Using Q and A in a Zoom Webinar

The question & answer (Q&A) feature for webinars allows attendees to ask questions during the webinar, and for the panelists, co-hosts, and host to answer their questions. Optionally, attendees can answer and upvote each other's questions.

After the webinar has ended, you can generate a Q&A report for further analysis.

Q&A is also available for use in Meetings. 

This article covers:

Prerequisites for using Q&A in Webinars

Limitations of using Q&A with Zoom Webinars

How to schedule a webinar with Q&A

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. Click Webinars.
  3. Choose to edit an existing webinar or schedule a new webinar.
  4. Under Webinar Options, check Q&A.
    Note: If the option is missing, it has been disabled at the Account level, and you will need to contact your Zoom administrator.
  5. Click Schedule.

Edit Q&A options

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. Click Webinars.
  3. Click the topic of your webinar.
  4. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Q&A tab.
  5. Click Edit to adjust the following settings: 
  6. Click Save.

Note: The above settings can be adjusted during a running webinar session.

How to manage Q&A during a webinar

How to answer questions

  1. As the host, co-host, or panelist, click Q&A in the webinar controls to view all submitted questions.
    Questions submitted by attendees external to the account will be indicated by (Guest) next to their name.
    By default, questions are sorted chronologically, with the most recent at the bottom of the list. 
  2. (Optional) Click the Default View dropdown to switch between sorting options: 
    • Most Upvotes: Submitted questions are sorted by the number of upvotes received by attendees. 
    • Most Recent: Submitted questions are sorted by their submission time, with the most recent at the top of the list.
      Note: Sorting submitted questions by upvotes or most recent requires the host or panelists to view Q&A with version 5.8.6 or higher. 
  3. Find the question you would like to answer.

    • Click Answer Live to answer the question out loud during the webinar. 
    • Click Type Answer to type out your answer for the attendee.
      Type your answer and click Send.
      Note: If you allow attendees to comment on questions, the questions will still appear in the Open list and can be responded to, even if an attendee has commented on the question.
    • (Optional) Check Answer Privately before clicking send, if you would like to answer to the attendee only.

How to dismiss questions

  1. As the host, co-host, or panelist, click Q&A in the webinar controls.
  2. Hover over the question that you would like to dismiss and click Dismiss.

How to reopen dismissed questions

  1. As the host, co-host, or panelist, click Q&A  in the webinar controls.
  2. Click the Dismissed tab.
  3. Find the question you would like to reopen and click Reopen Question.

Upvoted Q&A

You can upvote a question by clicking the thumbs up icon.

How to change Q&A settings during a live webinar

  1. Click Q&A in the webinar controls. 
  2. In the top-right corner of the Q&A window, click the gear icon to open the settings window.
    The following options will be displayed: 
    • Attendees can submit questions: Control if you want Q&A to be currently accepting questions from attendees.  
      • Allow anonymous questions: Attendees' names do not appear next to the questions.
    • Allow attendees to view:
      • Answered questions only: Only answered questions are displayed.
      • All questions: Answered questions and questions that haven't been answered are displayed.
        • Attendees can upvote: Attendees can click the thumbs up button to bring popular questions to the top of the Q&A window.
        • Attendees can comment: All attendees can answer questions or leave a comment. 

Note: The webinar host changing these Q&A settings will have no effect on attendees that join the webinar with Zoom app versions lower than 5.13.5 (5.13.10 for VDI). 

Linux

How to answer questions

  1. As the host, co-host, or panelist, click Q&A in the webinar controls to view all submitted questions.
    Questions submitted by attendees external to the account will be indicated by (Guest) next to their name. 
    By default, questions are sorted chronologically, with the most recent at the bottom of the list. 
  2. (Optional) Click the Default View dropdown to switch between sorting options: 
    • Most Upvotes: Submitted questions are sorted by the number of upvotes received by attendees. 
    • Most Recent: Submitted questions are sorted by their submission time, with the most recent at the top of the list. 
      Note: Sorting submitted questions by upvotes or most recent requires the host or panelists to view Q&A with version 5.8.6 or higher. 
  3. Find the question you would like to answer.
    • Click Answer Live to answer the question out loud during the webinar.
    • Click Answer by Text to type out your answer for the attendee.
      Type your answer and click Send.
      Note: If you allow attendees to comment on questions, the questions will still appear in the Open list and can be responded to, even if an attendee has commented on the question.
    • (Optional) Check Answer Privately before clicking send, if you would like to answer to the attendee only.

How to change Q&A settings during a live webinar

  1. Click Q&A in the webinar controls at the bottom of the Zoom window to open the Q&A window.
  2. In the top-right corner of the Q&A window, click the gear icon to open the settings window.
    The following options will be displayed: 
    • Attendees can submit questions: Control if you want Q&A to be currently accepting questions from attendees.  
      • Allow anonymous questions: Attendees' names do not appear next to the questions.
    • Allow attendees to view:
      • Answered questions only: Only answered questions are displayed.
      • All questions: Answered questions and questions that haven't been answered are displayed.
        • Attendees can upvote: Attendees can click the thumbs up button to bring popular questions to the top of the Q&A window.
        • Attendees can comment: All attendees can answer questions or leave a comment.

Note: The webinar host changing these Q&A settings will have no effect on attendees that join the webinar with Zoom app versions lower than 5.13.5 (5.13.10 for VDI).  

Android

How to answer questions

  1. As the host, co-host, or panelist, tap Q&A in the top-right corner to view all submitted questions.
    Questions submitted by attendees external to the account will be indicated by (Guest) next to their name.
    By default, questions are sorted chronologically, with the most recent at the bottom of the list. 
  2. (Optional) Tap the Default View dropdown to switch between sorting options: 
    • Most Upvotes: Submitted questions are sorted by the number of upvotes received by attendees. 
    • Most Recent: Submitted questions are sorted by their submission time, with the most recent at the top of the list. 
      Note: Sorting submitted questions by upvotes or most recent requires the host or panelists to view Q&A with version 5.8.6 or higher. 
  3. Find the question you would like to answer.

    • Tap Answer Live to answer the question out loud during the webinar.
    • Tap Answer by Text to type out your answer for the attendee.
      Type your answer and tap Send.
      Note: If you allow attendees to comment on questions, the questions will still appear in the Open list and can be responded to, even if an attendee has commented on the question.
    • (Optional) Check Answer Privately before clicking send, if you would like to answer to the attendee only.

How to dismiss questions

  1. Start a webinar as the host or alternative host.
  2. Tap Q&A in the top-right corner.
  3. Hold down on the question you want to dismiss until the options appear.
  4. Tap Dismiss or Delete. 
    Note    : Deleted questions cannot be reopened. 

How to reopen dismissed questions

  1. Start a webinar as the host or alternative host.
  2. Tap Q&A in the top-right corner.
  3. Tap the Dismissed tab.
  4. Hold down on the question you want to reopen until the options appear.
  5. Tap Reopen.

Upvoted Q&A

You can upvote a question by tapping the thumbs up.

How to change Q&A settings during a live webinar

  1. In the webinar controls at the top of the Zoom window, tap the Q&A icon to open the Q&A window.
  2. In the top-right corner of the Q&A window, tap the gear icon . 
    The following settings will be shown: 
    • Attendees can submit questions: Control if you want Q&A to be currently accepting questions from attendees.  
    • Allow anonymous questions: Attendees' names do not appear next to the questions.
    • Allow attendees to view:
      • Answered questions only: Only answered questions are displayed.
      • All questions: Answered questions and questions that haven't been answered are displayed.
        • Attendees can upvote: Attendees can click the thumbs up button to bring popular questions to the top of the Q&A window.
        • Attendees can comment: All attendees can answer questions or leave a comment.

Note: The webinar host changing these Q&A settings will have no effect on attendees that join the webinar with Zoom app versions lower than 5.13.5.  

iOS

How to answer questions

  1. As the host, co-host, or panelist, tap Q&A in the top-right corner to view all submitted questions.
    Questions submitted by attendees external to the account will be indicated by (Guest) next to their name.
    By default, questions are sorted chronologically, with the most recent at the bottom of the list. 
  2. (Optional) Tap the Default View dropdown to switch between sorting options: 
    • Most Upvotes: Submitted questions are sorted by the number of upvotes received by attendees. 
    • Most Recent: Submitted questions are sorted by their submission time, with the most recent at the top of the list. 
      Note: Sorting submitted questions by upvotes or most recent requires the host or panelists to view Q&A with version 5.8.6 or higher. 
  3. Find the question you would like to answer.

    • Tap Answer Live to answer the question out loud during the webinar.
    • Tap Answer by Text to type out your answer for the attendee.
      Type your answer and tap Send.
      Note: If you allow attendees to comment on questions, the questions will still appear in the Open list and can be responded to, even if an attendee has commented on the question.
    • (Optional) Check Answer Privately before clicking send, if you would like to answer to the attendee only.

How to dismiss questions

  1. Start a webinar as the host or alternative host.
  2. Tap Q&A in the top-right corner.
  3. Hold down on the question you want to dismiss until the options appear.
  4. Tap Dismiss or Delete. 
    Note    : Deleted questions cannot be reopened. 

How to reopen dismissed questions

  1. Start a webinar as the host or alternative host.
  2. Tap Q&A in the top-right corner.
  3. Tap the Dismissed tab.
  4. Tap Reopen.  

Upvoted Q&A

You can upvote a question by tapping the thumbs up.

How to change Q&A settings during a live webinar

  1. In the webinar controls at the top of the Zoom window, tap the Q&A icon.
  2. In the top-right corner of the Q&A window, tap the gear icon . 
    The following settings will be shown: 
    • Attendees can submit questions: Control if you want Q&A to be currently accepting questions from attendees.  
    • Allow anonymous questions: Attendees' names do not appear next to the questions.
    • Allow attendees to view:
      • Answered questions only: Only answered questions are displayed.
      • All questions: Answered questions and questions that haven't been answered are displayed.
        • Attendees can upvote: Attendees can click the thumbs up button to bring popular questions to the top of the Q&A window.
        • Attendees can comment: All attendees can answer questions or leave a comment.

Note: The webinar host changing these Q&A settings will have no effect on attendees that join the webinar with Zoom app versions lower than 5.13.5.