With the rise of remote work, virtual classrooms, and online workshops, Zoom has become a go-to platform for hosting meetings and events. One of its most powerful features is breakout rooms, which allow hosts to split a large meeting into smaller, private sessions. These rooms are perfect for group discussions, team projects, or focused brainstorming sessions, giving participants a chance to collaborate in smaller settings before rejoining the main meeting.
If you’ve ever wondered how to create breakout rooms in Zoom and use them effectively, this guide covers everything you need to know—from setup and configuration to advanced tips for smooth management.
What Are Breakout Rooms in Zoom?
Breakout rooms are essentially mini-meetings inside your main Zoom session. Imagine a large conference hall being divided into multiple smaller rooms where attendees can work independently. The host controls who goes into which room, and participants can only see and interact with the people assigned to their breakout room.
Key points about breakout rooms:
- Privacy: Conversations within each room remain private from the main session and other breakout rooms.
- Flexible assignment: Hosts can assign participants manually, automatically, or allow participants to choose their own room.
- Time management: You can set a timer, after which everyone is automatically returned to the main meeting.
- Host control: The host can move between rooms, broadcast messages, or close rooms remotely to manage the session effectively.
Breakout rooms are widely used in:
- Online classrooms for group projects
- Corporate workshops and team meetings
- Brainstorming or problem-solving sessions
- Networking events and webinars
How to Enable Breakout Rooms in Zoom
Before creating breakout rooms, you need to ensure the feature is enabled in your Zoom account.
- Sign in to Zoom: Log in at zoom.us or through the desktop client.
- Go to Settings: Navigate to Settings > Meeting > In Meeting (Advanced).
- Enable Breakout Rooms: Look for the Breakout Room option and toggle it on.
- Allow Host Control: Optionally, check the box to let hosts assign participants when scheduling meetings.
Pro Tip: Make sure your Zoom client is updated to the latest version to access all breakout room features.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Breakout Rooms
Once breakout rooms are enabled, follow these steps during your meeting:
1. Access the Breakout Rooms Toolbar
While in an active Zoom meeting, look at the bottom control bar. Click the Breakout Rooms icon, which resembles four small squares grouped together.
2. Choose How Participants Will Be Assigned
After clicking the icon, a pop-up window appears, asking how many breakout rooms you want and how participants should be assigned. Zoom offers three assignment options:
- Automatically: Zoom splits participants evenly across the number of rooms selected. For example, if you have 20 participants and 4 rooms, Zoom will assign 5 participants to each room.
- Manually: You choose exactly who goes into which room, giving you full control over group composition.
- Let Participants Choose: Ideal for workshops or classroom settings, participants can select their preferred room based on project or discussion topic.
3. Configure Room Options
Before opening the rooms, click the Options gear icon to configure settings:
- Set a Timer: Determine how long breakout rooms should last before participants automatically return to the main session.
- Allow Participants to Return: Decide if participants can leave their breakout room early.
- Broadcast Messages: Hosts can send announcements to all rooms.
- Close Rooms Automatically: Automatically close all rooms at the end of the session.
4. Open the Breakout Rooms
Click Create and then Open All Rooms. Participants are instantly moved from the main meeting into their respective breakout rooms.
- As the host, you can join any room to monitor discussions or assist participants.
- You can also move participants between rooms if needed.
Tips for Effective Breakout Room Management
Creating breakout rooms is simple, but managing them efficiently is key to a smooth experience. Here are some strategies:
Clear Instructions
- Provide participants with clear instructions before sending them to rooms.
- Define objectives for the breakout session to keep discussions focused.
Assign Roles
- For collaborative tasks, assign a facilitator, note-taker, and reporter in each room.
- Rotating roles encourages engagement and accountability.
Use Timers and Alerts
- Set a timer visible to participants to prevent sessions from running over.
- Use Zoom’s broadcast message feature to give reminders or instructions.
Host Engagement
- Visit rooms periodically to provide guidance or answer questions.
- Ensure technical issues are addressed promptly to avoid disruptions.
End Smoothly
- Close breakout rooms with a one-minute warning so participants can wrap up discussions.
- Bring everyone back to the main session and summarize key points collectively.
Advanced Breakout Room Features
Zoom offers several advanced options to enhance breakout room experiences:
- Pre-Assign Participants: When scheduling a meeting, pre-assign participants to breakout rooms to save time during the session.
- Recording Breakout Rooms: Hosts can record individual breakout rooms if needed. This feature is useful for training sessions or collaborative projects.
- Integrations: Some LMS and corporate platforms integrate with Zoom to automate breakout room assignments based on teams or departments.
- Multiple Rounds: You can create multiple rounds of breakout rooms for different activities, reshuffling participants each time.
Common Breakout Room Challenges and Solutions
Even with careful planning, challenges can arise. Here’s how to troubleshoot common issues:
- Participant can’t join room: Ensure they’re using a supported Zoom client version.
- Audio or video issues: Check microphone and camera permissions before opening rooms.
- Late participants: Allow re-entry into breakout rooms by enabling the “allow participants to return” option.
- Overcrowded rooms: Adjust room numbers or manually assign participants to balance group sizes.
Best Practices for Different Scenarios
Online Classes
- Use breakout rooms for group assignments, peer discussions, or problem-solving sessions.
- Rotate students periodically to encourage networking and collaboration.
Business Workshops
- Assign teams based on departments or project roles.
- Use breakout rooms for focused brainstorming before sharing ideas with the larger group.
Virtual Conferences
- Let attendees self-select rooms based on interests or breakout topics.
- Provide a host in each room to facilitate discussion and ensure objectives are met.
Team-Building Events
- Use icebreaker activities in breakout rooms to encourage participation.
- Keep sessions short and engaging to maintain energy and attention.
Conclusion
Breakout rooms in Zoom are a versatile tool for enhancing engagement, collaboration, and productivity during virtual meetings. By understanding how to create, manage, and optimize breakout rooms, hosts can provide a more interactive and effective experience for participants. Whether for classrooms, corporate workshops, or virtual events, mastering breakout rooms helps you turn large, impersonal meetings into focused, collaborative sessions.
With the tips and steps provided above, you can confidently implement breakout rooms in your next Zoom session and ensure every participant stays engaged, productive, and satisfied.