Webinar practice session Follow

Overview

A webinar practice session allows you to set up and get acquainted with webinar controls before starting your webinar. The practice session is accessible by the host, alternative host, or panelist.

To enter the practice session, the host, alternative host, and panelist need to simply join the webinar before the host begins broadcasting the webinar live to attendees, as the webinar will begin in the practice session when started. The host or co-host can start broadcasting when everyone is ready.

Note: You can have practice session days before the actual webinar. You can start the practice session, broadcast, and end the event without impacting your ability to start the webinar at the actual start date/time.

This article covers:

• Enabling webinar practice session
  • Desktop client
  • Web portal
• Starting a webinar practice session

Prerequisites

• Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise account
• Webinar add-on
• Zoom desktop client
  • Windows: 5.2.1 (44052.0816) or higher
  • macOS: 5.2.1 (44040.0816) or higher

Enabling webinar practice session

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. Click Webinars.
3. Schedule a webinar, or click the title of a webinar that's already scheduled.
4. Click Edit this Webinar. 
5. In the Webinar Options section, click the Enable Practice Session check box.

Starting a webinar practice session

Attendees will not be able to join the practice session. There can only be one active practice session for each webinar. For example, if the host starts a practice session, then an alternative host starts one, they will be in the same practice session.

Desktop client

1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client.
2. In the Home or Meetings tab, start the webinar before the start date/time.
   The host, alternative host, and panelists will see a banner at the top of Zoom window that lets them know they are in practice mode. 

Web portal

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Webinars.
3. Click a webinar with a practice session.
4. Click Start Practice Session.

Starting a webinar while in a practice session

1. Start a webinar practice session.
2. In the top banner, click Start Webinar.
3. Click Start to begin the webinar and allow attendees to join the webinar. 
   The host and other panelists will see a banner at the top of Zoom window that lets them know the webinar is now live. 

Note: This will not change the original start time that you set when scheduling the webinar. We recommend coordinating with panelists when you wish to join the practice session ahead of the scheduled start time, so that the practice session does not go into the scheduled start time.