Pinning a video on Zoom allows you to keep a specific participant's video visible in your main view, regardless of who is speaking. This is particularly useful for focusing on the primary speaker, an interpreter, or a presenter during a meeting.
Steps to Pin a Video in Zoom
To pin a participant's video for your own view, follow these simple steps:
- Hover over the video: At the top of your meeting window, hover your mouse cursor over the video of the participant you wish to pin.
- Click the '...' menu: A three-dot
...icon will appear in the top-right corner of their video tile. Click on this icon. - Select 'Pin': From the dropdown menu that appears, click Pin.
Once pinned, that participant's video will remain prominently displayed on your screen.
Understanding Pinning: For Yourself vs. For Everyone (Spotlight)
While any participant can pin a video for their own view, the meeting host (or co-host) has an enhanced ability to "pin" videos for all participants, a feature commonly known as Spotlight Video. The reference specifically notes that if the host wants to "pin additional videos (up to 9 total)," they can follow the same steps. When a host pins a video, its effect is typically global, making that video the primary view for everyone in the meeting.
Here's a comparison to clarify the different scopes of "pinning":
| Feature | Individual Pin | Host Pin (Spotlight) |
|---|---|---|
| Effect | Only for your personal view | For all participants in the meeting |
| Who can do it | Any participant | Host or Co-host |
| Number of videos | Typically one at a time | Up to 9 simultaneous videos |
| Purpose | Focus your attention on a speaker | Highlight main speakers, presenters, or interpreters for everyone |
Why Use the Pin Feature?
Utilizing the pin feature offers several advantages in various meeting scenarios:
- Focus on the Speaker: Ensures you always see the main speaker, even if others make noise or have their cameras on.
- Language Interpreters: Pin an interpreter's video to easily follow along in meetings with language translation.
- Presenters or Panelists: Keep key presenters or panelists visible throughout a discussion.
- ASL or Accessibility: Pin an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter to ensure visual access for deaf or hard-of-hearing participants.
- Virtual Events: During virtual events, pin the main speaker or performer to keep them prominent.
How to Unpin a Video
To unpin a video and return to the default gallery or speaker view, simply hover over the pinned video, click the ... menu, and select Unpin. If a video is spotlighted by the host, only the host can remove the spotlight.
