How to enable Microsoft Teams green screen

A green screen is a physical curtain that is placed as a backdrop when recording or streaming a video. Video capture and/or video streaming apps that have a green screen filter are able to pick the green background out from the subject (you) and provide either a blank background or a custom background.

Green screens work great, especially with video, but you don’t necessarily need a green screen to remove the background or add a custom background. Apps are perfectly cable of picking the background out and isolating a subject. A green screen isn’t needed.

Microsoft Teams green screen

Microsoft Teams doesn’t need a green screen. It has a built-in tool for filtering out the background. Users have the option to add a custom background from their desktop. These backgrounds are static images which is the one shortcoming. With a green screen, you can add an animation to the background. 

1. Use Microsoft Teams green screen feature

To use the built-in green screen feature, which doesn’t require an actual green screen, follow these steps..

1. Open Microsoft Teams.
2. Go to Teams and select a channel
3. Start a meeting (or join one). 
4. Enable the webcam and click background filters.
5. Select a background from the presets or add a custom background.
6. Enter the meeting and the background will be applied.

2. Use Microsoft Teams with green screen

If you want to use Microsoft Teams with an actual green screen set-up, you’re going to have to use an app that can filter it and add a custom background in its place. Microsoft Teams will be able to filter out the green like any other background but if that isn’t enough, we recommend combining it with OBS.

Install OBS plugin

In order to use the green screen with OBS, you need to install OBS-VirtualCam plugin from Github. Down and run the EXE to install it. Make sure OBS isn’t open while it is being installed. 

Set up a scene

The plugin will be used to create a virtual camera but you need to set up the scene that will make use of the green screen.. Follow these steps.

1. Open OBS.
2. Add a new scene (or use the default one if you’re not using it for anything).
3. Click the plus button under Sources and select Video Capture Device.
4. Select your webcam and add the source.
5. Click the plus button under Sources again, and select Media source.
6. Select an image or animation or video from your local drive and add it. Enable the Loop option.

7. Once the media source has been added, right-click it and select Filters.
8. In the window that opens, click the plus button under Effect Filters.
9. Select Chroma key and add it.
10. The scene is now set up. 

Use Virtual OBS camera with Microsoft Teams

The scene now needs to be enabled for Microsoft Teams.

1. Open OBS.
2. Go to Tools>VirtualCam.
3. Click Start.
4. Minimize OBS.

5. Open Microsoft Teams.
6. Click your profile at the top right and select Settings.
7. Go to Devices.
8. Open the webcam dropdown.
9. Select OBS Camera.
10. Start a meeting and this background/scene will be used as the camera feed.

Conclusion

Using OBS isn’t necessary with Microsoft Teams unless you have a complicated green screen set up. The scenes will allow you to seamlessly switch between backgrounds whenever you need to and can be an excellent tool for presenting, live seminars, and more.

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Fatima Wahab

Fatima has been writing for AddictiveTips for six years. She began as a junior writer and has been working as the Editor in Chief since 2014. Fatima gets an adrenaline rush from figuring out how technology works, and how to manipulate it. A well-designed app, something that solves a common everyday problem and looks

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