This article contains information current as of Zoom Version 5.4.9 (January 11, 2021). For the most up-to-date guidance on using breakout rooms, please visit the Zoom Help Center.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about breakout rooms

Creating and opening breakout rooms:

• Can a co-host create breakout rooms?
• I’m a TA. Can I create the breakout rooms during the meeting and give my instructor the host privilege so my instructor can open all the rooms?
• I’m a co-host, but I don’t see the breakout rooms menu.

Pre-assigning rooms:

• I pre-assigned my breakout rooms, however, when I join my Zoom session, the breakout rooms are empty. What happened?
• I pre-assigned my students into breakout rooms, but I noticed some students are not assigned to a group even though I pre-assigned them.
• I’m a TA, and I’ve created the meeting and pre-assigned the students for my instructor. Will my instructor still see the breakout rooms I’ve pre-assigned if I give my instructor the HOST privilege during our Zoom session?
• I want to use pre-assigned breakout rooms and then use the random/auto breakout room assignment in the same Zoom session. Is this possible?
• If I want to use my pre-assigned breakout rooms, then have the random assignment, and then use my pre-assigned breakout rooms again, is this possible? If so, how?
• After I pre-assigned the breakout rooms, will it be saved if I used the same Zoom link?

Chat and screen sharing:

• For participants, when they are in a breakout room and write in the chat, who sees that?
• Can I share my screen with the participants in different breakout rooms?

Navigating between rooms:

• How can I jump from one breakout room to another as a host?
• How can a co-host join different breakout rooms?

Q: Can a co-host create breakout rooms?

A: Yes, both hosts and co-hosts can create and manage it. 

Q: I’m a TA. Can I create the breakout rooms during the meeting and give my instructor the host privilege so my instructor can open all the rooms? 

A: Yes, with the new Zoom 5.4.9 update, co-hosts and hosts have the same breakout room privileges. There is no longer the need to switch host privileges as co-host are now able to open and setup the breakout rooms as well.

Q: I’m a co-host, but I don’t see the breakout rooms menu. 

A: Verify if you have updated to the latest version of Zoom and double-check if the host has assigned you as a co-host for the meeting. With the latest Zoom update, co-hosts are now able to see the breakout room menu and open all rooms.

Q: I pre-assigned my breakout rooms, however, when I join my Zoom session, the breakout rooms are empty. What happened? 

A: You can bring it back by clicking the Breakout Rooms menu > Recreate > Recover to pre-assigned rooms option. 

Q: I pre-assigned my students into breakout rooms, but I noticed some students are not assigned to a group even though I pre-assigned them. 

A: Make sure (1) Your students are logged into their Stanford Zoom account AND (2) Students have updated their Zoom to the latest version. 

Q: I’m a TA, and I’ve created the meeting and pre-assigned the students for my instructor. Will my instructor still see the breakout rooms I’ve pre-assigned if I give my instructor the HOST privilege during our Zoom session? 

A: Yes, your instructor will still see the pre-assigned breakout rooms even if you are the meeting creator. Just be sure to have your instructor click the Breakout Rooms menu > Recreate > Recover to pre-assigned rooms option to refresh the setup. 

Q: I want to use pre-assigned breakout rooms and then use the random/auto breakout room assignment in the same Zoom session. Is this possible? 

A: Yes, you can re-create breakout rooms as many times as you’d like. 

Q: If I want to use my pre-assigned breakout rooms, then have the random assignment, and then use my pre-assigned breakout rooms again, is this possible? If so, how? 

A: Yes, it is possible! You can always bring back your pre-assigned breakout rooms by clicking the Breakout Rooms menu > Recreate > Recover to pre-assigned rooms option. 

Q: After I pre-assigned the breakout rooms, will it be saved if I used the same Zoom link?

A: Yes, it will be saved if you are using the same link. However, for recurring meetings, you’d have to save them to ALL of your meetings for it to be saved for all your recurring meetings. 

Q: For participants, when they are in a breakout room and write in the chat, who sees that? 

A: Only other members of the Breakout Room 

Q: Can I share my screen with the participants in different breakout rooms? 

A: Unfortunately, no. You can only share screens within the same breakout room. You can, however, send text-based messages to all breakout rooms by using the “Broadcast a message to all” option. 

Q: How can I jump from one breakout room to another as host? 

A: You can enter a breakout room by going to the breakout room tab, located next to the reactions tab at the bottom of your Zoom window. Once in a room, you can switch or go from room to room by going to the breakout rooms tab again and choosing your desired breakout room. Make sure you have host or co-host privileges before you do so.

Q: How can a co-host join different breakout rooms? 

A: Both host and cohost have the ability to move between all breakout rooms by clicking the “Breakout Room” tab on the bottom of their Zoom window, to the left of the Reactions tab. If a cohost goes back to the main room, they will be able to move between rooms the same way a host can.