Using the “Self-Assign” option for participants in Zoom Breakout Rooms

November 24, 2020

Zoom has a feature that allows instructors to let students self-assign themselves to a breakout room of their choice. The following documentation lists the requirements and steps to be followed by hosts and participants to ensure the self-assignment for Zoom breakout rooms:

Requirements:

For Hosts:

  • Log in using desktop application. Feature is not supported for hosts signing in from web browser or Zoom mobile app
  • Ensure Zoom desktop application is updated to version 5.3.0 or newer.

For Students:

  • Log in using either desktop or mobile app. Feature is not supported for participants using web browser version of Zoom.
  • Ensure Zoom application is updated to version 5.3.0 for desktop or mobile app.
  • Students need not sign-in to a Zoom account for self-assigning themselves. Guest users (users who haven’t signed in) are also permitted to self-assign themselves to a breakout room.

Steps for Hosts to enable self-assignment while creating breakout rooms:

  1. Log in to your Zoom meeting from the desktop application
  2. Select Breakout Rooms from the bottom toolbar
  3. Select the number of breakout rooms to be created.
  4. Check the “Let participants choose the room” option and click on “Create Rooms”

Steps for Hosts to enable self-assignment if breakout rooms are created without “self-assign” option:

If breakout rooms have been created without the self-assign option, the host can change the settings to allow self-assignment.

  1. Click on ‘Breakout Rooms’ on the bottom toolbar. It should open the Breakout Rooms dialogue box.
  2. Click on ‘Options’ on the bottom-left corner of the dialogue box
  3. Check the “Allow participants to choose room” option.
  4. Click on “Open All Rooms” button on the bottom-right of the breakout room dialogue box. Students will be sent an invite to select the breakout room they want to join.

Steps for Students to select their breakout rooms:

  1. Log in to the Zoom meeting using your Zoom mobile app or Zoom desktop app. (Download the Zoom client here: https://zoom.us/download)
  2. Ensure your Zoom version is 5.3.0 or newer
  3. Once the breakout rooms are opened, you will receive a “Join a breakout room” notification on the bottom toolbar. Click on the breakout room button on the bottom toolbar to open the breakout rooms list.
  4. In the breakout room dialogue box, select the breakout room you want to join based on your group number by clicking on the “Join” button next to it.
  5. Once assigned to a group, you may not change the group without the help of a host.