Chatting in a Zoom webinar

It is possible for webinar participants, the host, co-hosts and panelists to communicate with each other during the webinar using the chat function. As the host, you decide who attendees can chat with, or whether you want to disable chat altogether. In the settings, every user has the option of displaying the profile photo of the respective participant in the chat instead of the initials if no profile photo is available for the participant. In this article, you will learn more about setting chat permissions as a host.

Note:

Depending on what your account admin has configured, if you receive a warning or the message was blocked because your message was triggered in a chat etiquette policy, you’ll either have to follow the policy, or you’ll be blocked from sending the message . It is important to note that whether the message triggers chat etiquette policies or not, the chat etiquette tool does not disclose any additional message information, including additional data, metadata, or event information, to the account admin, Zoom, or any other third party.

Requirements for chatting in the webinar

• Zoom desktop client
  • Windows: 5.0 or higher
  • macOS: 5.0 or higher
  • Linux: 5.0 or higher
• Mobile Zoom app
  • Android: 5.0 or higher
  • iOS: 5.0 or higher
• web client
• Chat enabled for Zoom webinars
• Emoji support
  • Zoom desktop client
    • Windows: 5.7.3 or higher
    • macOS: 5.7.3 or higher

How to chat in Zoom webinars on desktop

window | macOS | Linux

How to manage chat settings

As a webinar host, you can change the chat settings for your webinar.

1. The chat button can be found in the meeting controls when you are in a webinar.
2. In-webinar chat settings can be accessed by clicking the ellipses icon in the toolbar.
3. The following options are available to you:
   • Save Chat: All chat messages should be saved in a text file called TXT. The recordings are stored in the same location where the local recordings are stored.
   • Attendees can chat with: You can control who can chat with attendees at your event.
   • • Nobody: In-webinar chat is disabled when this option is selected.
     • Host and panelists: Messages can only be sent to the entire 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 participant has the option to send a public message that is visible to everyone in the room. The host and other panelists can still receive private messages from participants.

Zoom webinar chat for the host and panelists

1. In the meeting controls, click the Chat button when you’re in a webinar.
   If you are not in full screen mode, clicking on it will bring up a chat window on the right side of your screen. If you’re in full-screen mode, you can move it around your screen in the window that appears when you’re in full-screen mode.
2. To change the recipient of this message, click the drop-down menu next to To:. When you host or attend a panel, you have the option to send a message to the host and other panelists, all participants and panelists, or a specific panelist.
   Note: If you receive a message while the chat window is not open, a notification will appear at the bottom of your screen so you can respond immediately.
3. In the chat window you have to enter your message.
4. If you want to show the emoji box, 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 type at least two characters of the emoji you’re looking for, and the emoji will appear. For example, the :jo emoji provides the :joy:, :joy_cat:, and :joystick: emojis. Requires version 5.8.0 for both macOS and Windows to run.
5. (Optional) If the host enabled the ability to send files in chat, you can click File to send a file in chat.
6. When you’re done typing your message, press Enter to send it.

Zoom webinar chat for attendees

In a webinar, as a participant, you can participate in chat conversations with other participants or panelists (including the webinar host), depending on the chat permissions granted by the webinar host. All attendee controls can be found in the Attendee Controls section.

1. In a webinar’s meeting controls, you’ll find a button called Chat.
   Clicking on the chat button will open the chat window where you can type your message. As long as you’re not in full screen mode, you’ll find it on the right side of the screen. If you’re in full-screen mode, you’ll see a window on your screen that you can move around as you please.
2. You can change who you’re sending this message to by tapping the drop-down menu next to To: in the message window. During the event, you have the option to send a message to the host and other panelists, or to all attendees and panelists at once.
   Note: It is important to note that if you receive a message while you do not have the chat window open, you will receive a notification at the bottom of your screen.
3. In the chat window you can type your message.
4. Open the emoji panel by clicking the emoji button (optional). Choose from a list of emojis or search for one you like.
   Note:
5. Also, if you type : and at least two characters in the search box, you can find matching emojis to add to your message, which can be easily added to your message. If you type :jo, you get the following emojis: :joy:, :joy_cat: and :joystick:. For macOS and Windows you need version 5.8.0 of the program.
6. You can send your message by pressing Enter.

There’s a chance the host might turn off attendee chat, but you’ll still be able to see messages from the host and other panelists once that’s done.

How to chat in Zoom webinars on mobile

Android | iOS

Zoom webinar chat for the host and panelists

1. Tap More while on a webinar.
2. Then tap the chat button.
3. You can change who you’re sending this message to by selecting the drop-down menu next to Send to when composing your message. Panelists can send an individual message, a message to all panelists, a message to all panelists, or a message to all panelists.
4. Enter your message in the chat window.
5. The emoji panel can be opened by tapping the emoji button (optional). Browse the list of emojis or search for a specific emoji.
6. Send your message by tapping the Send button at the bottom of the screen.

Zoom webinar chat for attendees

The chat permissions that the webinar host has granted to attendees and panelists mean that you can chat directly with other attendees and panelists in the webinar, depending on how the permissions have been granted. Learn about all the controls that attendees have access to.

1. If you’re in a webinar, tap the Chat button.
2. You can change who you’re sending this message to by tapping the drop-down menu next to Send to: in the message body. You can send a message to the host and all panelists as a participant, or you can send a message to all participants and panelists at once.
3. In the chat window, type your message as you want it to appear.
4. 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.
5. Sending your message is as easy as tapping the Send button.

It’s still possible to view the messages sent by the host and other panelists, even though the host has disabled chat for participants.

How to chat in Zoom webinars in the web client

web client

How to manage chat settings

If you are the webinar host, you can change the settings of the in-webinar chat.

1. If you are attending a webinar, click the Chat button on the meeting control panel.
2. To access the webinar chat settings, click the ellipsis icon at the bottom of the window.
3. The following options are available to you:
   • Attendees can chat with: You can control who can chat with attendees.
   • • Nobody: Disables the ability to chat in the webinar.
     • Host and panelists: Only the host and panelists can send messages to everyone. The host and other panelists can continue to receive private messages from attendees during the event.
     • Everyone: A message can be sent by a participant, which will be viewed by all participants who can see it. The host and other panelists can still receive private messages from participants.

Zoom webinar chat for the host and panelists

1. Click the Chat button in the meeting controls while in the middle of a webinar.
   On the right side of your screen you will see a chat window open.
2. If you want to change who you’re sending this message to, click the drop-down menu next to To:. You can either send a message to the host, the panelists, and all attendees of the event, or if you are a member of the discussion board, 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 the chat window is not open.
3. If you want to send a message, please enter it in the chat box.
4. When you’re done typing your message, press Enter to send it.

Zoom webinar chat for attendees

In a webinar, as a participant, you can participate in chat conversations with other participants or panelists (including the webinar host), depending on the chat permissions granted by the webinar host. You can read more about all of the controls available to attendees by clicking here.

1. In the meeting 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 pop up.
2. Click the drop-down menu next to To: to select the recipient of this message you want to send it to. If you attend the event as an attendee, you can send messages to all attendees and panelists at the event.
   Note: You’ll get a notification at the bottom of your screen when you receive a message even if your chat window isn’t open and you don’t have the chat window open.
3. You can enter your message in the chat window by typing it.
4. To send your message, just press Enter on your keyboard.

You can still see messages sent by your panelists and the host even if the host has turned off chat for attendees.