Video calling apps were never as employed as they are these days in, what seems, a never-ending global pandemic. Many users rely on third-party services but there was always a search for a service Android users can default to, like iOS users mostly use FaceTime. At the moment, that place is reserved by Google Duo. Today, we made sure to explain how to go an extra step with your video calls and blur the background in Google Duo on Android.
Have in mind that the Portrait mode is available only on Pixel and newer Samsung devices. Learn how to use it below.
How do I change my video call background?
There are many benefits in cooperation between Samsung and Google considering that the former is probably the best hardware manufacturer and the latter provides the best software experience. That way, Samsung phones got some features that were, initially, Pixel exclusives.
Because of that, the Portrait mode in Google Pixel works on recent Samsung devices, too. What this mode does is quite self-explanatory. It blurs the background in your video calls so you don’t have to worry about your surroundings. This a great way to keep your privacy and avoid rushing to clean your room before that important call comes in.
To enable this feature on Pixel devices along with Auto-framing (Auto-framing centers you in the middle of the screen even if you move during video calls), tap on the screen during video calls and toggle it on.
On Samsung devices, however, you’ll need to navigate to system settings and enable this option there. Here’s how to enable Video call effects on your Samsung Galaxy device:
- Open Settings.
- Select Advanced options.
- Toggle on Video call effects. Tap on it to tweak settings.
- Now, once you make a video call, an on-screen bubble will appear with options to blur the background.
- In addition, you can also set a solid background color or set a green-screen-like custom background image which is very cool.
This nifty option alone made me appreciate Google Duo on my Samsung more. Along with some other features like the one that limits mobile data usage. Duo integration to Google Chrome on my PC is solid, too.
On the other hand, the Video call effects feature doesn’t only offer an option to blur the background in Google Duo. It applies to a few other video-calling apps, so if you prefer Google Meet or Zoom, you can use them there, as well.
What’s your favorite video-calling app these days? Tell us in the comments section below or reach us on Twitter and Facebook. Thank you for reading and we look forward to hearing from you.
Editor’s note: This article was initially published in January 2022. We made sure to revamp it for freshness and accuracy.
