TABLE OF CONTENTS



Changing the Video Layout: Active Speaker, Gallery, and Mini

You can choose from three video layouts: Active Speaker, Gallery, and Mini. 

  • Active Speaker is the default video layout. When your screen is in Active Speaker layout, it will switch the large video window between the person who is speaking. If it’s a one-on-one meeting, it will display your video at the top, and the other participant's video below (Figure 1).
  • To use Gallery View click the “Gallery View” button in the upper-right corner of your Zoom window. Gallery View allows you to see up to 49 participants at a time. You can also use the arrow to scroll through any additional participants. 
  • To take Active Speaker and Gallery into full screen, click on the icon with four arrows at the top-right corner of your Zoom window (illustrated by the red box in Figure 1). If you would like to exit full screen, press “Exit Full Screen” in the same location or press the “Esc” key on your keyboard.
  • You can switch to miniwindow view (Figure 2) by clicking on the minimize icon. The minimize icon is at the top right for Windows, or top left for Mac. 


Figure 1

Active Speaker layout with a small screen at the top and a larger screen below


Figure 2

Miniwindow overlaid on shared screen



If someone in your Zoom call is screen sharing, you can choose from Side-by-Side mode, Active Speaker, or Gallery View. You can also choose to Hide Non-Video Participants. These video layouts can be used in Full-Screen or Windowed mode.

  • Active Speaker view is the default, while Gallery View can be chosen by clicking on the “Gallery View” button in the upper-right corner of your Zoom window.
  • You can switch between the screen share and video in Active Speaker or Gallery View. Click the swap icon in the upper-right corner of the Zoom window (illustrated by the red box in the upper-right corner of Figure 3).
  • You can click on the “View Options” drop-down menu and then choose “Side-by-Side” mode to switch your view to this mode.


Figure 3

Side-by-Side windows above a shared screen



Hide Non-Video Participants

You can hide non-video participants if you are in Gallery View.

  • You should right-click on any participant that has their video off or has dialed in via telephone; then click on “Hide Non-Video Participant.”
  • If the person’s video is inactive, you can click on the three dots in the upper right of their participant box, and then choose “Hide Non-Video Participant” in the drop-down menu.



Pin or Spotlight a Participant's Video

  • You can pin a participant's video to only view a specific speaker. This will only affect your computer and local recordings. 
    • To pin a participant, hover over the video of the participant you want to pin, and click “Pin Video” from the drop-down menu.
  • Spotlight video can only be done by the Zoom host and creates a primary active speaker for all participants in the meeting and cloud recordings. 
    • To spotlight, you need at least three participants in the meeting with their video on.
    • Then, at the top of your screen, hover over the video of the participant and then click “Spotlight Video.”



Additional Support



Adapted from Zoom