# updateVirtualBackgroundList Method Not Adding Custom Backgrounds in Zoom SDK

**URL:** <https://devforum.zoom.us/t/updatevirtualbackgroundlist-method-not-adding-custom-backgrounds-in-zoom-sdk/120603>\
**Category:** Meeting SDK\
**Tags:** sdk\
**Created:** [November 8, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/updatevirtualbackgroundlist-method-not-adding-custom-backgrounds-in-zoom-sdk/120603 "2024-11-08T13:58:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![zoom.isv1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b19c9b/32.png) [@zoom.isv1](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/zoom.isv1)\
**Post date:** [November 8, 2024, 1:58pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/updatevirtualbackgroundlist-method-not-adding-custom-backgrounds-in-zoom-sdk/120603/1 "2024-11-08T13:58:57Z")

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I am experiencing an issue with the Zoom Web Meeting SDK while trying to use the `updateVirtualBackgroundList` method to add custom virtual backgrounds during a session. The method appears to be called successfully, but the custom backgrounds are not reflected in the virtual background list (`vbList`). Here is a detailed breakdown of the issue:

1. **SDK Version** : Please specify the version you are using, e.g., Zoom Web Meeting SDK version “@zoom/meetingsdk”: “^3.8.10”,
2. **Reproduction Steps** :

- Initialize the Zoom Meeting SDK.
- Join a meeting using the `join()` method.
- Attempt to add a custom virtual background using the `updateVirtualBackgroundList()` method.

1. **Code Snippet** :  
const addCustomBackground = () =\> {  
const customBackground = [  
{  
id: ‘customBackground\_’ + Date.now(), // Ensure unique ID  
fileName: ‘WeWork\_CommonArea\_Kitchen-1440x810.jpg’,  
displayName: ‘WeWork\_CommonArea\_Kitchen’,  
url: ‘/ideas/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2020/04/WeWork\_CommonArea\_Kitchen-1440x810.jpg’  
}  
];

// Check if virtual background is supported  
if (!client.isSupportVirtualBackground()) {  
console.warn(‘Virtual backgrounds are not supported on this browser or device.’);  
return;  
}

// Update virtual background list  
client.updateVirtualBackgroundList(customBackground).then(() =\> {  
console.log(‘Custom background added successfully’);  
// Fetch and log the updated vbList  
const updatedVbStatus = client.getVirtualBackgroundStatus();  
console.log(‘Updated Virtual Background Status:’, updatedVbStatus);  
}).catch(error =\> {  
if (error.type === ‘INVALID\_OPERATION’) {  
console.error(‘Unable to load virtual background model:’, error.reason);  
} else {  
console.error(‘Error adding custom background:’, error);  
}  
});  
};  
4. **Expected Behavior** :

- The custom background should be added to the virtual background list and appear as an option for users.

1. **Actual Behavior** :

- The background is not being added to the list. The `vbList` only contains the default backgrounds (e.g., blur, SanFrancisco, etc.).
- The console log indicates that the custom background was “successfully” added, but it does not show up in the virtual background settings.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![zoom.isv1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b19c9b/32.png) [@zoom.isv1](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/zoom.isv1)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 6:31am UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/updatevirtualbackgroundlist-method-not-adding-custom-backgrounds-in-zoom-sdk/120603/2 "2024-11-15T06:31:39Z")

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@donte.zoom kindly check above issue.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![donte.zoom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/devforum.zoom.us/donte.zoom/32/24412_2.png) [@donte.zoom](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/donte.zoom)\
**Post date:** [November 15, 2024, 12:55pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/updatevirtualbackgroundlist-method-not-adding-custom-backgrounds-in-zoom-sdk/120603/3 "2024-11-15T12:55:10Z")

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Thank you for posting in the developer forum – I am happy to help here. It seems like you may be encountering issues with leveraging the virtual background method for the web meeting SDK. Is that correct? If so, could you please provide a screenshot of what you’re seeing in the console after successfully adding the virtual background?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![John36](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/devforum.zoom.us/john36/32/52977_2.png) [@John36](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/John36)\
**Post date:** [December 5, 2025, 11:14am UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/updatevirtualbackgroundlist-method-not-adding-custom-backgrounds-in-zoom-sdk/120603/4 "2025-12-05T11:14:55Z")

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Hey @donte.zoom

If we are using the import {ZoomMtg} from ‘@zoom/meetingsdk’ [“@zoom/meetingsdk”: “^3.13.2”]

Can we update the background image programmatically?

Also if I directly try changing the earth.jpg[replace my custom jpg as earth.jpg] it still takes the default earth.jpg

Kindly please suggest how I can add custom bg here