Using Layers in Zoom Whiteboard

The Layers feature lets you organize and group your whiteboard content into separate stacks (layers) so you can work on complex boards more efficiently. By moving objects into named layers, hiding or locking groups of items, and isolating one layer at a time, you keep your workspace tidy and maintain a clear hierarchy in multi-step diagrams or presentations.

Requirements for using Layers in Zoom Whiteboard

• Zoom desktop app for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higher
• Zoom Web App
• Zoom Whiteboard Plus license to create, rename, duplicate, lock, and reorder layers
• Any user (even without Whiteboard Plus) can view and toggle visibility of layers

How to access and manage layers

Open the layers panel

1. Create or open a whiteboard.
2. At the top-left corner of the whiteboard, click the Page icon .
   The Pages panel will appear.
3. Click the Layers icon .
   The Layers panel will appear, listing your current base layer plus any custom layers.

Create a new layer

1. From the Layers panel, click Add Layer at the bottom.
2. Enter a name for your layer.
3. Click Enter.
   Your new layer appears above the base layer.

Note: You can also right-click any selected object on the canvas, choose Move to Layer, then Add Layer, and name it in one step.

Move objects between layers

1. Select one or more objects.
2. Right-click, choose Move to Layer, then select the target layer.
   All selected items jump into that layer, preserving their relative Z-order.

Rename or duplicate a layer

1. Select the layer you want to manage.
2. Click the ellipsis icon  to perform the following actions:
   • Rename: Enter a display name for the layer.
   • Duplicate: Create a new layer that is exact copy of the selected layer.

Hide, lock, and reorder layers

1. Select the layer you want to manage.
2. Choose from the following options:
   • Hide/Show: Click the eye icon next to a layer to toggle its visibility.
   • Lock/Unlock: Click the lock icon to prevent edits to that layer’s objects.
   • Reorder: Click-and-drag a layer up or down in the pane. Objects in upper layers render above items in lower layers on the canvas.

Focus on a single layer

1. Click a layer’s name in the pane to select it.
   All other layers dim to the background. Only this layer’s objects remain in full focus.
2. Click the page background or another layer to exit focus mode.

Why use layers

• Organization: Group related content (e.g., annotations, base diagrams, callouts) so you can quickly hide or lock entire sets.
• Clarity: Work on one aspect of your board at a time. Focus mode prevents accidental edits to other elements.
• Hierarchy and Z-order: Easily stack objects and adjust their draw order by moving entire layers up or down.
• Collaboration: Lock completed layers to let teammates add content without disturbing finalized work.
• Efficiency: Duplicate existing layers as templates for new sections, speeding up multi-step workflows.

Layers Frequently asked questions

• What is the base layer?
  • All objects you create before adding any layers go into the base layer. It cannot be deleted, but you can hide or lock it.

• Can I reorder objects within a layer?
  • Yes, objects maintain their own Z-order within a layer. Reordering the layer itself shifts the whole group up or down relative to other layers.

• Do non-Whiteboard Plus users see my layers?
  • They can view and hide/show layers but cannot create, rename, duplicate, or reorder them.

• What happens if I delete a layer?
  • All objects in that layer move back to the base layer. You’ll be prompted to confirm before deletion.