Using Attendant in Zoom: A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide shows you how to use the Attendant feature in Zoom to manage participants during a meeting or webinar. You’ll learn how to enable it, assign attendants, and use the attendant view to control audio, video, chat, and more. No special software is needed beyond the standard Zoom client.

What You’ll Need

• A Zoom account with host or co-host privileges.
• The Zoom desktop client (Windows or Mac) installed. Attendant view is not available on mobile or web clients.
• For webinars, you must be the host or have the “manage attendees” permission.

Step-by-Step

1. Start or join a meeting/webinar as the host. If you’re not the host, ask the host to make you a co-host.
2. Enable Attendant view:
   1. Click the Layout button (grid icon) in the meeting controls.
   2. Select Attendant view from the layout options. The meeting window will change to show a sidebar on the right with a list of all participants and their controls.
3. Understand the Attendant view interface:
   • The main video area shows the active speaker or the video you’ve selected.
   • The right sidebar lists all participants with icons for audio (mic), video (camera), chat, and more.
   • Clicking a participant’s name selects them, and their video appears in the main area.
4. Manage participants individually:
   • Mute/unmute audio: Click the microphone icon next to a participant’s name. A red slash means they are muted.
   • Start/stop video: Click the camera icon to turn their video on or off.
   • Send a chat message: Click the chat bubble icon to open a private chat with that participant.
   • More options: Click the ellipsis (…) next to a participant to access options like “Put on hold,” “Make co-host,” “Rename,” or “Remove.”
5. Use the toolbar at the top of the sidebar:
   • Mute All: Mute all participants at once. You can choose to allow participants to unmute themselves.
   • Unmute All: Unmute all participants.
   • Play sound: Play a chime to alert participants when they join or leave (if you have that setting enabled).
   • Search: Type a name to quickly find a participant in a long list.
6. View a participant’s video: Click on a participant’s name in the sidebar. Their video will appear in the main display area. You can also drag and drop their video to a custom spot if you have multiple videos pinned.
7. Switch between participants: Click different names in the sidebar to jump between their videos. This is handy for monitoring a large class or event.
8. Exit Attendant view: Click the Layout button again and choose a different layout (like Gallery or Speaker view) to return to the normal interface.

Common Mistakes

• Not being the host or co-host: Attendant view is only available to hosts and co-hosts. If you don’t have the option, ask the host to grant co-host privileges.
• Using the mobile app: Attendant view is not available on iOS or Android. You must use the desktop client.
• Confusing Attendant view with the Participants panel: The Participants panel (click “Manage Participants”) is a simple list. Attendant view is a full layout with video and controls, not the same thing.
• Muting yourself accidentally: When clicking a participant’s mic icon, be careful not to click your own. Always check that the name matches.
• Expecting Attendant view in webinars without permissions: In webinars, you need the “manage attendees” permission. If you don’t see the layout option, check your webinar settings.

Tips

• Use keyboard shortcuts: Press Alt+F2 (Windows) or Option+F2 (Mac) to quickly toggle Attendant view.
• Combine with breakout rooms: You can assign participants to breakout rooms while still in Attendant view. The sidebar will show breakout room assignments.
• Pin multiple videos: In Attendant view, you can pin up to 9 videos by clicking the pin icon on a participant’s video. This is useful for panel discussions.
• Use the “Spotlight” feature: Right-click a participant’s video and select “Spotlight for everyone” to make them the primary video for all attendees.
• Monitor chat: The sidebar shows a chat icon with a badge when someone sends a message. Click it to quickly view the chat.

Troubleshooting

• Attendant view option is greyed out: Make sure you are the host or co-host. If you are, ask the host to check if “Attendant view” is enabled in the meeting settings (it’s usually on by default).
• Can’t see the Layout button: The Layout button appears in the meeting controls at the bottom of the window. If you don’t see it, hover over the bottom edge of the meeting window to reveal the controls.
• Participants’ videos don’t show: Some participants may have video disabled. You can only see videos for those who have turned on their camera.
• Mute All doesn’t work: If a participant has been given the ability to unmute themselves, they can override the mute. You can disable this in the participant’s “More” menu.
• Attendant view is laggy: If you have many participants, the video feeds may cause lag. Try turning off incoming video for some participants by clicking the camera icon next to their name.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Attendant view in Zoom webinars?

Yes, but only if you are the host or have the “manage attendees” permission. The layout option will appear in the same way as in meetings.

Does Attendant view work on mobile?

No, Attendant view is only available on the Zoom desktop client for Windows and Mac.

Can I assign co-hosts while in Attendant view?

Yes, you can make a participant a co-host by clicking the ellipsis (…) next to their name and selecting “Make Co-Host.”

How do I see the chat while in Attendant view?

The chat icon in the sidebar will show a red badge with the number of new messages. Click it to open the chat panel.

Can I record a meeting while in Attendant view?

Yes, recording works normally. The recording will capture the main video area, not the sidebar, so choose the video you want to record.

Why can’t I see the Attendant view option?

Check that you are using the desktop client and that you are the host or co-host. If you are, try restarting the Zoom client or updating to the latest version.

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