Restrict in-meeting features for users joining meetings

Admins can restrict which in-meeting/webinar features are available when joining or hosting an internal meeting or webinar. However, with the follow user in-meeting policy, admins can also enable policies that will restrict certain in-meeting features even when joining an external meeting or webinar. These include restricting users on the account from transferring files, sharing their screen, using/viewing in-meeting chat, adding annotations during a screen share, sharing a whiteboard, recording a meeting, viewing/typing closed captions, and more. Once enabled, the policy will follow the user no matter the device the user logs into Zoom with to join meetings. 

This article covers: 

• Priority of settings
• Restricting external in-meeting features at the Account level
• Restricting external in-meeting features at the Group level

Prerequisites for restricting in-meeting features when joining meetings

• Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise account
• Account owner or admin privileges
• Zoom desktop client for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higher
• Zoom mobile app for Android or iOS: Global minimum version or higher
• VDI client: Global minimum version or higher
• Zoom Web app

Note: To have this feature enabled, submit a request to Zoom Support.

Priority of settings

As settings can be configured in multiple places, with some only configurable by a Zoom or IT Admin and others configurable by the end user, it's imperative that admins understand the which settings take priority over others and how conflicting settings are handled. 

If settings conflict, Zoom will use the following priority:

1. Settings deployed and locked through ZDM.
2. Setting deployed through MSI/GPO with zConfig.
3. Settings deployed with the Restrict in-meeting features for users joining meetings setting
4. Client setting selected by the user.
5. Setting deployed through MSI/GPO with zRecommend.
6. Web setting that are not locked.

Restricting external in-meeting features at the Account level

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
3. Click the Meeting tab.
4. Under In Meeting (Advanced), navigate to Restrict users from using selected features when they join a meeting.
5. Click Select Features to Restrict.
6. Select the check box next to the feature you want to restrict:
   • All listed features - Restricts the user from using all of the following options. 
   • Join webinars - Restricts the user from joining any Zoom Webinars. 
   • Computer audio - Restricts the user from joining meetings or webinars with computer audio.
   • Chat - Restricts the user from using in-meeting chat.
   • Send and receive direct messages - Restricts participation in private chats during meetings and webinars.
   • Meeting polls - Restricts participation in in-meeting polling.
   • Webinar polls - Restricts participation in webinar polling.
   • Meeting survey - Restricts participation in surveys presented at the end of a meeting.
   • Webinar survey - Restricts participation in surveys presented at the end of a webinar.
   • File transfer - Restricts the use of transferring files while in a meeting.
   • Screen sharing - Restricts the user from screen sharing during the meeting.
   • Annotation - Restricts the user from being able to annotate during screen shares.
   • Whiteboard (Classic) - Restricts the user from sharing a classic whiteboard during the meeting.
   • Whiteboard (New) - Restricts the user from receiving access to or editing a Zoom Whiteboard.
   • Non-verbal feedback - Restricts the use of providing nonverbal feedback during the meeting.
   • Meeting reactions - Restricts the use of meeting reactions during a meeting.
   • Webinar reactions - Restricts the use of webinar reactions during a webinar.
   • Remote control - Restricts the use of using the remote control feature when joining a meeting.
   • Auto accept all requests - Restricts the ability for users to automatically accept remote control requests from specified users. 
   • Show profile picture - Restricts profile picture from being shown.
   • Q&A - Restricts participation in Q&A during webinars.
   • Remote support - Restricts the use of Remote support sessions during a meeting.
   • Automated captions - Restricts the use of automated captions.
   • Local recording - Restricts the user from starting a local recording session when in-meeting.
   • Closed captioning - Disables the ability to start Closed captioning while in a meeting, either provided manually or through a third-party service. 
   • Allow host to type or assign a participant to type - Restricts the use of manual captioning.
   • Meeting Summary with AI Companion - Restricts the ability for the host to start the Meeting Summary with AI Companion feature. 
   • Meeting questions with AI Companion - Restricts the ability for the host to start the meeting questions with AI Companion feature. 
   • Save Captions - Disables the ability for the user to save a local copy of the captioning transcript. 
   • Join end-to-end encrypted meetings - Restricts user from joining meetings with E2EE.
   • Post Meeting URL - Restricts the user from being directed to the a post-meeting URL, such as a survey or sign-up page. 
   • Zoom Apps - Restricts the user from accessing Zoom Apps. 
   • Status sharing in Zoom Calendar - Prevents a user's status from being shared when others are scheduling through Zoom Calendar. 
   • File transfer from third-party file storage - Restricts the ability to share files from other file services, such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. 
   • Zoom Guest Access - Control the ability for users to utilize a Zoom App in Guest mode.
7. Under Restrict use of this feature in, select when the feature restriction should be applied:
   • All Meetings - Disables the feature when users join an internal or external meeting.
   • External Meetings only - Disables the feature when a user joins External meetings.
     Note: Internal meeting settings will still be applied when joining internal meetings.
8. Under Locked, click the  , to lock the feature restriction.
   Note: If the restriction is set to All Meetings, and the restriction is locked, this will override any in-meeting settings set at the User, Group, or Account level.
9. Click Save.

Restricting external in-meeting features at the Group level

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit groups.
2. In the navigation menu, click User Management then Groups.
3. Click the applicable group name from the list.
4. Click the Meeting tab.
5. Under In Meeting (Advanced), navigate to Restrict users from using selected features when they join a meeting.
6. Click Select Features to Restrict.
7. Select the check box next to the feature you want to restrict:
   • All listed features - Restricts the user from using all of the following options. 
   • Join webinars - Restricts the user from joining any Zoom Webinars. 
   • Computer audio - Restricts the user from joining meetings or webinars with computer audio.
   • Chat - Restricts the user from using in-meeting chat.
   • Send and receive direct messages - Restricts participation in private chats during meetings and webinars.
   • Meeting polls - Restricts participation in in-meeting polling.
   • Webinar polls - Restricts participation in webinar polling.
   • Meeting survey - Restricts participation in surveys presented at the end of a meeting.
   • Webinar survey - Restricts participation in surveys presented at the end of a webinar.
   • File transfer - Restricts the use of transferring files while in a meeting.
   • Screen sharing - Restricts the user from screen sharing during the meeting.
   • Annotation - Restricts the user from being able to annotate during screen shares.
   • Whiteboard (Classic) - Restricts the user from sharing a classic whiteboard during the meeting.
   • Whiteboard (New) - Restricts the user from receiving access to or editing a Zoom Whiteboard.
   • Non-verbal feedback - Restricts the use of providing nonverbal feedback during the meeting.
   • Meeting reactions - Restricts the use of meeting reactions during a meeting.
   • Webinar reactions - Restricts the use of webinar reactions during a webinar.
   • Remote control - Restricts the use of using the remote control feature when joining a meeting.
   • Auto accept all requests - Restricts the ability for users to automatically accept remote control requests from specified users. 
   • Show profile picture - Restricts profile picture from being shown.
   • Q&A - Restricts participation in Q&A during webinars.
   • Remote support - Restricts the use of Remote support sessions during a meeting.
   • Automated captions - Restricts the use of automated captions.
   • Local recording - Restricts the user from starting a local recording session when in-meeting.
   • Closed captioning - Disables the ability to start Closed captioning while in a meeting, either provided manually or through a third-party service. 
   • Allow host to type or assign a participant to type - Restricts the use of manual captioning.
   • Meeting Summary with AI Companion - Restricts the ability for the host to start the Meeting Summary with AI Companion feature. 
   • Meeting questions with AI Companion - Restricts the ability for the host to start the meeting questions with AI Companion feature. 
   • Save Captions - Disables the ability for the user to save a local copy of the captioning transcript. 
   • Join end-to-end encrypted meetings - Restricts user from joining meetings with E2EE.
   • Post Meeting URL - Restricts the user from being directed to the a post-meeting URL, such as a survey or sign-up page. 
   • Zoom Apps - Restricts the user from accessing Zoom Apps. 
   • Status sharing in Zoom Calendar - Prevents a user's status from being shared when others are scheduling through Zoom Calendar. 
   • File transfer from third-party file storage - Restricts the ability to share files from other file services, such as Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. 
   • Zoom Guest Access - Control the ability for users to utilize a Zoom App in Guest mode.
8. Under Restrict use of this feature in, select when the feature restriction should be applied:
   • All Meetings- Disables the feature when users join an internal or external meeting.
   • External Meetings only- Disables the feature when a user joins External meetings.
     Note: Internal meeting settings will still be applied when joining internal meetings.
9. Under Locked, click the , to lock the feature restriction.
   Note: If the restriction is set to All Meetings, and the restriction is locked, this will override any in-meeting settings set at the User level.
10. Click Save.