Managing the Lobby Chat and Networking tab


After accessing the Lobby tab in the event creation flow, you can modify the lobby home masthead, enable or disable your event’s chat, and pause or resume expo.

The Lobby Chat and Networking tab helps hosts manage a centralized control panel for their lobby, chat, host announcements, and networking settings.

Learn more about managing other settings in the Lobby tab.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for managing the Lobby Chat and Networking tab

Note: For access to the latest Zoom Events and Webinar features, we strongly recommend hosts to update to the latest version of the Zoom desktop client/mobile application.

How to access the Lobby Chat and Networking tab in Zoom Events

  1. Create a Zoom Event or edit an upcoming event to access the event setup.
  2. In the event creation flow navigation menu, click Event Experience, then click Lobby.
  3. Click the Lobby Chat and Networking tab.

How to configure the Lobby Chat and Networking tab

Configure lobby chats

You can configure your lobby chat settings. The Chat section displays your lobby chat settings and if you have enabled or disabled chats. The following chats are displayed in this section:

Enable or disable chat types

If a chat is enabled, a green dot next to Enabled will appear, along with the number of enabled chats. If a chat is disabled, a gray dot next to Disabled will appear, along with the number of disabled chats.

To enable or disable chats:

  1. If the chat type is displayed as Enabled, click Disable to disable the chat.
  2. If the chat type is displayed as Disabled, click Enable to enable the chat.

Reset lobby or expo chats

You can also Reset chats for the lobby, custom chat channels, and event staff chat. This allows hosts and moderators to remove all messages in chat after disabling chat. You can access this content in the event chat logs.

To reset chats:

  1. Ensure that your chat is disabled.
    The Reset option will be available when chat is disabled.
  2. Click Reset.
  3. In the verification dialog box, click Reset to confirm.
    Note: All content for this chat will be removed for attendees. Please note that this action cannot be undone.

Manage chat controls

Manage code of conduct

The code of conduct outlines the expectations for all those who participate in chat. The Code of Conduct is a dismissible pop-up message that will appear in the lobby chat panel when attendees join an event. This is an opportunity to inform attendees about community rules and guidelines when using chat.

To enable or disable Code of Conduct:

  1. If this setting is displayed as Enabled, click Disable to disable the setting.
  2. If this setting is displayed as Disabled, click Enable to enable the setting.

To edit the Code of Conduct:

  1. To the right of Code of Conduct, click Edit.
    A pop-up window will appear.
  2. In the window, edit the code of conduct:
    • Title: Enter a title for the code of conduct.
    • Message: Enter the description, rules, expectations, and details of the code of conduct.
  3. Click Save.

Manage compose with Zoom AI Companion controls

Hosts can manage Compose with Zoom AI Companion for their event chat at the event level. This setting allows attendees to use AI to compose a response from scratch or wordsmith their chat messages.

If the Compose with Zoom AI Companion setting is enabled, a green dot next to Enabled will appear. If the Compose with Zoom AI Companion setting is disabled, a gray dot next to Disabled will appear.

To enable or disable Compose with Zoom AI Companion:

  1. If this setting is displayed as Enabled, click Disable to disable the setting.
  2. If this setting is displayed as Disabled, click Enable to enable the setting.

Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account level and you will need to contact your Zoom admin.

Configure networking settings

This section lets you manage which networking features are enabled. Networking allows attendees to share their profiles to make connections during the event.

Click the following toggles to enable or disable them:

Configure host announcements

You can create and prepare messages to be broadcast as announcements—to be read by all participants—in the lobby. You can also choose to use and edit a Custom Announcement template for chat behavior if you need to inform the users in the chat of the community rules and guidelines. The announcements are saved and can be broadcast at any time in a live lobby.

Note: Announcements can also be created at the time of broadcasting.

Create an announcement

  1. In the Host Announcements section, click the + Create Announcements button.
    A pop-up window will appear.
  2. In the pop-up window, select the announcement type you want to prepare:
    • Custom Link: This is a dismissible pop-up that asks participants to click a specific link.
      Note      : A link must be included to create an announcement.
    • Custom Announcement: This is a dismissible pop-up that all participants see the first time they enter the chat lobby.
      Note: The title and body of the template can be edited. Skip to step 8 after you have edited these fields.
  3. Click Next.
  4. In the Headline field, enter or edit the headline of the announcement.
  5. (Optional) In the Description field, enter or edit the announcement description.
  6. In the Button Link field, enter a link for the button.
  7. Under Button Label, click the dropdown to select the button text.
  8. Click Save.
    The announcement will be available for broadcasting.

Use announcement actions

Additional actions for prepared announcements will be available under the Other Actions column: