View sample Zoom settings for virtual events

Audio 

• Telephone and Computer Audio: (on/select)

Webinar Options 

• Q&A (on/select): allows attendees to ask (written) questions during the webinar
• Enable Practice Session (on/select): Allows host, alternative host, and panelists to join the webinar before attendees. Host starts the broadcast. 

Alternative Hosts 

Designate an alternative host. Alternative hosts will default to co-hosts if the host has already started the meeting. 

Q&A 

• Allow anonymous questions: Off/deselect
• Allow attendees to view answered questions only (on/select): Allows host, alternative host, and panelists some discretion in which questions are answered live. 

Settings: In practice session 

Participants panel, under More 

• Allow Participants to Unmute Themselves (on/select): In webinars, attendees are never able to unmute themselves, but with this setting on, panelists and co-hosts are.
• Play Sound When Someone Joins/Leaves (off/deselect): For large events, this sound becomes disruptive.
• Allow Participants to Rename Themselves (on/select): Co-hosts can rename themselves so that their role in the meeting is clear (e.g., change to a department name or what their role is—notetaker, moderator, etc.).
• Allow Panelist to Start Video (on/select): Allows panelist to turn their own video on without host intervention.
• Allow Attendees to Raise Hand (off/deselect): Monitoring raised hands increases the responsibility of the host and co-hosts. If you leave this on, set expectations with attendees about whether this will be used for questions.
• Attendee Video Layout – Follow Host’s View (on/select): Allows more precise control of attendee’s view through the view of the host. Please note that this selection doesn’t impact the view that a panelist sees.   

Chat panel, under ellipsis 

• Allow attendees to chat with—No one: Like raised hands, monitoring chat increases the responsibility of the host and co-hosts and may distract panelists, so it’s recommended that you make this feature inaccessible to attendees. Host, co-hosts, and panelists can still chat with each other, although it’s recommended that you set up a group text for in-webinar communication. 

Advanced Sharing Options 

• Who can share? -- All Panelists: Allows panelists to manage their own slides. 
• Who can start sharing when someone else is sharing? -- All Panelists: Allows for smoother transitions between panelists’ sharing of slides.  

Example 2: Non-interactive lecture (webinar)

A single speaker making a presentation with no audience participation. No registration required.

• Host: Manages webinar logistics, attendee view, and troubleshooting
• Alternative host: Speaker with slides who can also start the webinar if the host is not present.

Settings: At time of scheduling

Video

• Host: Off
• Panelists: Off

Audio

• Telephone and Computer Audio (on/select)

Webinar Options

• Q&A: Off/deselect
• Enable Practice Session (on/select): Allows host and alternative host to join the webinar before attendees
• Automatically record webinar (on/select): Eliminate the risk of forgetting to start the recording during the practice session. Please consult these rules and best practices for recording before making this selection.

Alternative Hosts

Designate an alternative host. Alternative hosts will default to co-hosts if the host has already started the meeting.

Q&A

• Allow anonymous questions: Off/deselect
• Allow attendees to view answered questions only (on/select): Allows host, alternative host, and panelists some discretion in which questions are answered live.

Settings: In practice session

Participants panel, under More

• Allow Participants to Unmute Themselves (on/select): In webinars, attendees are never able to unmute themselves, but with this setting on, panelists and co-hosts are.
• Play Sound When Someone Joins/Leaves (off/deselect): For large events, this sound becomes disruptive.
• Allow Participants to Rename Themselves (on/select): Co-hosts can rename themselves so that their role in the meeting is clear (e.g., change to a department name or what their role is).
• Allow Panelist to Start Video (on/select):
• Allow Attendees to Raise Hand (off/deselect): Monitoring raised hands increases the responsibility of the host and co-hosts, so it’s recommended that this feature be turned off.
• Attendee Video Layout – Active Speaker View (on/select): Since there will be just one speaker (assuming the host mutes their microphone), this selection forces the attendee view to be on the active speaker. Please note that this selection doesn’t impact the view that a host or co-host sees.

Chat panel, under ellipsis

• Allow attendees to chat with—No one: Like raised hands, monitoring chat increases the responsibility of the host and co-hosts and may distract panelists, so it’s recommended that you make this feature inaccessible to attendees. Host, co-hosts, and panelists can still chat with each other, although it’s recommended that you set up a group text for in-webinar communication.

Advanced Sharing Options

• Who can share? -- All Panelists (on/select): Allows panelists to manage their own slides.
• Who can start sharing when someone else is sharing? -- Only Host (on/select): The host maintains control of sharing.

Example 3: Interactive, all-hands meeting (meeting)

A departmental meeting with a primary speaker with opportunity for participants to engage.

• Host: Manages meeting logistics, manages participants, shares questions with presenters, and troubleshooting
• Alternate host: Moderates the discussion; presents slides; can start meeting if host is not present.
• Participants: 250 participants who can ask/answer questions

Settings: At time of scheduling

Security

• Waiting Room (on/select): Allows the host and alternate hosts to join the meeting before participants.

Video

• Host: Off/deselect
• Panelists: Off/deselect

Audio

• Telephone and Computer Audio: (on/select)

Meeting Options

• Enable join before host (off/deselect): Even if this option is selected, the Waiting Room feature makes it impossible to join before the host.
• Mute participants upon entry (on/select): Reduces disruption by participants who are not active in the discussion.

Alternative Hosts

Designate an alternative host according to the example guidance. Alternative hosts will default to co-hosts if the host has already started the meeting.

Settings: In meeting

Participants panel, under More

• Allow Participants to Unmute Themselves (on/select): Increases responsibility of host to manage participants, but allows participants to participate in the conversation. Set ground rules ahead of meeting for how to be recognized for your turn to speak (raise hand).
• Play Sound When Someone Joins/Leaves (off/deselect): Minimizes disruption when participants are allowed into the meeting from the waiting room.

Chat panel, under ellipsis

• Allow attendees to chat with—Host only: Forces discourse to happen in meeting rather than chat, while still giving participants the opportunity to communicate with the host.

Advanced Sharing Options

• Who can share? -- Only Host (on/select): Prevents participants from sharing their screen and reduces impact of potential Zoom bombers.
• Who can start sharing when someone else is sharing? -- Only Host (on/select): Keeps control of sharing with the host.

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