Control background replacement in Google Meet with a new Admin setting

What’s changing

We’re adding the ability for admins to enable or disable the use of custom or preset backgrounds in Google Meet for meetings organized by an organizational unit (OU) level.

The setting will determine whether meeting participants can change their background when joining a meeting. For example, when the setting is OFF for the meeting organizer, participants will not have the option to change their background regardless of their own settings. 

Getting started 

  • Admins: This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled at the OU or group level. Note: the “Let users select custom images” option will be disabled by default for Education and Enterprise for Education domains. Visit the Help Center to learn more about controlling whether users can change their backgrounds in Meet. 
In the Google Meet section of the Admin console, within the Meet video settings, you can control whether users can change their backgrounds in Meet.

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Plus, as well as G Suite Basic, Business, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 

Resources