diff --git a/conference.js b/conference.js
index 4af2765d6c202..65b540ff792f3 100644
--- a/conference.js
+++ b/conference.js
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ import { AudioMixerEffect } from './react/features/stream-effects/audio-mixer/Au
 import { createRnnoiseProcessor } from './react/features/stream-effects/rnnoise';
 import { handleToggleVideoMuted } from './react/features/toolbox/actions.any';
 import { muteLocal } from './react/features/video-menu/actions.any';
+import { toggleBlurredBackgroundEffect } from './react/features/virtual-background/actions';
 
 const logger = Logger.getLogger(__filename);
 let room;
@@ -874,6 +875,18 @@ export default {
         APP.store.dispatch(handleToggleVideoMuted(mute, showUI, ensureTrack));
     },
 
+    /**
+     * Simulates blurred background selection/removal on video background. Used by API only.
+     * @param {string} [blurType] Blur type to apply. Accepted values are 'slight-blur', 'blur' or 'none'
+     */
+    setBlurredBackground(blurType) {
+        const tracks = APP.store.getState()['features/base/tracks'];
+        const videoTrack = getLocalVideoTrack(tracks)?.jitsiTrack;
+        const muted = this.isLocalVideoMuted();
+
+        APP.store.dispatch(toggleBlurredBackgroundEffect(videoTrack, blurType, muted));
+    },
+
     /**
      * Retrieve list of ids of conference participants (without local user).
      * @returns {string[]}
diff --git a/modules/API/API.js b/modules/API/API.js
index 10a7c8a1fd14a..4efe8b9d24464 100644
--- a/modules/API/API.js
+++ b/modules/API/API.js
@@ -322,6 +322,9 @@ function initCommands() {
 
             APP.store.dispatch(setAssumedBandwidthBps(value));
         },
+        'set-blurred-background': blurType => {
+            APP.conference.setBlurredBackground(blurType);
+        },
         'set-follow-me': value => {
 
             if (value) {
diff --git a/modules/API/external/external_api.js b/modules/API/external/external_api.js
index 01f4631356e06..5f1dc8127a33e 100644
--- a/modules/API/external/external_api.js
+++ b/modules/API/external/external_api.js
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ const commands = {
     sendParticipantToRoom: 'send-participant-to-room',
     sendTones: 'send-tones',
     setAssumedBandwidthBps: 'set-assumed-bandwidth-bps',
+    setBlurredBackground: 'set-blurred-background',
     setFollowMe: 'set-follow-me',
     setLargeVideoParticipant: 'set-large-video-participant',
     setMediaEncryptionKey: 'set-media-encryption-key',
diff --git a/react/features/virtual-background/actions.ts b/react/features/virtual-background/actions.ts
index 1a671a263f5db..de8b48d073786 100644
--- a/react/features/virtual-background/actions.ts
+++ b/react/features/virtual-background/actions.ts
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import { IStore } from '../app/types';
 import { createVirtualBackgroundEffect } from '../stream-effects/virtual-background';
 
 import { BACKGROUND_ENABLED, SET_VIRTUAL_BACKGROUND } from './actionTypes';
+import { VIRTUAL_BACKGROUND_TYPE } from './constants';
 import logger from './logger';
 import { IVirtualBackground } from './reducer';
 
@@ -71,3 +72,34 @@ export function backgroundEnabled(backgroundEffectEnabled?: boolean) {
         backgroundEffectEnabled
     };
 }
+
+/**
+ * Simulates blurred background selection/removal on video background. Used by API only.
+ *
+ * @param {JitsiLocalTrack} videoTrack - The targeted video track.
+ * @param {string} [blurType] - Blur type to apply. Accepted values are 'slight-blur', 'blur' or 'none'.
+ * @param {boolean} muted - Muted state of the video track.
+ * @returns {Promise}
+ */
+export function toggleBlurredBackgroundEffect(videoTrack: any, blurType: 'slight-blur' | 'blur' | 'none',
+        muted: boolean) {
+    return async function(dispatch: IStore['dispatch'], _getState: IStore['getState']) {
+        if (muted || !videoTrack || !blurType) {
+            return;
+        }
+
+        if (blurType === 'none') {
+            dispatch(toggleBackgroundEffect({
+                backgroundEffectEnabled: false,
+                selectedThumbnail: blurType
+            }, videoTrack));
+        } else {
+            dispatch(toggleBackgroundEffect({
+                backgroundEffectEnabled: true,
+                backgroundType: VIRTUAL_BACKGROUND_TYPE.BLUR,
+                blurValue: blurType === 'blur' ? 25 : 8,
+                selectedThumbnail: blurType
+            }, videoTrack));
+        }
+    };
+}