How to Use Breakout Rooms in Zoom (2026)
Breakout rooms split a Zoom meeting into smaller sessions for group discussion, then merge everyone back. Only the host (or co-host) can create them, and the feature has to be switched on in your account first. Here’s the complete workflow.
Step 1: Enable Breakout Rooms in Your Account
Breakout rooms are off until you enable them in the web portal:
- Sign in at zoom.us > Settings.
- Go to Meeting > In Meeting (Advanced).
- Toggle Breakout room on.
- Optionally tick Allow host to assign participants when scheduling.
- Click Save.
If you don’t see the option, your admin controls it — ask them to enable it org-wide.
Step 2: Create Rooms During a Meeting
- As host, click Breakout Rooms on the toolbar (under More / … if the window is narrow).
- Choose the number of rooms.
- Pick an assignment method:
- Assign automatically — Zoom splits everyone evenly
- Assign manually — you place each person yourself
- Let participants choose room — people self-select
- Click Create.
Step 3: Assign and Open
- Review the rooms. Hover a room to Rename, Delete, or Move/Exchange participants.
- Click Options (gear) to set rules like:
- Automatically move people into rooms
- Allow participants to return to the main session
- Auto-close rooms after a set number of minutes (with a countdown)
- Click Open All Rooms. Participants get an invite to Join their room.
Manage Rooms While They’re Open
- Broadcast a message: click Broadcast Message to All to send text into every room at once.
- Join a room: hover a room and click Join to drop in, then Leave Room to come back.
- Get help: participants can click Ask for Help, and you’ll be invited to that room.
Step 4: Close the Rooms
- Click Close All Rooms.
- A 60-second countdown shows participants before they’re pulled back.
- Everyone returns to the main session automatically.
Let Participants Self-Select
If you chose Let participants choose room:
- Participants click Breakout Rooms on their toolbar.
- They see the room list and click Join next to the one they want.
- They can move between rooms freely (requires Zoom 5.3+ on both ends).
Troubleshooting
”Breakout Rooms” button is missing
It’s not enabled — turn it on in the web portal (Step 1), then end and restart the meeting. Also confirm you’re the host; co-host abilities depend on host settings.
Participants can’t self-select
Everyone needs a recent Zoom version. Older clients only get pre-assigned rooms — have them update Zoom.
Pre-assigning rooms doesn’t stick
Pre-assignment needs participants signed in with the exact email you assigned. Guests joining anonymously must be moved manually once the meeting starts.
People didn’t make it back
If someone joined by phone or an old app, manually move them, or click Close All Rooms again. The main session always reabsorbs active clients.
I want to record the breakout discussions
Only local recording works inside a breakout room, and the participant needs recording permission. The host’s cloud recording captures only the main session.
Quick Reference
| Goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Turn the feature on | zoom.us > Settings > enable Breakout room |
| Create rooms | Breakout Rooms > pick number > Create |
| Split evenly | Assign automatically |
| Let people pick | Let participants choose room |
| Message all rooms | Broadcast Message to All |
| End breakouts | Close All Rooms |
Related Zoom guides: How to schedule a Zoom meeting · How to record a Zoom meeting · How to share your screen on Zoom · How to raise your hand in Zoom · How to update Zoom
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