Zoom: Choose a Video Layout

Layout Options

There are 4 video layout options in Zoom:

  • Active Speaker - (default layout)
    • Switches the large video window to the current speaker
    • available regardless of screen sharing
      A screenshot of Zoom Active Speaker View in a meeting with 5 participants
  • Gallery View
    • shows up to 25 participants at a time, use the arrow to scroll through remaining participants
    • available regardless of screen sharing
    • you can hide non-video participants so that those who do not have webcams or who have their video turned off do not appear
      Screenshot of a meeting in Gallery View with 4 participants
  • Mini
    • shrinks the Zoom video, but keeps it on top of other applications you have open on your computer
    • you can move the window around your screen or hide the video entirely
    • only available when no one in the meeting or webinar is sharing their screen
      • Use the minimize icon (top right in Windows or top left in Mac) to enter Mini Window view.
  • Side-by-Side mode
    • allows you to see a shared screen along with either the Speaker View or Gallery View simultaneously
    • you can move the separator between the shared screen and video to change the relative size of each portion
    • does not work if using dual monitors/displays or a projector

For more information, additional screenshots and detailed instructions on using any of the above, see How Do I Change The Video Layout? in the Zoom Help Center.  For Side-by-Side mode specifically, see Side-By-Side Mode For Screen Sharing.

Pin Video

Pin video disables Active Speaker view to only view a specific speaker.  It will also only record the pinned video if you are recording locally (to your computer). Pinning another participant's video will only affect your view and local recordings, not the view of other participants or cloud recordings. 

The Pin Video feature is only available when using the Zoom client for meetings desktop application. 

For instructions on how to pin video, with screenshots, see Pin Video in the Zoom Help Center.

Spotlight Video

Spotlight video sets a participant as the primary active speaker for all participants. All participants will only see this speaker as the active speaker. This feature is often used to spotlight a keynote speaker. 

Only a host or co-host can spotlight video.  

Requirements

See the Spotlight Video article in the Zoom Help Center for detailed instructions, including screenshots, on using this feature on your device.