Removing the background image displayed in meetings

Question

Removing the background image displayed in meetings

J. Allyn 40

I'm using Teams version 1416/1.0.0.2025204802/1124 (Calling Version 2025.34.01.9) on a Samsung Galaxy S22 model SM-S901U phone running Android 16 and One UI version 8.0. (all current as of posting)

I can't remove a previously-uploaded background image that now appears in all of my Teams meetings. If I elect to change my background before or during a call, I do not see this image in the list. This image contains a face; switching to no image merely displays the entire image. Switching to Blur displays the face of the image while blurring the rest, and switching to a built-in background image or adding a new image superimposes the face from the original image over the replaced image.

The original photo has already been deleted from my phone's Gallery and Google Photos applications. I've tried uninstalling the Teams app, validating no residual images remain in the Android/data/com.microsoft.teams folder (the folder itself is absent following an uninstall), deleting the cache partition from my phone, and even reinstalling without my work profile to use solely a private account. None of these methods have provided any relief.

This image does not appear when I use Microsoft Teams on other devices or when I connect using the Edge browser on my phone.

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Answer 1

Dear @J. Allyn,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I understand that a background you uploaded in Microsoft Teams on your Galaxy S22 keeps overlaying your video in every meeting, even when you select None, Blur, a built‑in background, or a new image and you’ve already tried clearing caches and reinstalling without success.

To better assistance, could you please confirm following information:

When you last reinstalled Teams, did you install it from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play?

In Teams Settings, do you see a Data and storage (or Storage) section with an option to Clear temporary files?

Are you signed into more than one account in the mobile app (work + personal) when the issue occurs?

In the meantime, I would like to recommend some steps below (no factory reset):

1/ Clear temporary files from inside Teams (if available on your build)

Open Teams > tap your profile picture > Settings > Data and storage (or Storage) > tap Clear temporary files / Clear cache.
Sign out of Teams (still inside the app), then fully close and reopen the app.

2/ Fully refresh Teams and prevent Android from auto‑restoring the bad cache

In Teams, Sign out first.

Go to Android Settings > Apps > Teams > Storage > Clear data and Clear cache.
Uninstall Teams.
Temporarily disable app auto‑restore so Android/Google doesn’t bring the same data back: Settings > System > Backup (or Google > Backup) > turn off App data restore for this device (or delete the latest device backup for Teams).
Reinstall Teams from the Samsung Galaxy Store, sign in, and test backgrounds.

3/ Refresh Android AR/video components used by Teams

Settings > Apps > Google Play Services for AR >→ Storage > Clear cache (and Clear data if shown).
Settings > Apps > Camera > Storage > Clear cache.
Restart the phone, open Teams, and retest background effects.

4/ Update Teams and test with a clean state in a meeting

From the Galaxy Store, check for a Teams update.
Join a meeting with camera off > open Background effects > choose None > Apply > then turn camera on.
If None still shows the ghost image, toggle Blur, then back to None.

Notes:

These steps do not require a factory reset.
No admin permissions are needed; your work account sign‑in is sufficient.
If your organization enforces mobile policies, the Galaxy Store build may behave more reliably on some Samsung models.

Disclaimer: Menu names and options may vary slightly depending on your Teams version, Android build, and One UI version. If you don’t see an option exactly as described, look for similar wording under Settings or Storage.

Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your cooperation.

If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".

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J. Allyn 40 Reputation points

2025-12-01T03:06:24.34+00:00

Thanks for these details Alex. Unfortunately these steps did not result in the picture being removed.

Regarding disabling the App Data Restore, I found that I only had the option to turn off backup for all apps (which I tried.) Below are the answers to your questions.

When you last reinstalled Teams, did you install it from the Samsung Galaxy Store or Google Play? I had been using the Google Play store, however following your instructions I tried the Samsung Galaxy store.

In Teams Settings, do you see a Data and storage (or Storage) section with an option to Clear temporary files? I do have an option within the storage settings of the app to Clear Temporary Files, Clear App Data, and Reset Database. I've tried each.

Are you signed into more than one account in the mobile app (work + personal) when the issue occurs? **I have tried using only my personal account upon installation as well as only my work account, which has three orgs associated with it.

**Thanks again for helping me to explore this one!
J. Allyn 40 Reputation points

2025-12-04T05:48:07.0166667+00:00

@AlexDN any other suggestions?
AlexDN 11,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-09T13:38:13.73+00:00

Dear @J. Allyn,
Thank you for updating. I'm truly sorry for late reply. Based on what you’ve described, the issue is likely not within the Teams app itself, it could be caused by a Samsung feature called Video Call Effects, which can apply a background image system-wide to all video calls.

Please try the following:

Open your phone’s Settings > Advanced Features > Video Call Effects.

If Video Call Effects is enabled, turn it off or select None as the background.

Restart Teams and join a test meeting to confirm the image is gone.

This feature works at the device level, so even if you clear Teams’ cache or reinstall the app, the image can persist until Video Call Effects is disabled. Once you turn it off, Teams should behave normally when you select “None” or “Blur.”

If the issue persists, I suggest asking your IT administrator to raise a support ticket through the Microsoft Admin Center

I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you.

Thank you for your cooperation.
J. Allyn 40 Reputation points

2025-12-09T19:53:45.04+00:00

Confirming this was related to the Video Effects settings on my device and not Teams-specific. In hindsight I wish I had tried another videoconferencing application to isolate the issue. Thanks for the help resolving this despite it not being a Microsoft concern!
AlexDN 11,065 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-09T23:39:46.2333333+00:00

Dear @J. Allyn,
Thank you for sharing your feedback. Every insight you give makes this community stronger and more welcoming. Your voice helps others feel supported and find solutions faster. We truly appreciate you being part of this journey with us.

Answer 2

To remove a previously-uploaded background image in Microsoft Teams, you can try the following steps:

Check Background Settings: Ensure that you are in the Teams app and navigate to the settings for background effects. Sometimes, the image may still be cached or stored in the app settings.
Clear Cache: Since you've already uninstalled the app, make sure to clear the cache for Teams again after reinstalling it. This can sometimes help in removing residual data.
Delete Backgrounds from App: If the image is still appearing, you can try to delete any custom backgrounds from the Teams app itself. Navigate to the settings and look for options related to background images.
Factory Reset the Device: If all else fails, as a last resort, consider performing a factory reset on your device. This should be done with caution as it will erase all data on the device.
Contact Support: If the issue persists, you may want to reach out to Microsoft Support for further assistance, as there may be a bug or issue specific to your device or Teams version.

Since the image does not appear on other devices or browsers, it indicates that the issue is likely isolated to the app on your specific device.

References:

J. Allyn 40 Reputation points

2025-11-30T05:27:34.99+00:00

Regarding AI response:

The cached image is the entire reason for my post.

The app's cache as well as the OS's entire cache partition have been cleared.

I cannot delete this background as indicated directly in my post.

I wish to resolve without a factory reset.

This forum is my attempt at leveraging Microsoft Support.

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Removing the background image displayed in meetings

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