How to Create Breakout Rooms in Zoom

Breakout rooms in Zoom are a powerful feature that allows you to split your meeting participants into smaller groups for more focused discussions or activities. Whether you’re hosting a virtual team building session, a training workshop, or a classroom session, breakout rooms can enhance collaboration and engagement. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to create breakout rooms in Zoom.

Step 1: Schedule or Start a Zoom Meeting

The first step is to schedule or start a Zoom meeting. You can do this by logging into your Zoom account and clicking on the “Schedule a Meeting” button or selecting the “Start with Video” option. Make sure you have the latest version of the Zoom desktop client installed on your computer for the best experience.

Step 2: Enable Breakout Rooms

Once you have scheduled or started the meeting, you need to enable the breakout room feature. To do this, go to the meeting controls at the bottom of the Zoom window and click on the “Breakout Rooms” button. If you don’t see this button, make sure you have the necessary permissions to create breakout rooms.

Step 3: Configure Breakout Room Settings

After clicking on the “Breakout Rooms” button, a new window will appear where you can configure the breakout room settings. Here, you can choose the number of breakout rooms you want to create, assign participants automatically or manually, and set the time limit for the breakout sessions. You can also choose to allow participants to return to the main session automatically or manually.

Step 4: Assign Participants to Breakout Rooms

Once you have configured the breakout room settings, you can assign participants to the breakout rooms. If you chose the automatic assignment option, Zoom will randomly assign participants to the breakout rooms. If you prefer to assign participants manually, you can do so by clicking on the “Assign” button next to each breakout room and selecting the participants from the list.

Step 5: Start the Breakout Rooms

After assigning participants to the breakout rooms, you are ready to start the breakout sessions. Click on the “Open All Rooms” button to send participants to their respective breakout rooms. Participants will receive a notification on their screen, and they can join their assigned breakout room by clicking on the “Join” button.

Step 6: Monitor and Join Breakout Rooms

As the host, you have the ability to monitor the breakout rooms and join any room at any time. To do this, click on the “Breakout Rooms” button in the meeting controls and select the “Join” button next to the desired breakout room. This allows you to check in on participants, provide guidance, or answer any questions they may have.

Step 7: End the Breakout Rooms

When the breakout sessions are complete, you can end the breakout rooms and bring all participants back to the main session. To do this, click on the “Breakout Rooms” button in the meeting controls and select the “Close All Rooms” button. Participants will receive a notification to return to the main session, and their breakout room discussions will automatically end.

Video Tutorial to Create Breakout Rooms in Zoom

Conclusion

Breakout rooms in Zoom offer a valuable opportunity to create smaller group interactions within a larger meeting or class. By following these simple steps, you can easily create breakout rooms in zoom and facilitate more engaging and productive sessions. Whether you’re a teacher, a team leader, or a facilitator, breakout rooms can help you foster collaboration and connection in your virtual meetings.