Using Zoom Sessions lobby

The event lobby is the starting point of Zoom Sessions events. In the lobby, registrants can browse the session details and speaker intro, join the session with the client (or from a web browser), and watch the session recording when available.

The lobby will exist as soon as the event is published.

Notes:

You can also join the Zoom Events lobby on the Zoom Events Companion app. The event lobby can be available to attendees 365 days before the event date, but will be set to the date and time specifically chosen by the host. Learn more about using the mobile Zoom Events lobby and the Zoom Events Companion app.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for using a Zoom Sessions event’s lobby

Note: For attendee access to the latest Zoom Events and Webinar features, we highly encourage attendees to update to the latest version of the Zoom desktop client/mobile application.

How to join a Zoom Sessions event lobby

Join lobby from the Events Portal

  1.  Access the events portal on Zoom Events.
  2. Click the Previous Events, Today's Events, or Upcoming Events tab.
    Your events will appear.
  3. On an event tile, click Join Lobby.
    On the event tile, you can also click the ticket icon and access the lobby from the event ticket.

Join lobby from the confirmation email

After you have completed registration for a free or paid event, you will receive an email to confirm your registration.

  1. Open the Zoom Sessions confirmation email.
  2. Click Join Event.
    A new join page and a pop-up window will be displayed.
  3. In the pop-up window, click Open Zoom Meetings. You can also click Join Lobby on the page.
    The event lobby will open as a new window in the Zoom desktop client.

Join lobby from the Tickets page

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner, click your profile picture, then click Tickets.
  3. Click the Upcoming tab.
  4. Find the Zoom Sessions event that has the lobby that you want to join.
  5. To the right of the event name, click Join Lobby.
    A new join page and a pop-up window will be displayed.
  6. In the pop-up window, click Open Zoom Meetings. You can also click Join Lobby on the page.
    The event lobby will open as a new window in the Zoom desktop client.
  7. In the lobby, view the session details.

Join lobby from calendar (after adding an event to calendar)

  1. Sync your registered Zoom Sessions event to your calendar.
  2. Open your calendar and find your registered Zoom Sessions calendar item.
  3. Click the Zoom Sessions calendar item to view event details.
  4. Under Join Lobby, click the lobby URL.
    A new join page and a pop-up window will be displayed.
  5. In the pop-up window, click Open Zoom Meetings. You can also click Join Lobby on the page.
    The event lobby will open as a new window in the Zoom desktop client.

Join lobby from the Zoom desktop client

Note: In the desktop client, your scheduled Zoom Sessions event links to your calendar.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client.
  2. Click the Meetings tab.
  3. Find the event that you want to join.
    Note: Zoom Sessions is limited to events that start on the current day.
  4. Click Join Lobby.

Web

Join lobby from Zoom Events

  1.  Access the events portal on Zoom Events.
  2. Click the Previous Events, Today's Events, or Upcoming Events tab.
    Your events will appear.
  3. On an event tile, click Join Lobby.
    On the event tile, you can also click the ticket icon and access the lobby from the event ticket.

Join lobby from the confirmation email

After you have completed registration for a free or paid event, you will receive an email to confirm your registration.

  1. Open the Zoom Sessions confirmation email.
  2. Click Join Event.
    Your web browser will open the event lobby.

Join lobby from the Tickets page

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events on a web browser.
  2. In the top-right corner, click your profile picture, then click Tickets.
  3. Click the Upcoming tab.
  4. Find the Zoom Sessions event that has the lobby that you want to join.
  5. To the right of the event name, click Join Lobby.
    Your web browser will open the event lobby.
  6. In the lobby, view upcoming sessions and track all your events.

Join lobby from calendar (after adding an event to calendar)

  1. Sync your registered Zoom Sessions event to your calendar.
  2. Open your calendar and find your registered Zoom Sessions calendar item.
  3. Click the Zoom Sessions calendar item to view event details.
  4. Under Join Lobby, click the lobby URL.
    Your web browser will open the event lobby.

How to use alternative join methods for the Zoom Sessions lobby

Attendees will receive join methods and information about how to use each join method for their event in the confirmation email after registration. The same set of join methods is available on the ticket page after registration. Additionally, attendees can access the alternative join methods in the event lobby.

  1. Join an event lobby.
  2. Find an in-progress session that you want to join.
  3. To the right of the Join button, click the ellipsis , then click and view the Other join methods:
    • Via Zoom Client: Join the event session on the Zoom desktop client.
    • Via audio: After you click this option, you will be directed to a new page with the Audio tab selected. This page displays different methods of joining via meeting ID and passcode, audio, mobile, or dial.
    • Via Room System: After you click this option, you will be directed to a new page with the Room system tab selected. This page displays different methods of joining via meeting ID and passcode, Zoom Room, SIP, or H.323.
  4. (Optional) In the top-left corner of the alternative join methods page, click Back to return to the lobby.

Web

Attendees will receive join methods and information about how to use each join method for their event in the confirmation email after registration. The same set of join methods is available on the ticket page after registration. Additionally, attendees can access the alternative join methods in the event lobby.

  1. Join an event lobby.
  2. Find an in-progress session that you want to join.
  3. To the right of the Join button, click the ellipsis , then click and view the Other join methods:
    • Via Zoom Client: Join the event session on the Zoom desktop client.
    • Via audio: After you click this option, you will be directed to a new page with the Audio tab selected. This page displays different methods of joining via meeting ID and passcode, audio, mobile, or dial.
    • Via Room System: After you click this option, you will be directed to a new page with the Room system tab selected. This page displays different methods of joining via meeting ID and passcode, Zoom Room, SIP, or H.323.
  4. (Optional) In the top-left corner of the alternative join methods page, click Back to return to the lobby.

How to use the Zoom Sessions lobby

  1. Join an event lobby.
  2. In the Lobby, do the following actions:

Lobby

In the event lobby, you can view the session curated by your event organizer, view event details, join the event, view reference materials (downloadable PDFs), and check out recordings of completed sessions (if the recording has been released by hosts).

Hosts can also select to stream the session in the lobby. Attendees can view live sessions at a glance before they join. When attendees join the event lobby before the Zoom Sessions event starts, they will receive the following message: "The host has not started the session. You will join the session automatically on a Zoom client window or a new browser tab (subject to the setting of your event profile) when the host starts it." When a session starts, the session window will open.

Notes:

  • Sessions support closed captions.
  • When closed caption translation is enabled, the language displayed in the lobby livestreaming window matches users’ language preferences. Zoom Events supports localization for global users. Attendees can click the language interpretation icon from their livestreaming controls, select the language they want, and watch livestreaming closed captions in their selected language.

Attendees can view a countdown to the event (if the lobby is open to early access before the event begins).

To join a session, click the Join button on the event detail page.
Note: This button will be disabled if the session has not started. 

Speakers section

The Speakers tab is where you can view the profile cards of speakers in the event. When you scroll down the lobby page, the speakers for the event will appear.

When you click a speaker's card, a flyout panel will appear from the bottom of the page. You will be directed to the speaker's information, which displays the following:

  • Speaker's first name and last name
  • Job Title
  • Company
  • Speaker biography
  • Social media accounts
  • Speaker video

To return to the lobby, at the top-right corner of the speaker's panel, click X.

Details section

You can view the event's details in this section. The Details section includes more information about the single-session event, such as participation requirements, featured guests, or other important information for attendees. 

Reference Materials section

You can access and download PDF files that the event organizer included. 

  1. Access the event lobby.
  2. In the Reference Materials section, find the reference material you want to download, then click Download .
    The PDF file will download to your computer.

Use the Report Incident function

Attendees can submit reports about offensive content to a Zoom Sessions’ event host, giving them the ability to take action on attendees’ reports during and after the event.

  1. At the bottom of the lobby page, click Report Incident .
    A pop-up window will appear where you can complete a form to report unwelcomed behaviors or content. You can upload a screenshot as supporting proof in the form and report to the event organizer (for immediate feedback) or Zoom.
  2. Click Report to send the reported incident.

Notes:

  • In the report pop-up window's Who do you want to report? field, attendees cannot submit the report if the name they have entered does not match the name of a user currently in the event.
  • Attendees can submit the report to both the event organizer and Zoom simultaneously.
  • If the attendee submits a report to Zoom, they will receive a confirmation email asking them to confirm whether or not they wish to submit this report. If they confirm they want to submit their report, they will be re-directed to the Zoom Trust & Safety (TnS) form.

Web

The Zoom Sessions web browser experience is an easy way for attendees to join events and get the end-to-end event experience on desktop web browsers. Attendees do not have to download the latest version of the Zoom client to attend an event; they can participate in virtually all aspects of the event from their browser Zoom Sessions (web) supports mainstream web browsers supported by web meeting SDK.

Attendees who click Join on the client will continue to open the lobby window on the client. Attendees who click Join from other places will open the Lobby tab on their desktop web browser (after they sign in on the browser).

For attendees who start events on web browsers, Zoom Sessions (web) supplements the client-centric event experience. After signing in to their Zoom account, attendees will land in the event lobby on their web browser. The web browser lobby includes livestreaming, sessions list and details, survey, and report. It also includes the following features:

Notes:

Use Zoom Sessions web browser lobby

  1. Join a Zoom Sessions event lobby.
  2. In the Lobby, do the following actions:

Lobby

In the event lobby, you can view the session curated by your event organizer, view event details, join the event, view reference materials (downloadable PDFs), and check out recordings of completed sessions (if the recording has been released by hosts).

Hosts can also select to stream the session in the lobby. Attendees can view live sessions at a glance before they join. When attendees join the event lobby before the Zoom Sessions event starts, they will receive the following message: "The host has not started the session. You will join the session automatically on a Zoom client window or a new browser tab (subject to the setting of your event profile) when the host starts it." When a session starts, the session window will open.

Notes:

Attendees can view a countdown to the event (if the lobby is open to early access before the event begins).

To join a session, click the Join button on the event detail page.
Note: This button will be disabled if the session has not started.

Register for upcoming sessions in the recurring sessions event lobby

On the lobby page of a recurring sessions event, attendees can register for an upcoming session or watch a previously recorded session without having to complete the entire registration flow.

Note: This applies to only free events only, and events with registration and without registration.

To register for some or all upcoming sessions in a free recurring sessions event:

  1. Join an event lobby for a free recurring sessions event.
  2. Under Other sessions, complete the following actions to register for sessions in the event:
    • To the right of an individual session, click Register.
      The Register button will change to the Registered label, and you will receive a confirmation email for that session.
    • At the top of the list of the upcoming sessions, click Register For All Sessions.
      You will be registered for all sessions that you were not currently registered for, and you will receive a confirmation email for those sessions.

Speakers section

The Speakers tab is where you can view the profile cards of speakers in the event. When you scroll down the lobby page, the speakers for the event will appear.

When you click a speaker's card, a flyout panel will appear from the bottom of the page. You will be directed to the speaker's information, which displays the following:

To return to the lobby, at the top-right corner of the speaker's panel, click X.

Details section

You can view the event's details in this section. The Details section includes more information about the single-session event, such as participation requirements, featured guests, or other important information for attendees. 

Reference Materials section

You can access and download PDF files that the event organizer included. 

  1. Access the event lobby.
  2. In the Reference Materials section, find the reference material you want to download, then click Download .
    The PDF file will download to your computer.

Use the Report Incident function

Attendees can submit reports about offensive content to a Zoom Sessions event host, giving them the ability to take action on attendees’ reports during and after the event.

  1. Join an event lobby on your web browser.
  2. At the top of your web browser, click your profile picture.
  3. Click Report Incident .
    A pop-up window will appear where you can complete a form to report unwelcomed behaviors or content. You can upload a screenshot as supporting proof in the form and report to the event organizer (for immediate feedback) or Zoom.
  4. Click Report to send the reported incident.

Notes:

How to watch event recordings

If the hosts allow it, attendees can access session recordings after an event. When a session is finished and its recording has been published, the session tile in the event details page will be clickable to watch the recording with a deeplink. When clicked, users will be directed to the lobby to watch the recording.

Note: The recordings will remain in the lobby until the lobby is closed.

  1. Join an event lobby on the web browser or desktop client.
  2. On the lobby page, click Watch Recording.
    You will be directed to the recording's page.

Note: Attendees can watch Simulive recordings after a session ends by accessing the recording link in the event lobby. The Simulive recordings are not recorded; this link directs the attendees to the original recording which was used to create the Simulive session.

Register and watch event recordings for recurring events

When an attendee is already registered for a Video On Demand (VOD) session, a registration confirmation email will not be sent. 

  1. Join an event lobby on the web browser or desktop client.
  2. On the lobby page, under Other Sessions, find the Past recordings section.
  3. Under the Past recording section, to the right of the session with the recording you want to watch, click Watch Recording.
    You can also click Re-Watch Recording for recordings that you have previously watched. You will be registered and can watch the VOD recordings.

Use multi-language voice translation from interpreters

Interpreters' translation audio can be played in the Zoom Events recordings for the sessions in the lobby and published recordings in the hub. Users can choose the language(s) available that are translated and recorded by interpreters.

  1. Watch an event recording.
  2. In the video controls toolbar, click the Language Interpretation icon.
    Note: On smaller screen sizes or windows, you may have to click the More icon , then click Language Interpretation.
    A language menu will appear.
  3. In the menu, click the language that you would like to hear.

Use recording transcript translation

  1. Watch an event recording.
  2. At the top of the recording's transcription, click the language box.
    A language menu will appear.
  3. Select the transcription language that you want.  
    The transcript will appear in your selected language.

How to switch from the web browser to the desktop client

If you want to use the desktop client for your Zoom Sessions event, you can switch to the desktop client from the web browser.

  1. Join an event lobby on your web browser.
  2. At the top of your web browser, click your profile picture.
  3. Click Join via Zoom .
    A Is Zoom Installed? verification dialog box will appear.
  4. In the verification dialog box:

How to use additional actions from the Zoom Sessions lobby

  1. Join an event lobby.
  2. In the top-right corner of the lobby, click your profile picture.
  3. In the menu, select from the following actions:

Pair with Zoom Rooms

Attendees can join live meeting/webinar sessions through a personal Zoom Room or a Zoom Room that is paired with their Zoom client. 

In the top-right corner of the Zoom Events lobby, click the Pair icon to pair with a room. 

Learn more about attending Zoom Events using Zoom Rooms.