Managing feature release controls

Feature release controls are a framework that allow Zoom account admins with an Enterprise account the ability to manage the release of new features or products into their environment. Account admins can select a timeline they are comfortable with for evaluating newly released features, based on the needs for testing functionality, security, and compliance that are required by organizational policy.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for managing feature release controls

How to understand feature release controls

Admins have a console view that lists the newly released features/products, where they can select a timeline for enabling these features or products. During this evaluation timeline, admins can enable or disable features in the controlled release view and can remove features from the console.

Zoom determines if a product or feature should be included in the Feature Release Controls console by the following guidelines:

If the new feature/product follows the above guidelines, the feature/product will be included in Feature Release Controls.

How to enable or disable Controlled Release

The Controlled Release feature disables and locks new features for a set period of time before they are automatically enabled. During this period, you can manually enable or disable the features directly from the Feature Release Controls portal.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Feature Release Controls.
  3. Under Release Settings, click the Controlled Release toggle to enable or disable it.
  4. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.

After enabling Controlled Release, new features or products released by Zoom will appear in the Feature Release Controls console, based on the feature/product release date. Once a newly released product or feature is included in Feature Release Controls, it will be set to off/locked in Account Settings for the duration that the feature remains in the release controls console.

If you disable Controlled Release, any new features will be released using Zoom’s default release schedule.

Select the timed enablement period

After enabling Controlled Release, you must select Timed Enablement Period.

  1. Under Controlled Release, by Timed Enablement Period, click the dropdown.
  2. Select the enablement period to be 30, 60 or 90 days.
    Note: The default setting is 30 days until updated by the admin.

When you make a selection, forced enablement of features will occur after your selected length of time, unless the admin selects to enable or disable a new feature/product. Enabling or disabling during the timed enablement period will opt-in or opt-out of the enablement period.

If you do not manually enable or disable a new feature/product during the timed enablement period, then that feature/product will automatically be enabled at the end of the timed release period set by you (for all controlled release features). This means the standard feature/product control toggle located within the appropriate web portal location will turn on automatically at the end of the timed period.

Enable controlled release features in Account Settings

As an admin with privileges to edit account settings, you can manually enable controlled release features in Account Settings.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
  3. Click the tab that the feature belongs to.
  4. Find the setting/category section, then click the toggle of the controlled release feature you want to enable.
  5. If a verification dialog displays, click Enable to verify the change.

If enabled, the feature will be removed from the controlled release, and the setting will be enabled for all groups and users.

Note: Settings that had previously changed for groups or users will not be affected.

How to manage email notifications

  1. After enabling Controlled Release, under Timed Enablement Period, select the Remind me checkbox.
  2. Select the number of days before automatic release that you want to receive an email notification.
  3. In the Email field, enter your email address.
  4. Click Save.
  5. (Optional) To edit your email address:
    1. By your existing email address, click the pencil icon .
    2. Enter a new email address.
    3. Click Save.

You will receive an email notification about features that will be automatically enabled for your account in your selected number of days (before automatic release).

How to manually enable or disable features in Feature Release Controls

In the Feature Release Controls console, columns will be displayed for Release Date, Feature (name), Product (name), Auto-Enables In (days), and Action (enable or disable). You can manually enable or disable a feature instead of waiting for the auto-enable timeline.

Manually enable a feature in Feature Release Controls

  1. In the Feature Release Controls console, to the right of the feature you want to enable, click Enable.
    A confirmation window will appear.
  2. In the confirmation window, click Confirm.
    Note: The selected feature will be enabled for your organization within Account Settings.
    The manually enabled feature will disappear from your list of features, and a notification will appear at the top of the page, showing that your feature enablement was successful.
  3. (Optional) In the notification, click View Setting.
    You will be directed to the Account Settings section of the feature that you enabled.

Manually disable a feature in Feature Release Controls

  1. In the Feature Release Controls console, to the right of the feature you want to enable, click Disable.
    A confirmation window will appear.
  2. In the confirmation window, click Confirm.
    Note: The selected feature will remain disabled and locked for your organization within Account Settings.
    The manually disabled feature will disappear from your list of features, and a notification will appear at the top of the page, showing that your feature disablement was successful, and the feature is locked.
  3. (Optional) In the notification, click View Setting.
    You will be directed to the Account Settings section of the feature that you disabled.

How to view a setting in Account Settings

  1. In the Feature Release Controls console, find the feature you want to view.
  2. To the right of the feature you want to view, click the ellipsis button , then click View Setting.

You will be directed to the Account Settings section of the feature that you enabled.

How to view recent auto-enabled features

  1. Above the list of features in the Feature Release Controls console, click View Recently Auto-Enabled Features.
    A Recently Auto-Enabled Features pop-up window will appear.
  2. In the pop-up window, view the automatically-enabled features.
    Note: This window will list automatically-enabled features within the last 60 days.
    You can view columns that display the Release Date, Feature (name), Product (name), and Auto-Enabled Date (days).
  3. (Optional) To the right of an enabled feature, click View.
    You will be directed to the Account Settings section of the feature that you enabled.

How to view changes made by admins on the account

All Zoom admin actions will be captured in the admin activity logs. The admin activity logs will record the action, the admin, and the time and date.

Learn more about using admin activity logs.