diff --git a/modules/API/API.js b/modules/API/API.js
index cfcbb3debcb8..3926474b98d5 100644
--- a/modules/API/API.js
+++ b/modules/API/API.js
@@ -122,7 +122,8 @@ import { isAudioMuteButtonDisabled } from '../../react/features/toolbox/function
 import { setTileView, toggleTileView } from '../../react/features/video-layout/actions.any';
 import { muteAllParticipants } from '../../react/features/video-menu/actions';
 import { setVideoQuality } from '../../react/features/video-quality/actions';
-import { toggleBlurredBackgroundEffect } from '../../react/features/virtual-background/actions';
+import { toggleBackgroundEffect, toggleBlurredBackgroundEffect } from '../../react/features/virtual-background/actions';
+import { VIRTUAL_BACKGROUND_TYPE } from '../../react/features/virtual-background/constants';
 import { toggleWhiteboard } from '../../react/features/whiteboard/actions.web';
 import { getJitsiMeetTransport } from '../transport';
 
@@ -871,6 +872,16 @@ function initCommands() {
         },
         'toggle-whiteboard': () => {
             APP.store.dispatch(toggleWhiteboard());
+        },
+        'set-virtual-background': (enabled, backgroundImage) => {
+            const tracks = APP.store.getState()['features/base/tracks'];
+            const jitsiTrack = getLocalVideoTrack(tracks)?.jitsiTrack;
+
+            APP.store.dispatch(toggleBackgroundEffect({
+                backgroundEffectEnabled: enabled,
+                backgroundType: VIRTUAL_BACKGROUND_TYPE.IMAGE,
+                virtualSource: backgroundImage
+            }, jitsiTrack));
         }
     };
     transport.on('event', ({ data, name }) => {
diff --git a/modules/API/external/external_api.js b/modules/API/external/external_api.js
index 51c91822cc7d..eafcc4b79abd 100644
--- a/modules/API/external/external_api.js
+++ b/modules/API/external/external_api.js
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ const commands = {
     setSubtitles: 'set-subtitles',
     setTileView: 'set-tile-view',
     setVideoQuality: 'set-video-quality',
+    setVirtualBackground: 'set-virtual-background',
     showNotification: 'show-notification',
     startRecording: 'start-recording',
     startShareVideo: 'start-share-video',
@@ -1500,4 +1501,15 @@ export default class JitsiMeetExternalAPI extends EventEmitter {
                 index }));
         }
     }
+
+    /**
+     * Enable or disable the virtual background with a custom base64 image.
+     *
+     * @param {boolean} enabled - The boolean value to enable or disable.
+     * @param {string} backgroundImage - The base64 image.
+     * @returns {void}
+    */
+    setVirtualBackground(enabled, backgroundImage) {
+        this.executeCommand('setVirtualBackground', enabled, backgroundImage);
+    }
 }