TABLE OF CONTENTS

Zoom Instant Messaging Chat for Teams

Zoom offers an instant messaging application built into their desktop and mobile platforms. This is a separate application than the in meeting chat that is available during Zoom meetings. The instant messaging chat allows users to send instant messages to individuals or groups. Groups can be organized into channels which allow all members to participate and monitor group discussions. This is great for units, project teams, and special subset groups within your unit. Zoom chat works similar to other chat platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Slack.

 

Zoom Chat Features

  • 1:1 chat or group conversations via public or private channels
  • Starring messages to save for later
  • Pinned messages
  • A personal space to send yourself reminders and files 
  • Light or dark themes in your chat panel
  • Customizable channels 
  • Privacy features and access permissions
  • GIFs from GIPHY
  • Message archiving and third party storage
  • Chat message history with manageable time limits
  • Screen capture, file transfer, and image uploads
  • Status and presence
  • Edit and delete messages

 

How to use Zoom Instant Messaging Chat

To start using chat on your Windows or Mac PC, open Zoom on your desktop

 NOTE: If you don’t yet have Zoom pinned to your taskbar, search for Zoom and open the desktop client.

 

Once the Zoom desktop App is open, right click on the Zoom icon in the taskbar and select ‘Pin to taskbar’

 

 

To start your chat session, start typing the name of the colleague you want to chat with in the ‘Jump to’.

 

• Select the person you want to start a chat with. A new chat window will then open

• In the chat you can use text, send files and take screen shots as well as use a range of emojis

• You can also commence a video call or star the chat to easily find later

• Your chat history will appear on the left-hand panel

Within your chat history, you have several options including ‘Star this Contact’, ‘Notify Me When Available’

 

Within the chat you also have several options via the 3 dots marked below, these include ‘Share Message’ and “Mark as Unread’

You can also use quick reaction emojis


Individual messaging

To send a chat message to a Zoom user:

  1. Log in to your Zoom desktop app.
  2. Select ‘Chat’ at the top of the home screen. Your recent chat history will appear.
  3. To find the Zoom user you want to chat with, start typing the person’s full name in the ‘Search’ field at the top of the window, then select their name from the list to open a new chat window.
  4. Enter your chat message in the text field, then press 'Enter' to send it. This notifies the user that you’ve started a chat session with them.

You can leave the chat by:

  • choosing another chat in the left-hand menu
  • selecting the '+' sign next to 'RECENT CHATS' to open a new chat, or
  • closing the chat window.

Group messaging

  1. You can use Zoom to create private or public chat groups that can:
  2. share files, screenshots and images
  3. start a group Zoom meeting, either with or without video.
  4. You can only log in to group messaging from one desktop Zoom program and one mobile Zoom program at a time. If you log in to a second desktop or mobile device, you’ll be logged out of group messaging on the other device.
  5. Creating a chat group
  6. Within Zoom, select ‘Chat’ at the top of the home screen.
  7. Select the '+' icon next to 'RECENT', then select ‘New Chat’.
  8. In the 'To' field, start typing the name of a Zoom user you wish to add to your group. Select their name when it appears in the drop-down menu.
  9. Repeat this step for each Zoom user you want to invite.
  10. Enter your chat message in the text field, then press 'Enter' to send it. The chat group will be created and all participants will be notified that you've started a chat session with them.
  11. Creating a chat channel
  12. Within Zoom, select 'Chat' at the top of the home screen.
  13. Select the '+' icon next to 'RECENT', then select ‘Create a Channel’.
  14. Enter a title for the channel in the 'Channel Name' field.
  15. Start typing the name of a Zoom user in the 'Invite Members' field. Select their name when it appears in the drop-down menu.
  16. Repeat this step for each Zoom user you want to invite.
  17. Choose to make the chat channel 'Private' or 'Public'.
  18. Select 'Create Channel' to finalise.

Joining a public chat channel

  1. Within Zoom, select 'Chat' at the top of the home screen.
  2. Select the '+' icon next to 'RECENT', then select ‘Join a Channel’.
  3. Start typing the name of the public channel you wish to join. Hover over the channel name, then select 'join'.

Leaving a chat channel

  1. Right-click the chat channel in the left-hand menu.
  2. Select ‘Leave Channel'.
  3. If you’re the channel administrator, you’ll be given the option to assign admin privileges to another group member or delete the channel entirely.