How to Pin a Video on Zoom

Updated 8 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Pinning a video on Zoom keeps one participant’s video prominent in your own meeting view, even when someone else speaks. It changes only what you see; it does not spotlight the person for everyone or notify them. Join a meeting and make sure the participant’s video is available to pin.

What You’ll Need

A Zoom meeting you have joined, with the participant visible in the meeting or in the participant list.
The Zoom desktop app or mobile app. Menu wording can vary slightly by device and app version.
To pin multiple videos, a supported Zoom desktop setup and a meeting in which the host has enabled the relevant option. If the option is unavailable, pin one video instead.

Step-by-Step

Join the meeting. Open the meeting in Zoom and allow the participant videos to appear. If the meeting starts in Speaker view or Gallery view, either is fine; pinning works from the video display.
Find the video you want to keep visible. In the desktop app, look for the participant’s tile. If you cannot see it, switch to Gallery view or use the meeting controls to find the participant in the list. On a phone or tablet, swipe through the meeting screens or participant tiles until the person appears.
Open the participant’s options. On a computer, move your pointer over the person’s video tile and select the three-dot menu, usually labeled More. On a mobile device, tap the participant’s video or name to reveal the available controls. The precise gesture and menu layout can differ by app version.
Choose Pin. Select Pin or Pin video from the menu. The participant’s video should become the main or enlarged tile in your meeting window. Other attendees’ views are not changed by this action.
Confirm the right person is pinned. Check the name shown on the enlarged tile. If you chose the wrong person, open that tile’s options and unpin it, then repeat the steps for the intended participant.
Pin another video, if available. On supported desktop versions, the menu may offer Add pin or a similar option after the first pin. Choose it on another participant’s tile to keep more than one video prominent. The host may need to allow multiple pins, and the option is not available in every meeting or on every device.
Unpin when you are finished. Open the pinned tile’s menu and choose Remove pin or Unpin video. If you pinned several people, remove pins individually where the interface requires it. You can also leave the meeting to end your current meeting view.

Common Mistakes

Confusing Pin with Spotlight. Pin changes your personal view. Spotlight is a host or co-host control that can make a participant prominent for meeting attendees. If everyone needs to see the same person, ask the host about spotlighting instead.
Looking for a Pin button in the wrong place. The option is generally in a participant’s video or name menu, not in the general meeting settings. Reveal the tile controls or open the participant list before searching.
Assuming a pinned video turns on someone’s camera. Pinning cannot make a participant’s camera transmit video. If their camera is off, you may see their profile image or name instead.
Expecting everyone to see your pin. Your pin does not rearrange other participants’ screens. Each attendee controls their own view unless the host uses a meeting-wide feature such as Spotlight.
Trying to pin a person who is not in the meeting. A participant must have joined before their video or name can be pinned. A waiting-room participant generally is not available as a meeting video to pin.

Tips

Use Gallery view to find a person among several participants, then pin the correct tile. Switch back to Speaker view afterward if you prefer; the pinned tile should remain prominent while the meeting allows it.
If you are sharing your screen, pinning can help you keep a participant visible alongside shared content. The layout depends on your screen size and Zoom’s current view controls.
For a presentation with several speakers, ask the host in advance whether multiple pins are enabled. A host can also spotlight speakers when the whole meeting should follow the same video.
On a small screen, check that you have selected the participant’s tile rather than tapped a meeting control. Rotate the device or adjust the view if the tile is difficult to reach.
Pinning is a viewing preference, not a recording setting. If a recording needs to show a particular layout, check the meeting’s recording and view options separately.

Troubleshooting

There is no Pin option. First, make sure you opened the menu for a participant tile or name, rather than the general meeting menu. If the choice is still missing, the participant may not have joined, their video may not be available, or your device or current meeting layout may not support that action. Update or restart the Zoom app if it seems unresponsive, then rejoin and check again.

The pinned video does not fill the screen. Pinning makes a video prominent; it does not necessarily make it full-screen. Try hiding other panels, changing the meeting view, or maximizing the Zoom window. On mobile, swipe through the available views and check whether a shared screen is taking priority.

The video disappears or changes. The participant may have stopped their video, left the meeting, or been replaced in the visible layout. Reopen the participant’s menu and pin them again if they are still present. A host’s meeting controls or a change in screen sharing can also affect what is displayed.

You need everyone to see the same person. Pinning cannot do that. Ask the host or co-host to use Spotlight if appropriate. If you are the host, select the participant’s video menu and look for the Spotlight control; its availability and wording depend on the meeting and app.

Controls are missing or taps do nothing. Move the pointer over the video on desktop to reveal controls, or tap once on mobile to show them. If the app is frozen, leave and rejoin if practical, or close and reopen Zoom. When using a browser or an older app, try the current Zoom app because controls may differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does pinning a video notify the participant?
No. Pinning changes your view and does not send the participant a notification.

Can other people see which participant I pinned?
No. Your personal pin is not shared with other attendees. Spotlight is the feature to ask about when the host needs to make someone prominent for the meeting.

Can I pin more than one person?
Sometimes. Multiple pins depend on your device, Zoom version, and meeting settings. Look for an add-pin option after pinning the first video; ask the host if it is missing.

Can I pin someone whose camera is off?
You may be able to select their participant tile or name, but pinning cannot show live video when their camera is off.

How do I unpin a video?
Open the pinned participant’s options and choose Unpin or Remove pin. The wording may vary by device.

What is the difference between pinning and spotlighting?
Pinning changes what you see. Spotlighting is a host or co-host feature that can make a participant’s video prominent for everyone in the meeting.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.