Using Webinar practice session

A webinar practice session allows you to set up and get acquainted with webinar controls before starting your webinar. The practice session is accessible by the host, alternative host, and any panelist.

To enter the practice session, the host, alternative host, and panelist need to simply join the webinar before the host begins broadcasting the webinar live to attendees, as the webinar will begin in the practice session when started. The host or co-host can start broadcasting when everyone is ready.

Notes:

Requirements for using webinar practice sessions

Table of Contents

How to enable a webinar practice session

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Webinars.
  3. Do one of the following:
  4. In the Options section, do one of the following:
  5. Click Schedule if you're scheduling a new webinar, or click Save if you're editing an existing webinar.

How to start a webinar practice session

Only the host, alternative host, and panelists can join practice sessions. There can only be one active practice session for each webinar. For example, if the host starts a practice session and then an alternative host starts one, they will be in the same practice session.

Web
  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Webinars.
  3. On the Upcoming tab, do one of the following:
    • Hover over the webinar with a practice session enabled and click Start Practice Session.
    • Click the title of the webinar, then in the top-right corner, click Start Practice Session.
      Note: If the options say Start or Start this Webinar, then the practice session is not enabled for the webinar. 
      After clicking Start Practice Session, you will have the option to launch the Zoom Workplace app.
  4. Continue to open the app to start the practice session from your desktop or mobile app.
    The host, alternative host, and panelists will see a banner at the top of Zoom window that lets them know they are in a practice session.
Windows | macOS | Linux
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. At the top of the app, click the Home tab  or click the Meetings tab  or Calendar tab .
    Note: If you have set up the calendar and contacts integration to connect your calendar, you will have the Calendar tab. If you haven’t connected your calendar, you will have the Meetings tab.
  3. Click the webinar you want to start the practice session for.
    The host, alternative host, and panelists will see a banner at the top of Zoom window that lets them know they are in a practice session.

How to start a webinar from within a practice session

  1. Start a webinar practice session.
  2. In the top banner, click Start webinar.
    A pop-up will appear, informing you that once you click start, attendees can join the webinar.
  3. Click Start to begin the webinar and allow attendees to join. 
    The host and other panelists will see a banner at the top of the Zoom window that lets them know the webinar is now live. 

Note: This will not change the original start time that you set when scheduling the webinar. We recommend coordinating with panelists when you wish to join the practice session ahead of the scheduled start time so that the practice session does not go into the scheduled start time.