With Zoom video calls, your computer’s main camera displays you and your surroundings. That’s fine if you want to appear as yourself in your normal office, bedroom, or kitchen. But that’s boring. Instead, add some spice to your appearance and backgrounds with the Snap camera app.
Made by the company behind Snapchat, this app offers you a variety of fun filters that add effects to your face and background, from simple add-ons to those that change your entire appearance. A few will even transform your face and background.
Snap Camera is available as a dedicated program, so you can set it up on your PC. By using Snap Camera and Zoom at the same time, you can experiment with a variety of different filters, and your appearance changes in Zoom for everyone else on the call to see and enjoy. Here’s how to set it up.
Set Up Snap Camera
If you don’t already have it, download and install the Zoom Client for Meetings software. Next, download and install the Snap Camera app. Open the Snap Camera app to see yourself in the camera viewer. Find the filter you wish to use by browsing among the different categories or searching for them by typing a term in the Search field.
After you’ve settled on a filter, open Zoom and join a meeting. At the video screen, change the camera source that Zoom will use. Click the arrow next to the Start Video button and select Snap Camera to switch from the default camera for the app.
Now click Start Video to turn your video on, and you should see your face with your current Snap filter already applied. Remember that everyone in the meeting will also be able to see your filter.
Change Filters
You can then change the filter anytime during the Zoom meeting. You may want to position the Snap Camera app next to the Zoom app so it's easier to handle. Click a different filter in Snap Camera, and your face in Zoom will change to take on that appearance.
To return to your normal appearance and background, close the Snap Camera app to turn off Snap Camera altogether. Return to your Zoom video window, click the arrow next to the Video button again, and switch the source back to your main camera.
Start Snap Camera on Startup
If you want the Snap Camera filters to be available every time you start your computer, open the Snap Camera app and click the Settings icon in the upper right. Turn on the switch that says Run Snap Camera on System Startup.
Now the app will automatically start up when you sign in to Windows, ensuring that everything is ready to liven up your appearance for your next Zoom call.