Crowdcast doesn’t yet have built-in virtual backgrounds, but these alternatives can help in the meantime.
Mac Users
On macOS 15 or later, webcam effects and background features are built directly into the system — no additional software required.
At the top of your screen, click the green camera icon.
Enable Portrait to blur your background, or click the icon next to Background to use a virtual background.
Click the background thumbnail to swap to any other background, including custom images.
PC Users
Built-in background effects (Windows 11 with supported hardware)
Windows 11 includes background effects on devices with a Neural Processing Unit (NPU).
Open Settings and go to Bluetooth & devices → Cameras.
Select your webcam, then click Open camera settings.
Under Background effects, choose Blur to soften your background, or Replace (if available) to use a virtual background image.
Setting up a virtual webcam (all Windows users)
If your device doesn't support Windows Studio Effects — or you need more advanced features — use a third-party virtual webcam tool.
Step 1: Install a virtual webcam tool
Choose one based on your needs:
OBS Studio – Best for advanced streaming, scenes, and media
ManyCam / vMix – Great for mixing video sources and presentations
Airtime / YouCam / LogiCapture – Ideal for backgrounds, effects, and simple enhancements
NVIDIA Broadcast – AI-powered background removal (NVIDIA GPUs only)
Step 2: Configure your virtual webcam
Open your chosen software.
Set up your scene — add your camera, any media (slides, videos, images), and apply backgrounds or effects.
Enable the virtual camera output (usually a Start Virtual Camera button).
Step 3: Select the virtual webcam in Crowdcast
Enter your Crowdcast event's greenroom.
Open AV controls.
Select your virtual webcam (e.g., "OBS Virtual Camera") as your camera source.
Step 4: Test your setup
Preview your video in the greenroom.
Confirm audio and visuals are working correctly.
Make any adjustments before going live.
Tips
Close unused apps to avoid camera conflicts — only one app can control your camera at a time.
Always test in the greenroom before starting your session.
On Windows, if the virtual camera doesn't appear in Crowdcast, restart your browser after enabling it.