Microsoft releases Teams backgrounds featuring Clippy, Solitaire, MS Paint, and more
You can bring some iconic Microsoft photography into your next Teams meeting with some throwback backgrounds.
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What you need to know
Microsoft released acollection of nostalgic Microsoft Teams backgroundsfor “#ThrowbackThursday.” You can grab background images featuring Clippy, Solitaire, Microsoft Paint, and the default Windows XP wallpaper from the company for free.
Ablog post from Microsoftbreaks down the specific background images. It has some playful jabs at “the true OG virtual assistant,” Clippy, and shares some background on each image.
“You may think Clippy was too persistent, too eager, perhaps even too polite. We like to think that Clippy, the true OG virtual assistant, was just a bit ahead of its time,” says Microsoft.
The company also shot down any hopes of the eager assistant returning to Microsoft 365, “No, Clippy is not a part of Microsoft 365, but regardless, we can only hope that this high-definition portrait of it as your next Teams background will bring some levity to your next meeting.”
We’ve included some of the backgrounds below, but you need to go throughMicrosoftto get high-res versions of them.
Bliss, the default Windows XP wallpaper, has been edited slightly. Microsoft explains that it shifted the shadows, softened the clouds, and added some dandelions in the field. There’s a chance that these changes were made to make the image more functional as a background for video calls.
If you want to use any of the photos in your Teams calls and meetings, make sure to check out our guide onhow to use custom backgrounds in Microsoft Teams.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
