Zoom has become a staple for virtual meetings, classes, and social gatherings, offering a range of features that enhance online communication. Among these features, the polling function stands out as a valuable tool for engaging participants, whether for quizzes, surveys, or opinion polls.

Note: The Zoom Polling feature is only available if the Meeting Host is using a licensed (paid) account.

How to enable polling in Zoom

To start using the polling feature in Zoom meetings, you first need to enable it in your Zoom account settings. Visit the Zoom web portal and sign in to your account. From the navigation menu on the left side, select Settings.

In the meeting settings page, scroll down to the In Meeting (Basic) section and look for the Polling option. You can quickly find it by pressing Ctrl + F and searching for "Polling."

Once you've located the Polling option, toggle it on to enable polling for your Zoom meetings.

Note: If you're using a Zoom account provided by your organization and the option is grayed out, it means polling has been disabled by your Zoom administrator. You'll need to contact them to enable this feature.

How to create polls for a Zoom meeting

Polls for a meeting can only be created through the Zoom web portal, not the desktop client. To create a poll:

Step 1: Sign in to your account at the Zoom web portal and click on Meetings on the left-hand navigation menu.

Step 2: Click on the scheduled meeting for which you want to create a poll. If you haven't scheduled a meeting yet, you'll need to schedule one first, as polls are only available for scheduled meetings.

Step 3: After selecting your meeting, you'll be taken to the meeting management page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the Poll option, then click on the Add button to create a new poll.

Step 4: In the poll creation window, enter a title for your poll and your first question. If you want the poll to be conducted anonymously, where participant information isn't recorded in the poll report after the meeting, check the box next to Anonymous.

Step 5: Choose the type of question: select Single Choice if participants can only select one answer, or Multiple Choice if they can select multiple answers. Enter your question and provide the answer options.

Step 6: To add more questions to your poll, click on Add a Question. You can include up to 25 questions in a single poll. Once you've added all your questions, click on Save.

You can create multiple polls for a single meeting by repeating these steps.

How to launch polls in a Zoom meeting

Polls can be launched during a live meeting. Here's how to start a poll:

Step 1: Start your Zoom meeting as the host. On the meeting toolbar at the bottom, click on the Polls button.

Step 2: The polling window will appear. If you have created multiple polls, you can select the one you want to launch from the dropdown menu at the top. When you're ready, click on Launch Polling to start the poll.

Participants will now see the poll and can submit their responses. As the host, you'll be able to see the results in real time, including the percentage of participants who chose each option, but individual responses remain anonymous during the meeting. There's also a timer showing how long the poll has been active.

Step 3: When you're ready to end the poll, click on the End Polling button.

Using the polling feature in Zoom meetings is an effective way to enhance participant engagement, whether for interactive quizzes, surveys, or gathering feedback during your sessions.