Chatting in a Zoom Webinar
It is possible for webinar participants, the host, co-hosts, and panelists to communicate with one another during the webinar by using the chat feature. It is up to you as the host to decide with whom the participants can chat or if you wish to disable the chat altogether. In the settings, each user has the option of displaying each participant’s profile photo in chat, instead of their initials, if there is no profile photo for the participant. You can learn more about setting chat permissions as the host by reading this article.
Note:
Depending on what your account admin has configured, if you receive a warning or the message has been blocked as a result of your message being triggered in a Chat Etiquette policy, you either need to follow the policy or you will be prevented from sending the message. It is important to note that, regardless of whether the message triggers Chat Etiquette policies or not, the Chat Etiquette tool doesn’t send any additional message information, including additional data, metadata, or event information, to the account admin, Zoom, or any other third parties.
Contents
Prerequisites for in-webinar chat
- Zoom desktop client
- Windows: 5.0 or higher
- macOS: 5.0 or higher
- Linux: 5.0 or higher
- Zoom mobile app
- Android: 5.0 or higher
- iOS: 5.0 or higher
- Web client
- Zoom Webinars chat enabled
- Emoji support
- Zoom desktop client
- Windows: 5.7.3 or higher
- macOS: 5.7.3 or higher
- Zoom desktop client
How to chat in Zoom Webinars on desktop
Windows | macOS | Linux
How to manage chat settings
Changing the chat settings for your webinar can be done by you as the webinar host.
- The Chat button can be found in the meeting controls when you are in a webinar.
- The settings for the in-webinar chat can be accessed by clicking on the ellipses icon on the toolbar.
- The following options are available to you:
- Save chat: All chat messages should be saved in a text file called TXT. The recordings are saved in the same place where the local recordings are stored.
- Attendees can chat with: You can control who is able to chat with attendees at your event.
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- No one: In-webinar chat is disabled when this option is selected.
- Host and panelists: Messages can only be sent to the whole audience by the host and panelists. It is still possible for participants to send private messages to the host and other members of the panel.
- Everyone: Each attendee has the option to send a public message, which is visible to everyone in the room. The host and other panelists will still be able to receive private messages from attendees.
Zoom Webinars chat for the host and panelists
- Click the Chat button in the meeting controls when you are in a webinar.
If you are not in full screen mode, a chat window will appear on the right hand side of your screen when you click on it. If you are in full screen mode, you will be able to move it around your screen in the window that appears when you are in full screen mode. - In order to change the recipient of this message, click on the drop down menu next to To: in order to do so. When you are hosting or participating in a panel, you have the option to send a message to the host and other panelists, all attendees and panelists, or a specific panelist.
Note: A notification will appear on the bottom of your screen if you receive a message when you don’t have the chat window open so that you can answer it right away. - In the chat window, you will need to type in your message.
- If you wish to view the emoji panel, click Emoji (optional). Choose from a list of emojis or search for a specific one.
Note: If you want to send emojis with your message, you can type : and then at least two characters from the emoji that you are looking for and the emoji will appear. For instance, the :jo emoji will provide the emojis :joy:, :joy_cat:, and :joystick:. There is a requirement for version 5.8.0 for both macOS and Windows in order to run this. - (Optional) If the host has enabled the ability to send files in chat, you can click File to send a file in chat.
- When you have finished typing your message, press Enter to send it.
Zoom Webinars chat for attendees
In a webinar, if you are an attendee, you can engage in chat conversations with other attendees or panelists (including the webinar host), depending on what chat permissions have been granted by the webinar host. All attendee controls can be found in the attendee controls section.
- In the meeting controls of a webinar, you will find a button called Chat.
Clicking on the chat button will bring up the chat window for you to type in your message. As long as you are not in full screen mode, you will find it on the right side of the screen. There will be a window on your screen if you are in full screen mode, and you can move it around as you please. - It is possible to change who you are sending this message to by tapping on the drop down next to To: in the message window. During the event, you have the option of sending a message to the host and other panelists, or to all attendees and panelists at the same time.
Note: It is important to note that you will receive a notification at the bottom of your screen if you receive a message while you do not have the chat window open. - In the chat window, you will be able to type your message.
- Open the Emoji panel by clicking the Emoji button (optional). Choose from a list of emojis or search for one that appeals to you.
Note: - Also, if you type : and at least two characters into the search box, you can find matching emojis to include in your message that can easily be added to your message. If you type :jo, you will receive the following emojis: :joy:, :joy_cat:, and :joystick:. For macOS and Windows, you will need version 5.8.0 of the program.
- You can send your message by pressing the Enter key.
There is a possibility that the host will disable Attendee chat, however you will still be able to see the host and other panelists’ messages if this has been done.
How to chat in Zoom Webinars on mobile
Android | iOS
Zoom Webinars chat for the host and panelists
- Tap More while you are in a webinar.
- Then tap the Chat button.
- You can change who you are sending this message to by choosing the drop down next to Send to: when you are creating your message. Panelists are able to send an individual message, a message to all panelists, a message to all attendees, or a message to all panelists.
- Type your message into the chat window.
- The emoji panel can be opened by tapping the emoji button (optional). Browse through the list of emojis or search for a specific emoji.
- Send your message by tapping the Send button at the bottom of the screen.
Zoom Webinars chat for attendees
The chat permissions that the webinar host has granted to attendees and panelists means that you will be able to chat directly with other attendees and panelists in the webinar, depending on how permissions were granted. Find out more about all of the controls that attendees have access to.
- When you are in a webinar, tap the Chat button.
- You can change who you are sending this message to by tapping on the drop down next to Send to: in the message body. You can send a message as an attendee to the host and all panelists, or you can send a message to all attendees and panelists in one go.
- In the chat window, type your message as you would like it to appear.
- You can open the Emoji panel by tapping Emoji (Optional). Browse the list of emojis to find a specific one or search for an emoji using the search box.
- Sending your message is as simple as tapping the Send button.
It is still possible to view the messages sent by the host and other panelists, even though the host has disabled the chat for attendees.
How to chat in Zoom Webinars on the web client
Web client
How to manage chat settings
In the event that you are the webinar host, you will be able to change the settings of the in-webinar chat.
- If you are participating in a webinar, click the Chat button in the meeting control panel.
- In order to access the in-webinar chat settings, click the ellipses icon at the bottom of the window.
- The following options are available to you:
- Attendees can chat with: You can control who can chat with attendees.
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- No one: Disables the ability to chat in the webinar.
- Host and panelists: Messages can only be sent to everyone by the host and the panelists. The host as well as the other panelists can still receive private messages from participants during the event.
- Everyone: A message can be sent by an attendee which is viewed by all attendees who are able to view it. The host and the other panelists can still receive private messages from attendees.
Zoom Webinars chat for the host and panelists
- Click the Chat button in the meeting controls while you are in the middle of a webinar.
On the right side of your screen, you will see a chat window that will open up. - If you want to change who you are sending this message to, click on the drop down next to To: in order to do so. You can either send a message to the host, the panelists and all attendees at the event or, if you are a member of the panel, you can send a message to an individual panelist.
Note: There is a notification at the bottom of the screen that will let you know if you receive a message when you do not have the chat window open. - If you would like to send a message, please type it in the chat box.
- Once you have finished typing your message, press Enter to send it.
Zoom Webinars chat for attendees
In a webinar, if you are an attendee, you can engage in chat conversations with other attendees or panelists (including the webinar host), depending on what chat permissions have been granted by the webinar host. You can read more about all the controls available to attendees by clicking here.
- In the meeting control panel, you will find a Chat option when you are in a webinar.
In the right corner of your screen, you will see a chat window that will open. - Click on the dropdown menu next to To: to select the recipient of this message that you would like to send it to. It will be possible for you to send messages to all attendees and panelists at the event if you are attending the event as an attendee.
Note: You will receive a notification at the bottom of your screen if you receive a message even if your chat window is not open and you do not have the chat window open. - You can enter your message into the chat window by typing it in.
- To send your message, simply press the Enter key on your keyboard.
You will still be able to see messages sent by your panelists and the host even if the host has disabled chat for attendees.