Getting started as a Zoom Sessions attendee


Zoom Sessions is an immersive platform where attendees can enjoy interactive and engaging virtual experiences from creators of all sizes: from large media organizations to creative individual hosts. Zoom Sessions allows attendees to join and register for single-session events. 

This article covers:

Prerequisites for getting started as a Zoom Sessions attendee

Note: For attendee access to the latest Zoom Events and Webinar features, we highly encourage attendees to update to the latest version of the Zoom desktop client/mobile application.

How to navigate Zoom Sessions on the Zoom Events platform

Zoom Sessions uses the Zoom Events platform to provide an organized event browsing experience for attendees.

Sign in to Zoom Events

After you sign in to Zoom Events, you will be directed to the Events Portal.

Use attendee controls

In the top header, you only have the Favorites, Tickets, and Hubs options.

Attendee navigation menu

When you click your profile picture, you can do the following actions:

How to access a hub’s public profile page

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner, click Hubs, then click the hub that you want to view.
    You can also click a hub that you want to view from the left Hubs panel.
  3. View the hub's public profile page information:
    • Featured Events are listed at the top of the tab.
    • Events: The Events section displays the hub's upcoming and past events. You can register for the hub's upcoming events and view details of both upcoming and past events. 
    • On-Demand: View the hub's on-demand event recordings. Additionally, Featured Events ' recordings are listed at the top of the tab.
  4. Use the search bar and filters to find an event/recording:
    • In the search bar, enter an event or recording name. 
      Attendees can use a global search across different content types.
    • Use the  Sort By dropdown to filter results alphabetically, newest first, or oldest first.
    • Under Filter By, use filters to find the specific event or recording:
      Note: Event and Video On Demand (VOD) filters are hidden when they do not apply to the available contents. 
      • Under Type, select the event type checkboxes to filter.
      • Under Event Timeframe, select the timeframe checkbox you want to filter.
      • Under Event Category, select the categories you want to filter.
      • Under On-Demand Topic, select the on-demand topic you want to filter.
        Channel listings will appear on the page, sorted in alphabetical order. Attendees can sort their content and customize how VOD channels are displayed on the hub landing page. 
      • (Optional) Under Filter By, click Clear all filters to remove all filters.
  5. From the search results, click the event or recording you want to access.
    Notes:
    • Depending on the host's selected authentication method or registration requirements, you may have to authenticate, register, answer registration questions, or accept the host's privacy policy before accessing the on-demand recordings or events.
    • When a host enables video download for the channel, you can download  the video from the video player after you access the on-demand recording. 

A hub's public profile page will display the following information:

Follow a hub

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. At the top-right corner of the page, click Hubs.
  3. Find and click the hub that you want to follow.
  4. On the hub's public profile page, click the Follow button.
    You will receive an email, notifying you that you're now following that hub.

How to view the event details page

The event profile displays information about the event, the speakers, and event organizer. You can download reference materials (PDF files). You can also register for an upcoming event, view your ticket, or join an event lobby from this page.

Access event details page from hub Events tab

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Hubs, then click the hub that you want to view.
    You can also click a hub that you want to view from the left Hubs panel.
  3. In the hub, click the Events tab.
  4. Click the Upcoming Events or Past Events tab.
  5. Find the event you want to view and click it.
    The event profile (event details page) will appear.

Access event details page from event ticket

  1. Access the Tickets page.
  2. Find an Upcoming or Past event that you registered for and click View Details.
    Your event ticket will appear.
  3. At the top of the event ticket, click View Event .
    The event details page will appear.

View the event profile

On the event details page (also known as the event profile), you can view the following information for events:

The event details page has a Speakers section.

Event detail pages for recurring sessions events display more detailed information on when the next session will start, when a session (and not an event) is in progress, and when all sessions within a series have ended.

How to use Zoom Sessions attendee payment methods

When you register for a paid Zoom Sessions event, you can pay with a credit/debit card or PayPal Express Checkout. Available payment options will depend on what forms of payment the host accepts. You can add payment methods to your Zoom Sessions account on the Zoom Events platform.

Depending on which payment methods the host has enabled, you will see one or both of these payment methods during checkout:

Learn more about using Zoom Sessions attendee payment methods.

How to register for Zoom Sessions events

Attendees can register for paid and free Zoom Sessions events. the registration process you experience will depend on the host's registration requirements and the event type—free/paid—that you're registering for.

Hosts can also invite or pre-register attendees, where attendees will receive an email with the link to the registration page. Instead of accessing the registration page through the Zoom Events platform, they can access the registration page directly with the email invitation link.

Notes:

There are multiple ways you can register for a Zoom Sessions event:

Learn more about registering for Zoom Sessions and completing pre-registration for Zoom Sessions.

How to join a Zoom Sessions event

To join an event, users must sign in to the Zoom desktop client using the same email account used at their Zoom Sessions event registration/ticket purchase.

There are multiple ways you can join an event:

Learn more about joining Zoom Sessions events.

How to get started with the event lobby

The event lobby is the starting point of Zoom Sessions events. In the lobby, registrants can browse the session details and speaker intro, join the session with the client (or from a web browser), and watch the session recording when available.

Learn more about using Zoom Sessions lobby.

How to favorite an event

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Hubs.
  3. Find and click the hub that has the event you want to favorite.
  4. Find the event you want to favorite, then click the Favorite button  on the event card.
    You can also click the event to access the event details page, then click the Favorite button .

To see the list of events you have favorited, click Favorites in the top-right corner.

How to share an event

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Hubs.
  3. Find and click the hub that has the event you want to share.
  4. Click the event you want to share.
    The event’s details page will appear.
  5. Click the Share button in the event's details page.
  6. Choose to share your event through the following options:
    • Email: Click the email icon .
      Compose your email, then send to share.
    • Social media: Select which social media icon you want to share the event on: Facebook, Messenger, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
    • Share Event Link: Copy and paste the event link to share.

How to gift an event ticket

You can purchase a ticket to an event and gift the ticket—or transfer the ticket—to someone else.

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Tickets.
  3. Find the event that you want to gift, then click the Gift button.
    A pop-up window will appear.
  4. In the pop-up window, enter the email address of the person you want to gift the ticket ownership to.
  5. (Optional) Enter a message about why you're gifting them this ticket.
  6. Click the Gift to Friend button.

Opt in to share contact information

When a ticket is gifted, the gift recipient will have an option to opt-in their contact info.

Opt in through Tickets tab

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Tickets.
  3. Find the gifted ticket that you received.
  4. (Optional) Select the following check box: I agree that Zoom may share my contact information with the Host to contact me for news, events and for other marketing purposes.
    You can also click View Order, then select this check box in the ticket details.

Opt in through ticket details

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Tickets.
  3. Find the gifted ticket that you received, then click View Order.
  4. (Optional) Select the following check box: I agree that Zoom may share my contact information with the Host to contact me for news, events and for other marketing purposes.

How to contact the host

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. In the top-right corner of the page, click Tickets.
  3. In the list of your registered events, find the event with the host you want to contact.
  4. Click View Details.
    You will be directed to the event's ticket page.
  5. On the left side, click Contact Host.
  6. Compose your email, then send it to the host.

How to watch video recordings of past sessions

Event hosts may record and make recordings available if they include complimentary access to their event's cloud recording with registration; video recordings can be watched in full screen.

Attendees can view the session details on an event detail page. On the detail page of each session/recording, attendees can initiate Recording Playback if the session recording is available. If the attendee is recognized and granted access, they can watch the video on a recording playback window. If the attendee is recognized but not granted access, they must complete a registration form to access and watch the video on the recording playback window. If the attendee is not recognized, they will be directed to the registration page and must sign in or register to access the content.

For recurring sessions events, all sessions that have been viewed by attendees will be labeled as Viewed. This applies only to on-demand content (i.e., previously recorded webinars in the Past section). The Viewed label does not apply if a user had attended the live (or simulive) webinar.

If registration for an event remains open after the event is over, you will be able to register for the event, giving you access to watch the event's recordings.

Note: Single-session event recordings (with given access) are available for as long as the lobby is open.

Watch recordings of past sessions

When you register for an event, you will be able to view the event's recording from the following locations:

Watch recordings from the lobby

  1. Access an event's lobby.
  2. Click the Session tab.
  3. Click the session you want to watch.
  4. In the session, click Watch Recording.

Watch recordings from the event details page

Registered users

If you are a registered user, you will automatically be directed to the recording playback page.

For single-session events:

  1. Access the event details page.
  2. On the event details page, watch, click Watch Recording.

For recurring sessions events:

  1. Access the event details page.
  2. Click the event details page Sessions tab.
  3. To the right of the session with the recording you want to watch, click Watch Recording . 
    You can also click outside the session image to open session details, then click Watch Recording.

The recording playback page will appear, and the recording will automatically play when you open this page. If other videos are uploaded by the host, a carousel will display the videos.

Recognized users without access

If you are a recognized user without access, you will be directed to the registration form.

For single-session events:

  1. Access the event details page.
  2. On the event details page, watch, click Watch Recording.
  3. Authenticate and verify your access to watch the recording in the following ways:
    • Sign in with your Zoom account.
    • Verify with your email and enter a security code.

For recurring sessions events:

  1. Access the event details page.
  2. Click the event details page Sessions tab.
  3. To the right of the session with the recording you want to watch, click Watch Recording .
    You can also click outside the session image to open session details, then click Watch Recording.
    An authentication page will appear.
  4. Authenticate and verify your access to watch the recording in the following ways:
    • Sign in with your Zoom account.
    • Verify with your email and enter a security code.

After you verify your access, you will be directed to the recording playback page. The recording will automatically play when you open this page. If other videos are uploaded by the host, a carousel will display the videos.

Users without access

If you are not signed in to Zoom Events or if you do not have access to the event recording (not recognized), you will be directed to the top of the event details page to register for the event to access the recordings.

For single-session events:

  1. Access the event details page.
  2. On the event details page, watch, click Watch Recording.
    You will be directed to the top of the event details page for registration. A tooltip will be displayed, indicating that you must sign in and register to access the recording.
  3. At the top of the page, click Register. 
  4. Authenticate your account in the following ways:
    • Sign in with your Zoom account.
    • Verify with your email and enter a security code.
  5. Complete the registration page.

For recurring sessions events:

  1. Access the event details page.
  2. Click the event details page Sessions tab.
  3. To the right of the session with the recording you want to watch, click Watch Recording. 
    You will be directed to the top of the event details page for registration. A tooltip will be displayed, indicating that you must sign in and register to access the recording.
  4. At the top of the page, click Register. 
  5. Authenticate your account in the following ways:
    • Sign in with your Zoom account.
    • Verify with your email and enter a security code.
  6. Complete the registration page.

After you register for the event, you will be directed to the recording playback page. The recording will automatically play when you open this page. If other videos are uploaded by the host, a carousel will display the videos.

Watch recording highlights

Yellow highlights in the recording's progress bar signify the highlight sections of the recording. These highlighted video sections are synchronized and automatically scroll with their respective texts—also highlight in yellow—in the audio transcription.

You can watch the entire recording or watch the recording highlights only.

Use audio transcriptions

Note: Audio transcripts are currently available only when recordings—when listed on the hub's profile page—are watched on the hub or in the event lobby.

Audio transcription—if enabled by the host at the time of the recording—will be available in the recording.

Note: Audio transcriptions currently only support English.

To search for a word or words in the transcript, type the word(s) you are searching for in the Search... box at the top of the audio transaction box; all matching terms in the transcript will be highlighted.

You can also do the following actions after you have searched for a word:

Watch the next videos

On the video playback page, the Next videos/More videos will list more content when the channel has more than one video available.

How to cancel your registration

For free events, you can cancel your ticket any time before the start of the event.

For paid events that allow ticket cancellations, you can get a full refund if you cancel your ticket at least 1 hour before the event. If you cancel your registration outside of the cancellation period, it is the host's decision whether to approve your refund request or not.

Learn more about canceling your Zoom Sessions order.

How to report unwelcomed behavior

Report an event

If you are in a situation that you want to escalate, you can report it:

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. Find the event that you want to report, then join the event lobby.
    You can also access the event details page of the event you want to report.
  3. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
  4. Click Report this event.
  5. Enter the situation’s details.
  6. Click Submit.

Report a recording

If you watch a recording that you want to escalate, you can report it to the event organizer or Zoom's Trust and Safety team:

  1. Sign in to Zoom Events.
  2. Watch a recording.
  3. Under the recording, click the Report Recording button .
  4. Under Timestamp of Issue, enter the time when the material you want to report occurs in the hr, min, and sec fields.
  5. (Optional) Click Add to add another timestamp.
  6. (Optional) Select Include screenshot to include a screenshot.
  7. Use the What happened? dropdown menu to select the reason you are reporting the recording.
  8. Under Who do you want to report this incident to?, select one or both of the recipients:
    • Event Organizer: The incident will be reported to the event organizer.
    • Zoom: The incident will be reported to Zoom's Trust and Safety team.
  9. Click Submit Report.

If the Trust and Safety team decides to take down the recording, the recording will no longer be available for viewing.