This article explains how to set up the Spotlight Video feature and how it differs from its similar feature, Pinned.

We also introduce various display modes that can be used with Zoom, so please refer to them as well.

How to set up a spotlight video on Zoom

Let’s start with an overview of the Spotlight Video feature and how to use it on different devices.

What is the Spotlight Video feature?

Spotlight video is one of the screen pinning features available when Zoom’s display mode is “speaker view”.

Spotlighted users set up by the host or co-host will always appear on the main Zoom screen.

This function is mainly used for people who are central to Zoom, such as meeting facilitators and seminar instructors.

prerequisite

Spotlight videos can have up to 9 people. (1 main display, 8 priority display)

To use Spotlight Video, the following prerequisites must be met:

Zoom meeting

• Be a user with meeting host or co-host privileges
• Using the Zoom desktop client or Zoom mobile app
• 3 or more video on participants
• Zoom version 4.0.3 or higher (5.2.2 or higher for spotlighting multiple participants)

Zoom webinars

• Be a user with webinar host or co-host privileges
• Using the Zoom desktop client or Zoom mobile app
• 2 or more video-on participants
• Zoom version 4.0.3 or higher (5.2.2 or higher for spotlighting multiple participants)

For desktop apps (Windows/Mac/Linux)

1. Launch Zoom and start a meeting
2. Click “…” to the right of the user you want to pin
3. Click “Spotlight for everyone (or spotlight video)”

If you want to remove the spotlight, repeat the above steps and click “Delete (or Cancel) Spotlight Video”.

You can still share your screen even when the spotlight is set.

In this case, the spotlighted user moves to the top right of the screen and the shared screen is displayed as the main display.

For mobile apps (iOS/Android)

1. Launch Zoom and start a meeting
2. Tap “Participants” from the menu at the bottom of the screen (top for iPad)
3. Tap the name of the user you want to pin
4. Tap “Spotlight Video”

If you want to cancel the spotlight, repeat the above operation and tap “Cancel spotlight video”.

Difference between spotlight video and pinning

Next, we will introduce how to set up and use “Pin”, which is often confused with spotlight videos.

How to set pinning

Pinning is also one of the screen pinning functions, but this feature is available for participants other than hosts and co-hosts.

This function can be used when there are two or more participants with video on. The operation procedure is as follows. (PC only)

1. Launch Zoom and start a meeting
2. Click “…” to the right of the user you want to pin
3. Click “Pin Video”

If you want to unpin the video, repeat the above steps and click “Unpin video”.

Scope of influence of screen pinning

There is a difference in the scope of influence of settings between Spotlight Video and the pinning feature.

Spotlight video is set by the host or co-host and is reflected on all participants’ screens.

On the other hand, in the case of pinning, it will only be displayed fixedly on your own screen, so other participants will not be notified or the screen will switch.

Also, participants will not be able to pin if the host has set up spotlight video.

In other words, spotlight video is a more pervasive and compelling feature.

What is recorded when using the recording function

What I am concerned about when switching display modes in Zoom is the effect on recording, but this depends on whether you are using local recording or cloud recording, as follows.

Other viewing modes available in Zoom

Zoom offers a variety of viewing modes beyond spotlight video and pinning.

From here, let’s look at the types of basic display modes and how to use them.

Speaker view (active speaker)

Active speaker is a mode in which the speaker is identified by voice and the main display is automatically switched.

Active speaker when in speaker view and not using spotlight.

In a one-to-one meeting, your video is displayed at the top and the other party’s video is displayed at the bottom (main).

gallery view

A gallery view is a layout that distributes multiple participants evenly across the screen.

In addition to being able to display videos of up to 49 people at once, it is also possible to display the 50th and subsequent users by scrolling.

Gallery view is paired with speaker view and can be switched from the button displayed in the upper right corner of the screen.

mini window

A mini window is a layout that displays the Zoom window size itself in a smaller size.

Click the minimize button in the upper right for Windows or the upper left for Mac to switch to the mini window state.

This is a convenient function when you want to operate another application or tool while participating in Zoom.

Hide participants without video

Camera-off participants and dial-in participants can be hidden from the list when using gallery view.

After switching to gallery view, right-click on the user and select “Hide non-video participants”.

summary

• Spotlight video is a function for hosts that can be used to display special users as the main display
• Whereas pinning is a feature for individuals, spotlight videos are featured by all participants
• Zoom can also use display modes such as gallery view and mini window, so it is necessary to use it properly according to the scene.

Leverage the spotlight video feature to keep large meetings and webinars running smoothly without losing sight of the central figure.

In addition, various other display modes are installed, so please use them conveniently according to your purpose.