Does Webex Have Breakout Rooms? Yes, Here’s How

Yes, Webex has breakout rooms. In Webex Meetings and Webex Webinars, the host or co-host can split participants into smaller groups for focused discussion, brainstorming, or exercises, and then bring everyone back to the main session. This guide explains how breakout rooms work in Webex, how to set them up, manage them, and common issues you might run into.

What Are Webex Breakout Rooms?

Breakout rooms are sub-meetings within your main Webex session. The host assigns participants to a room (either manually or automatically), and each room has its own audio, video, and screen-sharing capabilities. Participants in a breakout room can talk, share their screens, and use the chat as if they were in a separate meeting. The host and co-hosts can jump between rooms to check on progress or offer help. When the time is up, the host closes the rooms and everyone returns to the main session automatically.

How to Set Up Breakout Rooms in Webex

Only the host or a co-host can create breakout rooms. You can set them up before the meeting starts or during the meeting. Here’s the process for the current desktop app (Windows/Mac) and web app:

1. Start your Webex meeting as the host.
2. In the meeting controls, click the Breakout Rooms icon (it looks like two overlapping rectangles) in the bottom toolbar.
3. Choose the number of rooms you want (up to 100, depending on your plan and participant count).
4. Decide how to assign participants: Automatic (Webex randomly distributes) or Manual (you drag and drop names into rooms).
5. Click Create Rooms.
6. Once created, you can rename rooms, move participants, or open all rooms at once.
7. To start the breakout sessions, click Open All Rooms.

You can also pre-assign breakout rooms when scheduling the meeting from the Webex site, which saves time if you have a fixed roster.

Breakout Room Controls for Hosts and Co-hosts

Once the rooms are open, the host has several controls:

• Join a room: Click the room name and then “Joinâ€� to pop into that room. You can talk and share there, then return to the main session.
• Broadcast a message: Send a text message to all rooms at once, e.g., “Two minutes left.â€�
• Extend time: If you set a timer when opening rooms, you can add minutes before it expires.
• Close all rooms: Ends all breakout sessions and returns everyone to the main room. You can also close individual rooms.
• Move participants: Drag a name from one room to another while the rooms are open.

What Participants See and Can Do

When the host opens breakout rooms, participants get a prompt asking if they want to join their assigned room. They can click “Join� to enter. Inside a room, participants can:

• Turn their camera and microphone on or off.
• Share their screen.
• Use the in-room chat (which is separate from the main chat).
• Record the breakout session (if the host has enabled recording).
• Ask the host for help (a button that notifies the host they want assistance).

If a participant misses the prompt, they can still join later from the “Breakout Rooms� panel in the meeting controls. When the host closes the rooms, participants see a countdown (if a timer was set) and are automatically returned to the main session.

Breakout Rooms on Mobile and Web

Webex supports breakout rooms on the desktop apps (Windows, Mac) and on the web app (browser-based). On mobile devices (iOS and Android), participants can join and participate in breakout rooms, but the host cannot create or manage them from a phone or tablet. So if you’re hosting from a mobile device, you’ll need to use the desktop or web app to set up and control breakout rooms.

Common Problems and Solutions

Here are a few issues you might encounter and how to fix them:

• Can’t find the Breakout Rooms icon: The host might not have the feature enabled. Check your Webex site administration settings; the host account must have breakout rooms allowed. Also, the icon only appears if you have more than one participant (besides yourself).
• Participants can’t join: If a participant is using an older version of the Webex app, they may not see the prompt. Ask them to update the app or visit the meeting URL in a browser instead.
• Audio issues in breakout rooms: Sometimes participants’ audio doesn’t follow them into the room. Have them leave the room and rejoin, or disconnect and reconnect audio.
• Breakout rooms not working for webinars: Breakout rooms are available in Webex Webinars only if the host has enabled the “Breakout Sessionsâ€� option in the webinar settings. Also, panelists can be assigned to rooms, but attendees can only be placed in rooms if the host changes their role to panelist.

Breakout Rooms vs. Other Webex Features

If you need small-group work, breakout rooms are the right tool. But Webex has other features that might fit better in some cases:

• Interpretation channels: If you need language interpretation, that’s a separate feature that gives attendees a choice of audio channels, not a split into separate discussions.
• Webex Events (now Webex Webinars): For large audiences, you can use breakout sessions for panelists, but attendees are typically in listen-only mode.
• Spaces (persistent chat): If you want groups to continue working over days, create separate Webex Spaces (team chat rooms) instead of breakout rooms.

Cost and Plan Availability

Breakout rooms are included in most paid Webex plans, including the free tier (with limitations). As of the current Webex offerings, the free plan allows breakout rooms for up to 100 participants, but the number of rooms and features may be limited. Paid plans (Starter, Plus, Business) generally include breakout rooms with more participants and more rooms. To be certain, check your plan’s feature comparison on the official Cisco Webex pricing page, as the exact numbers can change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I assign participants to breakout rooms before the meeting?

Yes. When scheduling a meeting on the Webex site, you can pre-assign participants to breakout rooms. You’ll need to add their email addresses and then drag them into room assignments. This saves time during the meeting.

Can I have more than one breakout room open at a time?

Yes, you can open all rooms at once, and participants in different rooms will be in separate sessions simultaneously. The host can also open only a few rooms and leave others unopened.

Can participants move between breakout rooms on their own?

No, participants cannot switch rooms by themselves. Only the host or co-host can move a participant to a different room. If a participant needs to change rooms, they can ask the host via the “Ask for Help� button.

Do breakout room recordings save separately?

If the host enables recording, each breakout room’s recording is saved as a separate file. The main session recording is separate as well. All recordings are available in the host’s Webex site under “My Recordings.�

Can I use breakout rooms in Webex for a class?

Yes, many educators use breakout rooms for group activities. The host can pre-assign students to groups, open rooms, and then visit each room to check progress. The “Ask for Help� button is useful for students to signal when they need assistance.

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