How to Use Virtual Backgrounds for Google Meet Extension

In Google Meet, users can replace the actual background of a video with a virtual one without a green screen. Learn how to set a Google Meet virtual background.

Video calling usage is on the rise. Almost every company and organization around the world is switching to video calling tools such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet to conduct digital meetings and conferences. Google Meet is the new entrant, and the search giant recently made Google Meet free for all. While you don't need to download and install an app on your computer, you can use virtual backgrounds to make your surroundings appear a bit different than the rest of the participants.

Google Meet is one of the most popular video conferencing platforms that is widely used for enterprise meetings. The service is fairly easy to use and does not come with a time limit on group calls. And while it offers a number of interesting features for enterprise meetings, it does not offer the “Virtual Background” feature. The virtual background feature essentially allows users to display an image or a video in place of the actual background during video calls. The feature is especially helpful when you are video conferencing in a messy room. The feature is starting to gain popularity among users and is also available on WebEx for iOS.

HOW TO USE VIRTUAL BACKGROUNDS in GOOGLE MEET EXTENSION

As I mentioned earlier, you can use extensions from the Chrome web store to power up Google Meet experience. To add virtual backgrounds during calls in Google Meet, we will use the Virtual Background extension. Follow the steps below to enable the function in Google Meet.

Visit the Chrome Web Store and search for Virtual background in the search bar.
You will find Virtual background for Google Meet at the top. Download and install the extension on Google Chrome browser. (You can also use this extension or any extension from the Chrome Web Store to other Chromium-based browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, and more).

Download Virtual backgrounds for Google Meet

After successful installation, navigate to Google Meet on the web to create meetings.
Tap on start meeting and select Join now to start the video preview.
Tap on the Virtual background extension above and enable the extension.

The extension will offer a bunch of ready-to-go backgrounds to use during meetings. Tap on the relevant one, and you will see a live virtual background during Google Meet meetings.

The experience is far from perfect — check the screenshot above. If you move your face a lot, then you will notice the video background distorting your video view during a meeting.