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 or host meetings. 

Prerequisites for restricting in-meeting features when joining meetings

• Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise account
• Account owner or admin privileges
• Requires Zoom enablement
• Zoom desktop client
  • Windows: 5.8.3 or higher
  • macOS: 5.8.3 or higher
  • Linux: 5.8.3 or higher
• Zoom mobile app
  • Android: 5.8.3 or higher
  • IOS: 5.8.3 or higher
• VDI Client: 5.8.3 or higher
• Zoom web client

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

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:
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • Nonverbal 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.
   • Show profile picture - Restricts profile picture from being shown.
   • Q&A in webinar - 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.
   • Join end-to-end encrypted meetings - Restricts user from joining meetings with E2EE.
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:
   • 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.
   • 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.
   • Nonverbal 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.
   • Show profile picture - Restricts profile picture from being shown.
   • Q&A in webinar - 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.
   • Join end-to-end encrypted meetings - Restricts user from joining meetings with E2EE.
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.