Focus Mode

Owned by Jummain
Last updated: 04 Oct 2021
2 min read

Zoom now offers the new Focus Mode to help students focus better during online learning. When turned ON, students will not see webcams of other participants. It will help students to stay attentive.

Focus mode can be started by host and co-hosts of the meeting, having a Zoom desktop client with version 5.7.3 or higher.

  • Students will continue to see the host, co-hosts videos, spotlighted participants and shared presentations​
  • Host and co-host(s) will continue to see all participant's videos​
  • Participants will not see other participants (non-hosts) videos​
  • Participants will only see other participants boxes with their display name
  • Participants can still see other participants non-verbal feedback or reactions, and hear them when they are speaking
  • Participants can still see their own video
  • Participants can share screen to only the host and co-hosts first. And the host can then choose that the shared screen can be seen by all participants.


Host View
Professor Green sees all participants.



Participant View
Victoria Reyes, and all the other students only sees Professor Green.



To start Focus mode:

  1. Start a meeting as the host or co-hosts.
  2. Click More  on the meeting toolbar.
  3. Click Start Focus Mode.
  4. Click Start to confirm, or select the Don’t ask me again check box to skip this confirmation going forward.
  5. When Focus mode begins, you and the participants are notified with a banner along the top of the video window.
    The focus mode  icon is always visible in the top-left corner of the video window, next to the encryption icon, while focus mode is active.

  6. Participants’ shared screens are only visible to the host and co-hosts, but the host can allow all other participants to view as well:

    1. Click the up arrow  to the right of Share Screen .
    2. In the Shared screens can be seen by section, click All participants.
    3. (Optional) To return to just host and co-hosts viewing shared content, select Host only.
      Note: These options are only available when in Focus mode

To end Focus mode:

  1. Click More  on the meeting toolbar.
  2. Click Stop Focus Mode. 

Additional Guide: Focus mode – Zoom Help Center


FAQ

  1. Any difference when it's Focus Mode during a Gallery View? 
    Technically, the "boxes" that participants are normally seen in remains the same. Participants will not see the videos of other participants, The display name, mic status icon and non-verbal feedback of other participants will still be seen.