Chatting in a Zoom Webinar
Webinar attendees, the host, co-hosts, and panelists can communicate during the webinar using the chat feature. In your role as a host, you can choose to allow participants to chat with other participants or to disable it completely. It is up to each individual to choose whether to view a participant’s profile photo in chat, or their initials if they don’t have a profile photo. To learn how you can set chat permissions for your guests, read on.
The following topics are discussed in this article:
- How to chat in Zoom Webinar on desktop
- How to chat in Zoom Webinar on mobile
- How to chat in Zoom Webinar on the web client
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 Webinar 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 Webinar on desktop
Windows | macOS | Linux
How to manage chat settings
Changing the in-webinar chat settings is possible if you’re the webinar host.
- In the meeting controls of a webinar, click Chat.
- The in-webinar chat settings are displayed by clicking the ellipses icon.
- Here are the options:
- Save chat:
- Store all chat messages in a text file. Located in the same directory as the local recording files.
- Attendees can chat with:
- You can choose who attendees can chat with.
- No one:
- The chat feature is disabled.
- Host and panelists:
- You can only send messages to the host and panelists. Participants have the option of contacting the host and panel members privately.
- Everyone:
- Sending public messages is available to all attendees. Attendees are still able to communicate privately with the panelists and the host.
Zoom Webinar chat for the host and panelists
- If you are taking part in a webinar, you can click the Chat button in the meeting controls.
If you don’t have full screen enabled on your computer, the chat window will open on the right side of your screen. As long as you are in full screen mode, the window will open as a separate window that you can move around your screen. - You can do this by selecting the drop down box along the top.
- The drop down box allows you to select the recipient. If you are a host or a panelist, you have the option to send a message to all attendees and panelists, to the host and other panelists, or to a specific panelist.
Note: - If you receive a message when the chat window is not open, you will see a notification at the bottom of your screen when such a message is received.
- Type your message into the chat window.
- Alternatively, you can click Emoji to open a panel that contains emojis. By scrolling down the list, or by searching for a specific emoji.
Note: - Alternatively, you can also add emojis to your message by typing : followed by at least two characters to find those that match your message.
- For example, :jo will provide the :joy:, :joy_cat:, and :joystick: emojis. The macOS and Windows versions will need to be updated to 5.8.0.
- (Optional) If the host allows you to send files in the chat, then click File to send a file.
- You can then press Enter to send your message.
Zoom Webinar chat for attendees
As a webinar attendee, you have the option to chat with other attendees or panelists (including the webinar host), depending on the chat permissions that have been granted by the webinar host. Click here to learn more about attendee controls.
- Click the Chat button in the meeting controls when you are in a webinar.
A chat window will appear when you click the Chat button. If you are not in fullscreen, it will be on the right side of the screen. This will appear in a window if you are in full screen mode, that you are able to drag around your screen. - Tap on the drop down next to To:
- if you wish to change the recipient of the message. If you are an attendee, you can send a message to the host and the other panelists, or send a message to the entire audience.
Note: - The bottom of your screen will display a notification if you receive a message while your chat window is closed and you do not have the chat window open.
- Click on the chat window and type your message.
- It is possible to open the Emoji panel (optional) by clicking Emoji. From there you can search for an emoji or simply scroll through Emojis can also be added to the message by typing : and at least two characters to find matching emojis to include. Emojis to be included for ching.
- For example, :jo will provide the :joy:, :joy_cat:, and :joystick: emojis. MacOS and Windows require version 5.8.0.
- To send, simply press Enter.
You can still view messages sent by the host and other panelists if Attendee chat has been disabled by the host.
How to chat in Zoom Webinar on mobile
Android | iOS
Zoom Webinar chat for the host and panelists
- Tap More while in a webinar.
- Click Chat.
- To change who you are sending this message to, tap on the drop down next to Send to:. It is possible for panelists to send messages to all panelists, to all attendees and panelists, or just to one individual.
- Simply type your message into the chat window.
- Alternatively, tap the open emoji box to see emojis. Scroll through the list to find specific emojis or search for an emoji by name.
- Once you have selected the emoji you want, tap Send.
Zoom Webinar chat for attendees
If the webinar host has granted you permission to chat with other attendees or panelists (including the host), you can chat with them. To find out more, click here.
- Tap Chat while in a webinar.
- To change who you are sending this message to, click on the dropdown next to Send to:. Attendees can send a message to all panelists or to the host and all panelists.
- Use the chat box to send a message.
- You can open the Emoji panel by tapping Emoji (optional). Select an emoji from the list or search for one.
- Then tap Send.
Messages sent by the host and the other panelists can still be viewed if the host has disabled chat for attendees.
How to chat in Zoom Webinar on the web client
Web client
Managing chat settings
Changing the in-webinar chat settings is possible if you’re the webinar host.
- In the meeting controls of a webinar, click Chat.
- You can access the in-webinar chat settings by clicking the ellipses icon.
- You will be presented with the following options:
- Attendees can chat with:
- Choose which attendees are allowed to chat with.
- No one:
- Turns off chat during webinars.
- Host and panelists:
- You can only send messages to the host and panelists. Each participant can still send a private message to the host and other panelists.
- Everyone:
- All attendees are able to send public messages. The host and other panelists are still available for private messages.
Zoom Webinar chat for the host and panelists
- In the meeting controls of a webinar, click Chat.
On your screen, you will see the chat window. - Click on the drop down next to To:
- to select who you want to send this message to. Send a message to all panelists, all attendees, or an individual panelist as the host or a panelist.
Note: - The bottom of your screen will show a notification if you receive a message even when you do not have the chat window open.
- Click on the chat window to enter your message.
- When finished, press Enter.
Zoom Webinar chat for attendees
If the webinar host has granted you permission to chat with other attendees or panelists (including the host), you can chat with them. Learn more about all attendee controls.
- Within the meeting controls of a webinar, click Chat.
A chat box will appear on your screen to the right. - Tap the dropdown next to To:
- to choose who you would like to send the message to. Attendees can send messages to the host and other panelists, or to everyone.
Note: - Whenever you receive a message, a notification will appear at the bottom of your screen.
- Click the chat window to send the message.
- Type your message and press Enter.
Messages sent by the host and the other panelists can still be viewed if the host has disabled chat for attendees.