Converting meetings and webinars

The meeting and webinar platforms offer similar features and functionality but have some key differences. Meetings are designed to be a collaborative event where all parties can see, hear, and share with each other, whereas webinars are designed so that the host and designated panelists can share and view-only attendees can watch the presentation. Compare meeting and webinar features side by side. 

If you have scheduled an event as a meeting or webinar that would be better suited as the other, you can convert it within the Zoom web portal.

This article covers:

• How to convert a meeting into a webinar
• How to convert a webinar into a meeting

Prerequisites for converting meetings and webinars

• Host user type must be Licensed and be assigned the Zoom Webinars add-on
• Scheduled meeting must use an automatically generated meeting ID; cannot be scheduled with PMI

How to convert a meeting into a webinar

When converting from meeting to webinar, the meeting/webinar ID will remain the same, but the registration link will change slightly. Conveniently, the old registration link will automatically redirect users to the new registration page to avoid any confusion by those who may open the first registration page. Those who have already registered can still join with the same link as before, and meeting settings and registrants will also be transferred to the webinar. 

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Meetings. 
3. Click the name of the meeting you would like to convert to a webinar. 
4. Scroll down and click the Convert this Meeting to a Webinar link, located to the right of the Start, Edit, Delete, and Save as Template options.
5. Confirm that you want to convert this meeting to a webinar by clicking Convert.

How to convert a webinar into a meeting

When converting from a webinar to a meeting, webinar-only features, such as Q&A, multiple-answer questions, webinar-related email settings, and post-webinar surveys, will be lost. The registration page URL will be changed, but the former registration page will redirect to the new page and retain the logo and banner from branding.

If the webinar had registration, panelists will be converted to registrants, and those who have already registered can still join with the same link as before. The registration report will be moved from Webinar reports to Meeting reports, as well as attendee report moving to Usage / Active Hosts (for admins). If the webinar is recurring and has one or more sessions already take place before the conversion, the reports for the sessions run as a webinar will still be found under Webinar reporting. 

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Webinars. 
3. Click the name of the webinar you would like to convert to a meeting. 
4. Scroll down and click the Convert this Webinar to a Meeting link, located to the right of the Start this Webinar, Edit, and Save as Template options.
5. Confirm that you want to convert this webinar to a meeting by clicking Convert.