# Who gets swapped in a video: main people, background and extras

> How vswp decides who is swapped in a video, why the main people come first, what the background group is, and how to replace just one person.

Source: https://vswp.app/guides/who-gets-swapped-in-a-video/ · Updated 2026-10-18

In an AI video swap, only the people you give a photo to are replaced; everyone else stays exactly as in the original. [vswp](/) finds the people in your clip and makes a card for each: the main people come first, and people seen briefly or far away are grouped as the background. To swap just one person, put a photo on that one card and leave the rest empty.

## How does vswp decide who is in the video?

When you pick a video from Trends or upload your own, vswp searches it for people. For an upload, the search runs automatically on the first 30 seconds, usually takes a couple of minutes, and is free. In a longer video you can choose another part of up to 30 seconds, and the cards then follow the people in that part.

Each person found gets a card with a picture of them from the clip. The cards come in a set order:

- **Main people first.** The people who are on screen longest and largest are at the top, so the person you most likely want is near the start of the list.
- **The background last.** People seen only for a moment or far from the camera are grouped together as the background, instead of each getting a card of their own.

Trends work the same way, except the people are already found, so you can go straight to the photos.

## Who is a main person and who is background?

It depends on how the person appears in the part you chose, not on who they are. The same person can be a main person in one part of a video and background in another.

| Usually a main person | Usually background |
|---|---|
| On screen for much of the part | Appears for a moment, then leaves |
| Large in the frame, face visible | A small figure far from the camera |
| Clearly separate from others | One face in a crowd or audience |
| Sharp, in decent light | Blurred, in the dark or moving fast |

A person you care about can end up in the background group because of how they were filmed. If that happens, the fix is usually a different part of the video, not a different photo. See [how to pick the best 30 seconds of a long video](/guides/pick-the-best-30-seconds/).

## How do you swap only one person?

1. **Open the video** from Trends, or upload your own: 1 to 120 seconds, up to 150 MB.
2. **Find the right card.** Play the clip once and compare each card's picture with the person you want, especially if two people look alike or wear similar clothes.
3. **Add one photo** to that card: one person per photo, sharp, in good light, as JPEG, PNG or WebP.
4. **Leave every other card empty.** Those people keep their faces, clothes and moves from the original.
5. **Check the price and start.** The app shows the estimated time and the price before you start.

That's all a solo swap needs. The friend dancing next to you, the bartender behind you and the crowd at the back all stay as they were.

## Can you swap several people, but not everyone?

Yes. A video takes up to 6 different photos, so you can cast any mix: two friends in a five-person scene, or the main couple while their friends stay. Put each photo on the card of the person it should replace, and look over all the cards before you start, because a photo on the wrong card is the most common mistake with several people. Our guide on [swapping a whole group of friends into one video](/guides/swap-a-group-of-friends/) covers the casting in detail.

## Should you swap the background or extras?

Usually it isn't worth it. A face that stays tiny or blurred for most of the clip changes very little on screen when it is replaced, and the result is often hard to tell from the original. The background also does useful work as it is: a real crowd, real passers-by and real dancers behind you make the scene look like the original.

Think about what viewers will notice. If the joke or the surprise depends on one person, put your effort into that card and its photo. If you want a friend clearly visible in the scene, give them a main role rather than a spot in the crowd.

## Why is a person missing from the cards?

People who appear very briefly or are heavily blurred may not be found at all, so they get no card and can't be given a photo. A few things help:

- **Choose another part** of the video where that person is on screen longer and clearer.
- **Pick another clip** if they only ever flash by. Our guide on [how to choose a video for an AI swap](/guides/choose-a-video-for-ai-swap/) lists what makes a clip easy.
- **Check the background group.** Someone you expected as a main person may be there because they were small or brief in this part.

## What happens to the people you don't swap?

They stay as in the original: same face, same clothes, same moves. The camera, lighting and sound of the whole part are kept too, and the result is an MP4 at 480p or 720p with the original audio.

For the people you do swap, "Keep the original look" decides the rest. With it on, clothes stay as in the video and only faces and hair change; with it off, the look comes from the photo, and a full-body photo carries clothing, hair and silhouette best. More in [swap only the face or the whole person](/guides/face-only-or-whole-person/).

## Does swapping fewer people cost less?

Prices are in Telegram Stars (⭐) and depend on the length, the quality and the number of people you replace, so the number of cards you fill matters. The exact price is shown before you start. To test your casting first, make the free preview: about 5 seconds of your video at 480p, taken from where the people with photos are on screen, with a small "vswp.app" mark.

Whoever you swap, ask them before you use their photo. By pressing "Create video" you confirm you have the right to use the video and the photos.

## FAQ

### Can I replace just one person in a group video?

Yes. Put a photo only on that person's card and leave the others empty. Everyone without a photo stays as in the original.

### What is the background group?

It collects the people seen briefly or far away in the part you chose, instead of giving each of them a card. Main people are listed before it.

### Why is my friend in the background group?

Usually because they are small, brief or blurred in this part of the video. Choose a part where they are larger and on screen longer.

### How many people can be swapped in one video?

Up to 6 different photos per video. Everyone else in the clip stays as in the original.

### Will the people I don't swap change at all?

They are meant to stay as in the original. This is generative AI, though, not frame-exact editing, so crowded scenes and fast motion can need another take.