Zoom Fatigue, it's real!

@Erinmfs I'm on zoom along also but what zip do is turn off my video

I do that too, but I feel rude if I turn off my video. I joined a class out of Baltimore one time recently, so many people peering at me that I never met, I felt uncomfortable and turned off my video.

Erinmfs I've got to check spelling before I send out glad you could interpret lol.New tablet

@Erinmfs, I use Zoom weekly, sometimes a couple of times a week. My basement office is not the best so when it's really bad I just use a Zoom virtual background. It's really easy to use. Others also just choose to not allow or stop the video for the Zoom session and just participate by listening and enabling the Audio when needed to speak.

Virtual Background - https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/210707503-Virtual-Background

@johnbishop Thank you for that link! I hadn't found that link in help, I had enabled the virtual backgrounds like it said. I went through the instructions again to enable a virtual background and found some different settings from before. I'm still not happy with the results, I think my lighting in my room is bad.

@Erinmfs - Lighting can be a problem especially if it's a ceiling light directly above your head or center of the room like in most rooms. I found a clip-on LED ring light for my desktop monitor that works really well and lets you step through a few shades of white color and brightness so you show up better on the screen. Mine is similar to this one except this one also comes with a stand if you don't want to clip it to the display on your computer.
https://www.amazon.com/MACTREM-YouTube-Photography-Streaming-Brightness/dp/B08F36R7Y1/

my Zoom is telling me that "A Solid color video background is required. Green color is preferred." I added a bright light, and used the San Franscico background, and the background is picking up my face, and showing the room? My room has neutral paint and I'm wearing a neutral sweater. Zoom thinks my face is the background. I've never been able to get those virtual backgrounds to work for me?

The lighting is probably causing the issue. I've had similar problems before I fixed my lighting issue with the ring light.

"Ensure there's enough light in the room otherwise your virtual background might sometimes blend with your real background. Move closer to the window or turn on all the lights." More suggestions and help here:
-- Troubleshooting Zoom Virtual Background Issues: https://www.technipages.com/troubleshooting-zoom-virtual-background-issues

Are your settings set to use a green screen? Some people use a physical green screen behind them then tell the settings you are using a green screen. Then when you add a virtual background your face, hands and the rest of you show up with the virtual background behind you. --- YouTube video explanation:

John- What kind of ring light did you buy? When I'm on zoom I'm sitting in front of a window that faces west. My hair looks black with red highlights. That is not the color of my hair. I'd appreciate any help.

Hi Merry @merpreb - I bought one similar to this one - https://www.amazon.com/MACTREM-YouTube-Photography-Streaming-Brightness/dp/B08F36R7Y1/ except mine didn't include a stand it just clips to the top of my monitor. I had a larger ring light before with a tall stand but it was hard to get behind my monitor and fit on my desk/table. They have some cheaper ones that you don't need a USB cable except for recharging them and the clip is the bottom half of the ring light.