By now, you’ve probably been on roughly a million Zoom calls, and you’re getting heartily sick of looking at your bookshelves or kitchen cupboards in the background. You may have even looked on in envy as other people on the call sat in front of gorgeous photos of far-away locales.
If you want to spruce up your Zoom background, tourism boards, hotels and other organizations around the world are only too happy to share pictures of their most photogenic places, which are yours to use on Zoom for free. (They’re also a fun way to virtually travel to the places we’re not allowed to visit at the minute.)
Once you’ve downloaded one of these photos (via the links to the sites below each photo), here’s how you put them in the background of your Zoom call while you’re in a meeting. Note: These instructions are for desktop and laptop versions of the Zoom app; the process is slightly different on a phone or tablet.
- Click the “up” arrow (it looks like a small triangle) to the right of the “Start Video” icon in the lower left corner.
- In the window that opens, click “Choose a Virtual Background,” then click the plus sign (+) to upload the picture from your computer.
- Now, click on the thumbnail of your uploaded image (near the bottom of the window) to make it your virtual background.
- When (or if!) you want to go back to your real-world background, click the square marked “None.”
If you have trouble, it may be because your computer doesn’t have enough memory or the right software to run a background. For troubleshooting advice, go to Zoom’s help page.
Note that I’ve saved the photos below at a fairly low resolution so the page will open more quickly, but the versions available on the websites are much crisper.
OK, enough tech talk! Onwards to the pretty Zoom backgrounds!
Australia: Kangaroos on the beach
Could there be anything more Aussie than this shot of kangaroos bouncing down a beach on Lucky Bay in Esperance, Western Australia? This photo is just one of many stunning backgrounds you can download from the Tourism Australia website. For something a bit less stereotypical but even more gorgeous, check out the shots on that site of Mount Amos in Tasmania or Byron Bay in New South Wales.
Bermuda: Front Street, Hamilton
This colourful scene along Front Street in Hamilton, Bermuda, is one of many Zoom backgrounds available on the Bermuda Tourism Authority website. In normal times, the street hosts a Harbour Nights festival on Wednesday nights in summer, with dancers, food vendors and live music.
British Columbia: Mountainous Zoom background
Not surprisingly, the Destination B.C. website is packed with jaw-dropping photos of Canada’s westernmost province. This Zoom background comes from the Vancouver Coast & Mountains travel area.
Ireland: Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge
I’ve actually walked across this heart-stopping bridge in County Antrim, Northern Ireland—but my photos aren’t nearly as good as this one! Salmon fishermen built the Carrick-a-Rede rope bridge in 1755 to connect the mainland to a tiny island nearby. This picture is one of several photos from across the island of Ireland (both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland) at the Tourism Ireland website.
New Zealand: Sea lions near Dunedin
Seriously, all of the photos in New Zealand Tourism’s Zoom background gallery are lovely. I had trouble choosing, but I can never resist cute animals. So here you go: sea lions near Dunedin.
Rome: Vicolo Orbitelli
Maybe you’d like to convince your co-workers that you live in a posh Italian villa? Then you could upload this Zoom background of the terrace of Vicolo Orbitelli, an apartment overlooking St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, courtesy of the upscale vacation rental site One Fine Stay. The site also has pix of ritzy digs in Sydney, New York, Paris and elsewhere.
San Francisco: Painted Ladies
This scene of beautifully painted Victorian houses facing Alamo Square, with the downtown skyline in the background, is one of the most-photographed sites in San Francisco. Locally, the homes are known as the Painted Ladies. Check out the San Francisco Travel Association’s website for other great photos of the City by the Bay.
Toronto: The skyline as Zoom background
Missing the bright lights of Canada’s biggest city? Tourism Toronto comes to the rescue with this glittering Zoom background of T.O. Several others are available on the Tourism Toronto website, including pictures of City Hall and of blooming cherry trees.
Winnipeg: Esplanade Riel and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights
When we can travel again, DO visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg. The exhibits are thought provoking and the building is architecturally stunning. In the meantime, enjoy this background featuring the Esplanade Riel pedestrian footbridge and the museum (on the right). You can download this Zoom background and others—including shots with bison and a polar bear—on the Tourism Winnipeg website.
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