Where Does Microsoft Teams Store Custom Backgrounds?
Teams custom backgrounds folders on Windows and Mac, classic Uploads path versus the new client cache.
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Teams stores custom backgrounds on disk and the path moved between generations. Classic Teams uses %APPDATA%/Microsoft/Teams/Backgrounds/Uploads. New Teams uses a Packages MSTeams LocalCache tree with its own Uploads folder.
Uploading inside a call is the reliable route on both. It writes files plus thumbnails correctly. Manual drops need a matching thumb file or the image stays invisible. Mac classic builds use Library Application Support instead. Scripts suit fleet rollouts across many machines.
Where Microsoft Teams stores this, by platform
%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Teams\Backgrounds\Uploads
Classic Uploads in Roaming, new client Uploads under Packages MSTeams LocalCache. Manual files need matching thumbs. In app upload avoids the split.
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams/Backgrounds/Uploads
Classic Mac path under Library Application Support. New Teams on Mac manages uploads internally, so prefer in app upload there.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add a custom background by hand?
Drop the JPG or PNG into the Uploads folder for your client generation, then pick it from background effects in a call. New Teams needs a matching thumb file beside it. Restart Teams if the image does not appear.
Which folder does my Teams version use?
Classic uses Roaming Microsoft Teams Backgrounds Uploads. New Teams uses Packages MSTeams LocalCache Microsoft MSTeams Backgrounds Uploads. Uploading in app works on both and avoids path guessing.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.