log into your zoom on the web and go to https://zoom.us/profile/setting

About 2/3's down you should see the option to anable. 
User generated image
There are some minimum requirements though.  If you have an i3 processor, it may not work.  https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360043484511
Scott,

Mine looks like the attached image now (I made no changes). The top two (turned off) are same as you have them.

User generated image
does your computer meet the requirements like is it an i3?

I don't know what an I3 is. I purchased this computer brand new about 3 months ago, June 2021.

I will look at my laptop & get back to you, I think it works there. I have a Zoom meeting there in 10 minutes.

Richard
What is the computer model name or brand? Possibly could look at the specs online and compare what Zoom requires.
I would also recommend double-checking updates for Zoom, Scott had mentioned it first but was unclear if you checked
https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362233-Upgrade-update-to-the-latest-version

Otherwise, yes sounds like a system compatibility problem, or not meeting the requirements for the blur.

Another item I would ensure is that although the computer is new make sure you're not behind on both W10 updates or manufacturer Dell updates too.
In the white windows search box, usually lower left corner, type, "About" and you will see something pop up for About your PC. Click on that and at the top, you will see Device Specifications. Under that is Processor.  

I doubt this is the issue, but it is a possibility to rule out.  The specs from Zoom are showing you need at least a 6th generation i5 or better. (The current version is 11th generation). https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360043484511

I  know you restarted your computer, but did you sign out of Zoom, close it down, open it up and sign back in again?
Scott,

Is this it: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Gold 7505 @ 2.00GHz   2.00 GHz

I checked my laptop, it has the Blur option.

But we are all missing the point. I am trying to help an almost 90 year old man with significant dementia living in an Assisted Living facility, one of the employees there who has some tech experience. If his computer is the same as it was when he lived here, it is Win 10, about 2 1/2 years old. That is the computer I have to try to make work, not my own.

Richard
Hi Richard,

I would have the employee contact you have to help him or jump on a shared call where you can set up a screen share or remote access share again to troubleshoot it with them.  

  • Perhaps have the employee help uninstall, reboot, and reinstall Zoom or have them help submit a Zoom support case on their behalf.
  • It was unclear if updates were checked on his computer also...
  • Is Zoom absolutely required also for him? There are many alternatives to Zoom as well and apps/devices 
    •  My Grandparents in Malaysia are around that age and they always preferred Skype and WhatsApp for video calls from a mobile device
  • RingCentral has blurring as well
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
Avatar of Scott Fell
Scott Fell
Flag of United States of America image

Link to home
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
Start Free Trial