M365 Changelog: (Updated) Animated Backgrounds in Teams Meetings

MC578280 – Updated September 21, 2023: Microsoft has updated the timeline below. Thank you for your patience.

The animated background feature in Teams Meetings allows users to replace their existing background with a dynamic animation for a more immersive virtual environment. It offers various options to enhance meeting experience with creativity and personalization according to users’ preferences. Currently, only pre-defined backgrounds from Microsoft are supported. Animated backgrounds are identified by the small video icon in the bottom-left corner of the preview picture.  

This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 122513

When this will happen: 

Targeted Release: We will begin rolling out in mid-June and expect to complete rollout by late June. 

Public Preview: We will begin rolling out in mid-June and expect to complete rollout by late June. 

Standard Release and GCC: We will begin rolling out in early July and expect to complete rollout by mid-September 2023 (previously late July). 

GCC-High and DoD: We will begin rolling out in late September and expect to complete rollout by late October. 

How this will affect your organization: 

Users can go to the pre-join screen before the meeting start > Effects and Avatars > Video effects and select a new animated background. Animated backgrounds can be identified by the little video symbol in the bottom left corner of the preview picture. 

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Users can also change animated backgrounds when they start a meeting and go to More in meeting toolbar > Effects and Avatars > Select an animated background. 

• Animated backgrounds are not available on low-end devices and require at least 8 GB RAM, CPU with 4 logical processors. 
• Only pre-defined backgrounds from Microsoft are currently supported.  
• Using more video filters might slow down background animation, in case of high machine workload.

What you need to do to prepare: 

No preparation is needed. You may want to update your training materials indicating that animated backgrounds are now supported Teams meetings.