# Participating in meetings
Amazon Chime provides several tools for interacting with other attendees in a meeting. For example, you can raise your hand, show or hide video tiles, and use the in-meeting chat panel to send messages to meeting attendees. The following topics start from the left side of the meetings window.
**Topics**
+ [Understanding the left control bar](left-control-bar.md)
+ [Using meeting bridge information](meeting-bridge.md)
+ [Using the meeting roster](attendees-panel.md)
+ [Using in-meeting chat](meeting-chat.md)
+ [Using closed captions](closed-captions.md)
+ [Changing your media layout](change-media-layout.md)
+ [Taking other actions during a meeting](other-actions.md)
+ [Recording a meeting](record-meeting.md)
+ [Raising your hand during meetings](raise-hand.md)
+ [Using the floating call control bar](call-control-bar.md)
+ [Using audio during meetings](using-audio.md)
+ [Using video during meetings](use-video.md)
+ [Sharing your screen during an Amazon Chime meeting](screen-share.md)
# Understanding the left control bar
The left control bar contains icons you use during a meeting to manage the meeting window panels. You can also take additional actions to manage yourself and other attendees during the meeting. The following list briefly describes each action, starting from the top of the control bar.
**Meeting bridge information ( ![\[An icon of the letter i in a circle.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-1.png))**
Displays your meeting ID or custom meeting name. You can also copy your contact information and add someone to a meeting. You can also view a list of available international phone numbers you can use to dial into a meeting. For more information, see [Using meeting bridge information](meeting-bridge.md).
**Attendees panel (![\[An icon of two overlapping people in a blue circle.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-2.png))**
Opens and closes the **Attendees** panel. This panel shows the meeting roster. A small icon with a number in it appears next to this icon. This smaller icon shows the number of people currently in the meeting. For more information, see [Using the meeting roster](attendees-panel.md).
**Chat panel (![\[An icon of a rectangular message balloon.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-3.png))**
Opens and closes the **Chat** panel. You use this panel to send in-meeting chat messages. For more information, see [Using in-meeting chat](meeting-chat.md).
**Closed captions (![\[An icon of a box surrounding the letters CC.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-4.png))**
Starts and stops machine-generated closed captions. You must attend meetings hosted by someone at Amazon to use this feature. For more information, see [Using closed captions](closed-captions.md).
**Media layout (![\[An icon showing a stylized app window with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png))**
Displays a menu of commands you can use to show or hide video tiles during a meeting. For more information, see [Changing your media layout](change-media-layout.md).
**More options (![\[An icon showing a horizontal ellipsis.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-6.png))**
Opens a menu of additional options that apply to the current meeting, such as adding or muting attendees. This menu lists different options for attendees than for meeting hosts. For more information, see [Taking other actions during a meeting](other-actions.md).
**Record meeting (![\[An icon showing a REC button.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-7.png))**
Starts and stops recording a meeting. Only meeting hosts, moderators, or delegates can record meetings. For more information, see [Recording a meeting](record-meeting.md).
# Using meeting bridge information
You use your meeting bridge information to invite others to an Amazon Chime meeting. This information includes your name, your meeting ID, a link to the meeting, and phone numbers an attendee can dial in from. The steps in this section explain how to copy your meeting bridge information to a chat message or email. You can also invite someone from your Contacts list by using the meeting from the meeting bridge information. For more information about contacts, see [Add contacts](contacts.md).
**To view meeting bridge information**
1. On the left control bar, choose the **Meeting bridge information** icon ( ![\[An icon showing a lowercase letter i in a circle.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-1.png)), or press Ctrl I .
1. Do either of the following:
+ Choose **Copy** to copy the information to your device's clipboard.
+ Choose **View international dial-in number guide** to see a list of available international phone numbers attendees can use to join a meeting.
1. Use email or chat messages outside of your meeting to send the information to the invitee.
**To add attendees from your Contacts list**
1. On the left control bar, choose the **Meeting bridge information** icon ( ![\[An icon showing a lowercase letter i in a circle.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-1.png)), or press Ctrl I .
1. Choose **Add attendee**.
1. Select one or more attendees from your Contacts.
1. Choose **Add**.
# Using the meeting roster
The meeting roster appears in the **Attendees** panel during a meeting. The roster lists everyone on the meeting invitation, including anyone added during the meeting. You can use the panel to take several actions, such as adding or searching for attendees, or sending messages directly to a specific attendee.
**Topics**
+ [About meeting roster sections](#roster-sections)
+ [About the icons in the roster](#attendee-icons)
+ [Opening or closing the Attendees panel](#open-close-attendees)
+ [Adding an attendee](#add-attendee-panel)
+ [Searching for attendees](#search-attendees)
+ [Using the Waiting Room](#use-wr)
+ [Messaging attendees directly](#message-direct)
+ [Muting attendees](#mute-attendees)
## About meeting roster sections
The meeting roster groups attendees into several sections. The sections you see during a meeting vary based on an attendee's status. An attendee can have one of the following statuses:
**Note**
You can open or close the sections in the meeting roster by choosing the caret (**^**) next to the section name.
**Speaker**
Displays the name of the person currently speaking.
**Waiting Room**
Displays a list of anonymous attendees, meaning attendees who don't have Amazon Chime accounts, or who have accounts but don't sign in with their account credentials. For more information about the waiting room, see [Using the Waiting Room](waiting-room.md).
**Guests**
Lists the attendees who don't have Amazon Chime accounts, who join without signing in, who dial in to the meeting, or who use the CallMe feature.
Attendees must belong to the same Amazon Chime account as the host in order to appear as guests.
**Present**
Lists the authenticated users who join the meeting. By default, the roster displays attendees signed in to their Amazon Chime account by the name listed on their account.
Names appear in angle brackets (for example, ****) when:
+ An attendee enters a different name from the one on their Amazon Chime account when they join the meeting.
+ An attendee joins a meeting without signing in to their Amazon Chime account.
+ An attendee without an Amazon Chime account joins a meeting.
Attendees who dial in appear as phone numbers surrounded by angle brackets, such as **<2075551212>**.
**Invited**
Lists the attendees invited to the meeting but who aren't **Present** yet.
**Running late**
Lists the attendees who mark themselves as late, along with an estimated time until they join the meeting.
**Left**
Lists the attendees who leave the meeting.
**Dropped**
Lists the attendees who were disconnected due to a network connection problem.
## About the icons in the roster
The roster displays icons next to each attendee's name to indicate certain statuses about that attendee. These icons can change throughout the meeting, depending on actions attendees take. For example, when someone shares a window or screen, the screen share icon appears next to the attendee's name. If another attendee takes over the screen share, the icon appears next to that attendee's name.
The following table lists and describes the icons.
| Icon | Status |
| --- | --- |
| ![\[An icon of a crown.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-mtg-organizer.png) | Indicates the meeting organizer. |
| ![\[A line drawing of a video camera.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-video-on.png) | The attendee's camera is on. |
| ![\[A line drawing of a blue microphone.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-audio-on.png) | The attendee's microphone is on. The inside of the microphone icon displays the audio level as that attendee talks. |
| ![\[A line drawing of a gray microphone with a diagonal slash.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-audio-muted.png) | The attendee's microphone is muted. Changes to a ![\[Line drawing of a blue microphone.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-audio-on.png) when the attendee unmutes their microphone. |
| ![\[A console style phone.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-dial-in.png) | Indicates that the attendee dialed in from a phone. |
| ![\[A line drawing of a computer screen.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-screen-share.png) | Indicates the attendee currently sharing their screen. |
## Opening or closing the Attendees panel
You can open or close the **Attendees** panel at any time during a meeting. Closing the panel hides the meeting roster.
**To open or close the panel**
+ Choose the **Attendee panel** icon (![\[Icon of two figures surrounded by a blue circle.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-2.png)).
—OR—
Choose the **Close attendees panel** icon (![\[Icon of an X inside a square box.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/attendees-close-icon.png) ) to close the panel.
## Adding an attendee
You can add an attendee at any time during a meeting. However, the attendee must belong to your list of contacts. They must also accept your invitation. For more information about contacts, see [Add contacts](contacts.md) in the *Getting started* section of this guide.
**To add an attendee**
1. Choose the **Add attendee** icon at the top of the panel ( ![\[An icon showing a plus sign surrounded by a square.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/attendees-add-icon.png)), or press Ctrl N .
1. In the **Add attendees** dialog box, enter and select the name of the attendee you want to add. Then, choose **Add**.
## Searching for attendees
You can search for specific attendees during a meeting. When you search for an attendee, you can view their contact information or send them a direct message.
**To search for an attendee**
+ Choose the **Search attendees** icon at the top of the **Attendees** panel (![\[Icon of a magnifying glass.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/attendees-search-icon.png)).
## Using the Waiting Room
The Waiting Room appears in the **Attendee** panel whenever an anonymous user tries to join a meeting. You can admit anonymous users to the meeting. For more information, see [Using the Waiting Room](waiting-room.md).
![\[Image of the Turn off Waiting Room link.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/turn-off-wr-from-attendee-panel.png)
## Messaging attendees directly
When you use in-meeting chat, everyone in the meeting sees your message. If you want to communicate with a specific attendee, use regular Chime chat to message them directly.
**To message directly**
+ Open the horizontal ellipsis menu next to the attendee that you want to message, and then choose **Message directly**.
## Muting attendees
If needed, you can mute an attendee's microphone.
**To mute an attendee**
+ Open the horizontal ellipsis menu next to the attendee that you want to mute, and then choose **Mute**. To unmute the attendee, open the menu and choose **Unmute**.
# Using in-meeting chat
Amazon Chime gives you two ways to chat—in-meeting chat and regular Amazon Chime chat. The topics in this section explain how to use in-meeting chat. For information about regular Amazon Chime chat, see [Collaborating using Amazon Chime chat](chime-using-chat.md).
## Showing or hiding the Chat panel
You can show or hide the **Chat** panel at any time during a meeting.
**To show or hide the Chat panel**
+ On the left control bar, choose the **Meeting chat panel** icon (![\[An icon of a rectangular message balloon in a blue circle.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-3.png)).
# Sending in-meeting chat messages
You send chat messages during an Amazon Chime meeting from the **Chat** panel. The **Chat** panel appears by default when a meeting starts. You can take a number of actions on chat messages, such as quoting another attendee's message or attaching files of up to 50 MB to your own messages.
When using the in-meeting chat, remember the following:
+ All attendees see every chat message. If you want to send a message to a specific meeting attendee, send a message directly to that attendee or send them an Amazon Chime message outside of the meeting.
+ Amazon Chime deletes all chat messages when a meeting ends. You can save the messages, but you must do so *before* the meeting ends. To save the messages, select them, and then copy and paste them to a text editor.
**To send chat messages**
+ In the **Message all attendees** box, enter your message, then press Enter.
Your messages, as well as messages from other attendees, appear in the **Chat** pane.
# Quoting in-meeting chat messages
You can quote any message sent during a meeting. Quoting a previous message when you reply in chat gives your message context. This can help when multiple conversations happen at once during a meeting.
**To quote a chat message**
1. Open the ellipsis menu next to the message you want to quote, then choose **Quote message**.
1. The quoted message appears in the **Message all attendees** box, along with Markdown tags that format the quoted message. Enter your message below the quoted text, and then press Enter.
The markdown indents the quoted message and adds a vertical bar. If the quoted message exceeds the width of the chat window, a scroll bar appears under the message text.
# Copying in-meeting chat messages
You can copy any message sent during a meeting.
**To copy a chat message**
1. Open the ellipsis menu next to the message you want to quote, then choose **Copy**.
1. Paste the quoted message into the **Message all attendees** box or an appropriate text editor.
# Saving all the messages from a meeting
You can save all the chat messages from an Amazon Chime meeting, but you must do so before the meeting ends. By default, Amazon Chime deletes all in-meeting messages when the meeting ends.
**To save all messages**
1. Before the meeting ends, manually highlight all the messages.
1. Copy the highlighted messages.
1. Paste the copied messages into an appropriate text editor.
# Attaching files to in-meeting chat messages
You can attach files to the your in-meeting chat messages. The attachments disappear along with all chat messages when the meeting ends.
**To attach files to messages**
1. In the lower-left corner of the **Chat** panel, choose the paperclip icon.
1. In the dialog box that appears, select the file that you want to attach and choose **Open**.
# Adding emojis to in-meeting chat messages
Amazon Chime provides a set of emojis that you can add to your in-meeting chat messages.
**To add emojis to messages**
+ In the bottom-left corner of the **Chat** panel, choose the smiling face icon, and then choose an emoji.
# Hiding chat notifications while sharing your screen
The following steps explain how to hide meeting chat notifications while you share you screen.
**To hide meeting chat notifications**
1. In the Amazon Chime desktop client or web app, choose your name, and on the menu that appears, choose **Settings**.
1. In the navigation bar, choose **Meetings**.
1. Under **Notifications**, clear the **Suppress all Amazon Chime notifications while screen sharing** checkbox.
1. Close **Settings**.
# Using closed captions
When you attend a meeting hosted by someone from Amazon, you can view machine-generated closed captions. You can start and stop the captions at any time during the meeting. You can also adjust the settings for closed captions, such as language and font size. The following sets of steps explain how.
**To show or hide closed captions**
1. On the left control bar, choose **Closed captions** (![\[An icon of a box surrounding the letters CC.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-4.png)).
1. In the **Language Preference** dialog box, open the **Language** list and choose your language.
1. Choose **OK**.
The captions appear at the bottom of the meeting window.
**To adjust the caption settings**
1. Repeat step 1 in the previous set of steps.
1. In the upper-right corner of closed-caption box, choose **Caption settings** (the gear icon).
The following list describes the settings.
Use machine generated caption for all my meetings
When selected, closed captions automatically start for all meetings hosted by someone at Amazon. You can turn the captions off at any time during a meeting.
Language for my meetings
Open the list and select a default language. That language will apply to all closed captions until you change it.
Caption type size
Select a comfortable font size from the list.
Caption type color
Select a color from the list.
1. When finished, choose **OK**.
# Changing your media layout
You use the **Media layout** menu to change the layout of the video and media tiles during an Amazon Chime meeting. You can open and close your video tile, and those of all attendees, You can also toggle settings for when you share your screen, and show the active speaker's video tile.
**Important**
Hiding your video tile doesn't turn off your camera. Other attendees can see your video tile until you turn your camera off.
**To change the media layout**
1. On the left control bar, choose the **Media layout** icon ![\[An icon showing a stylized app window with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose a command from the **Media layout** menu:
+ **Hide all available video** – Hide all video tiles, including your own. This doesn't turn off screen share media tiles.
+ **Hide my own video tile** – Your video tile is hidden. This doesn't turn off your camera; other attendees can still see your video tile.
+ **Sort active speaker into view** – Ensures that the video tile for the active speaker is always visible. This setting is turned on by default.
+ **Hide my own screen share view** – Prevents the "infinite windows" effect. If you clear this setting, you and others see the effect when you select the meetings window while sharing your screen. Amazon Chime enables this setting by default.
![\[The Amazon Chime meetings window, repeated to infinity.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/infinity-mirror.png)
# Taking other actions during a meeting
You use the **Other actions** menu to take additional actions during an Amazon Chime meeting. The actions available depend on your role in the meeting. For example, attendees can adding other attendees or change their notifications during a meeting. Organizers, hosts, and delegates can lock or record meetings, mute other attendees, and more.
**To use attendee actions**
1. On the left control bar, choose the ellipsis menu (**...**).
1. Choose any of the following:
+ Choose **Add attendee** to add someone to a meeting.
+ Choose **Notify for all meeting events** to receive event notifications. By default, Amazon Chime notifies meeting hosts when:
+ Attendees join or leave a meeting.
+ When network issues cause an attendee to drop from a meeting.
+ When attendees decline a meeting.
However, in event mode, Amazon Chime turns these notifications off by default. For more information about event mode and meeting events, see the next list of actions and [Hosting meetings](chime-organizer-call-controls.md).
+ Choose **Send call tones** to respond to requests for dial-tone input.
+ (Web app only) Choose **Switch to native desktop app** to join a meeting in the Amazon Chime desktop client.
+ Choose **View keyboard shortcuts** to see a list of available shortcuts.
+ Choose **Send product feedback** to send feedback to the Amazon Chime team about the web and desktop clients.
Meeting organizers, hosts, and delegates can use all attendee actions, plus these actions:
**To use the organizer's actions**
1. On the left control bar, choose the ellipsis menu (**...**).
1. Do any of the following:
+ Choose **Lock meeting** to lock a meeting and prevent new attendees from joining.
+ Choose **Record meeting** to record the meeting. For more information, see [Recording a meeting](record-meeting.md)
+ Choose **Start event mode** to start event mode. You use event mode for meetings of more than 25 attendees. Event mode automatically restricts some attendee actions, such as the ability to use audio. For more information, see [Hosting meetings](chime-organizer-call-controls.md).
+ Choose **Mute all others** to mute all attendee audio.
+ Choose **Disable attendee unmute** to prevent attendees from unmuting their audio.
For more information about those options, see [Hosting meetings](chime-organizer-call-controls.md) and [Scheduling moderated meetings](moderate-meeting.md).
# Recording a meeting
Meeting organizers, delegates, and moderators can record meetings. Recordings have the following limitations:
+ You can record audio and screen sharing for up to 12 hours.
+ Amazon Chime only records video when someone shares their screen. Any parts of a meeting without a screen share appear as blank during playback.
+ Amazon Chime doesn't record any attendee video tiles. That includes host, moderator, and delegate tiles.
+ You can only start to record a meeting after it begins.
**To record a meeting**
1. At the bottom of the left control bar, choose the **Record meeting** icon ( ![\[A rectangular icon showing REC.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-record-meeting.png) ).
1. To stop recording, choose the **Record meeting** icon again.
Amazon Chime processes the recording as soon as you stop recording the meeting. By default, the system creates MP4 files for meetings with screen sharing, and MP4a files for meetings without screen sharing. The processing time varies based on the length of the recording. Once processing ends, Amazon Chime sends you a chat message in regular chat with a link to the recording. For security reasons, Amazon Chime packages the file as a download and places it in your device's downloads folder.
# Raising your hand during meetings
You can raise your hand during an Amazon Chime meeting to get the attention of the presenter. You can also lower your hand if you no longer have a question. In addition, you can see a queue of all the raised hands in the meeting, and you can clear the queue. When you take any of these actions, a response message appears in the meeting chat.
**To raise or lower your hand**
+ In the bottom-right corner of the **Chat** panel, choose the **Raise my hand** icon.
+ Choose the **Raise my hand** icon again to lower your hand.
**To show the queue**
+ In the bottom-right corner of the **Chat** panel, choose the **Raise hands queue control** icon, and then choose **Show queue**.
**To clear the queue**
+ In the bottom-right corner of the **Chat** panel, choose the **Raise hands queue control** icon, and then choose **Clear queue**.
# Using the floating call control bar
When you join a meeting, a floating call control bar appears whenever you put the meeting window in the background, such as when you share your screen. Whenever you navigate away from the meeting window, the bar enables you to start and stop your microphone, web cam, and screenshare. The bar also provides a set of alerts, and it enables you to return to the meeting window quickly. Remember the following:
+ The bar appears by default, but you can turn it off. During the meeting, choose **File**, then **Settings**. Choose **Meetings**, then clear the **Show floating meeting control bar when in background** checkbox. This turns the bar off except for screen shares. The bar appears at all times while you share your screen.
+ You can drag the bar to another location during a meeting, and Amazon Chime uses that location for subsequent meetings until you change it.
This image shows the floating control bar. Numbers in the image text correspond to numbers in the text below.
![\[Images of the floating call control bar and 6 text descriptions.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/floating-control-bar-diag.png)
In the image:
1. Mute and unmute your audio.
1. Start and stop your web cam.
1. Start and stop a screen share.
1. The **View meeting messages** icon returns you to the meeting window and opens the **Chat** pane. The icon includes an unread chat indicator and a count of the attendees who have their hands raised.
1. The **Open attendees panel** icon returns you to the meeting window and opens the **Attendees** panel. The icon includes the number of attendees present and an alert when the Waiting Room contains one or more anonymous users (**<>**).
1. The **Show main meeting window** icon returns you to the meeting window.
**Note**
Only authorized users can admit attendees from the Waiting Room. For more information about anonymous and authorized users, see [Using the Waiting Room](waiting-room.md).
# Using audio during meetings
The topics in this section explain how to use audio during an Amazon Chime meeting. You can talk with other attendees, and listen to what they say.
**Note**
Amazon Chime prioritizes audio over video if your network connection slows down. The system pauses all video except your video tile and the screen share, and the following error message appears: **Video paused to prioritize your audio connection**. Once your network connection improves, Amazon Chime resumes playing any paused video share tiles.
**Topics**
+ [Changing audio devices during a meeting](use-audio-menu.md)
+ [Muting and unmuting](chime-mute.md)
+ [Running the device troubleshooters](run-troubleshooters.md)
+ [Using other audio features](use-other-audio-features.md)
+ [Using Amazon Voice Focus](voice-focus.md)
+ [Switching from VoIP to dial-in](dial-switch.md)
# Changing audio devices during a meeting
After you join an Amazon Chime meeting, you can change to a different microphone or different speakers if you have them available. You can switch between an internal microphone and a headset or other external microphone, or between an internal speaker and headphones or other external speakers.
**To change audio devices**
1. Choose the **Audio menu** icon located next to the microphone icon (![\[Icon of a microphone and caret symbol.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-mic-caret.png)).
1. Under **Speakers**, choose any available device.
# Muting and unmuting
The following sections explain how to mute and unmute audio during an Amazon Chime meeting. The steps apply to the desktop client and web app. For information about muting audio with the mobile app, see [Muting and unmuting your audio](mobile-meeting-mute-audio.md), later in this guide.
Expand each section to learn more.
## Muting and unmuting your audio
You can mute and unmute your audio at any time during an Amazon Chime meeting.
**To mute or unmute your audio in the desktop client and web app**
+ Select the **Mute mic** icon at the bottom of the meeting window.
![\[A blue circle with a microphone.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-mute-mic.png)
To unmute yourself, select the icon again.
## Muting and unmuting other attendees
If you sign in to your Amazon Chime account before you join the meeting, you can mute and unmute other attendees, including those who the join from mobile devices or in-room conference systems.
**To mute or unmute other attendees**
+ On the meeting roster, open the ellipsis menu ( **…** ) next to the attendee's name and choose **Mute** or **Unmute**.
## Muting and unmuting with in-room systems
If you join a meeting from an in-room conference system, the mute button on your device overrides any unmute requests from Amazon Chime.
**To mute and unmute**
+ If your device has a mute button, press it.
—or—
On your device's keypad, press **\$17**.
## Preventing attendees from unmuting
You must be a meeting host, delegate, and moderator to complete these steps. Also, you must first sign in to the Amazon Chime app.
**To prevent attendees from unmuting**
1. In the left control bar, open the **More options** menu (![\[An icon showing a horizontal ellipsis.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-6.png)).
1. Choose **Prevent attendees from unmuting**.
# Running the device troubleshooters
During a meeting, if you have trouble with a mic, speakers, or a Bluetooth connection, you can start the Microsoft Windows troubleshooters for those items. You can use the troubleshooters without leaving the meeting.
**Note**
These steps only apply to Windows devices.
**To start a troubleshooter**
1. Choose the **Audio menu** icon, located next to the microphone icon (![\[Icon of a microphone and caret symbol.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/icon-mic-caret.png)).
1. Under **Device Assistance**, choose the desired troubleshooter.
1. Follow the steps in the troubleshooter.
**Note**
If the troubleshooter fails to resolve your problem, contact your system administrator.
# Using other audio features
You can use the **Audio** menu to start and stop a number of meeting features. The following steps menu item.To use the meeting features
1. Choose **Audio menu** menu, the caret (**^**) next to the microphone icon.
1. Choose the feature or features that you want to turn on or off. A checkmark appears next to features that you turn on. Available features:
+ **Voice Focus (noise suppression)** – Reduces unwanted background noises. For more information about using it, see [Using Amazon Voice Focus](voice-focus.md).
+ **Auto-adjust audio levels** – Automatically adjusts audio levels to keep your voice at an audible, comfortable volume.
+ **Auto-detect microphone problems** – Detects any problems with your microphone and notifies you if your microphone isn't picking up audio.
+ **Mute detection** – Displays a notification when you try to talk on a muted mic.
+ **Push-to-talk (Spacebar)** – Allows you to press and hold the spacebar to unmute your microphone. Release the spacebar to mute your microphone.
+ **Switch to dial-in** – Starts a dialog box that allows you to choose a phone number and dial in to a meeting. As a best practice, you should dial in to meetings hosted in conference rooms, or when you don't have a stable network connection. For more information, see [Switching from VoIP to dial-in](dial-switch.md).
+ **Disable mic and speakers** – Turns off your microphone and stops playing meeting audio through your speakers.
# Using Amazon Voice Focus
Amazon Voice Focus reduces the sound levels of noises that can intrude on a meeting, such as:
+ **Environment noises** – Wind, fans, running water
+ **Background noises** – Lawnmowers, barking dogs
+ **Foreground noises** – Typing, papers shuffling
**Note**
Amazon Voice Focus doesn't eliminate those types of noises. Instead, it makes them less audible. To ensure privacy during a meeting, use the **Mute** button to silence yourself or others.
By default, Amazon Chime uses Amazon Voice Focus for the desktop and mobile clients. When turned on, a checkmark appears next to the **Voice Focus (noise suppression)** option on the **Audio** menu. Amazon Voice Focus processes your voice; however, it never records you, or uses what you say to train itself.
You can turn Amazon Voice Focus off at any time during a meeting. For example, you might turn it off if:
+ You're in a conference room, and you want remote attendees to hear the conversation between the other people in the room.
+ You want other attendees to hear your ambient noise, such as music playing before the start of a presentation.
**To turn off Amazon Voice Focus in the desktop client**
1. In the meeting window, choose **More**.
1. Choose **Voice Focus (noise suppression)** to clear the check mark.
Repeat those steps to turn Amazon Voice Focus on again.
**Note**
Amazon Voice Focus requires a device that meets the following requirements:
Windows 8.1 and later on computers running at least 4th generation Intel processors, or the AMD equivalent
macOS machines from 2007 and later
Android version 4.5 and later
iOS version 10.0 and later
# Switching from VoIP to dial-in
When attending Amazon Chime meetings, you can switch from VoIP to dial-in at any time. You typically switch when you join from a conference room, or when you have a poor network connection.
## Switching to dial-in with the Amazon Chime desktop client
If you want to switch to a dial-in connection to a meeting, you can do so in the Amazon Chime desktop client.
**To switch to dial-in using the desktop client**
1. Choose **Audio menu**, then **Change audio**, then choose **Switch to dial-in**.
1. Use the dial-in number shown or select an international number.
1. Enter the **Meeting ID** followed by the \$1 key when prompted.
The Amazon Chime desktop client also prompts you to switch to dial-in if your internet connection is poor. When prompted, dial the number shown to rejoin the meeting.
# Using video during meetings
If you connect a web came to your computer or other device, you can start the camera at any time during an Amazon Chime meeting. Your video appears as a *tile*, a small window.
You can also use cameras connected to conference call systems if they're compatible with Amazon Chime.
Amazon Chime displays up to 25 attendee video tiles during a meeting. They appear on a first come, first shown basis as attendees turn on their cameras. You can take action on video tiles, such as undocking them, muting them, and pausing their video feed.
**Note**
Amazon Chime does not support virtual backgrounds.
**Topics**
+ [Turning your camera on or off](turn-on-webcam.md)
+ [Changing video sources during a meeting](change-video-source.md)
+ [Blurring your video background](blur-background.md)
+ [Using your video tile](use-video-tile.md)
+ [Undocking video tiles (desktop client only)](undocking.md)
+ [Hiding attendee video tiles during a meeting](hide-all-video.md)
+ [Hiding your video tile during a meeting](hide-your-video.md)
+ [Changing the video row location](change-row-location.md)
+ [Sorting active speakers into view](sort-speaker.md)
+ [Unmirroring your self view](un-mirror-self.md)
+ [Uncropping your video tile](uncrop-video-tile.md)
# Turning your camera on or off
When you join a meeting, you can choose to join with audio or audio and video. If you a join a meeting without turning video on, you can start your camera at any time during the meeting.
**To turn on your webcam**
+ In the call control bar at the bottom of the meeting window, choose the **Video** icon.
+ To turn your camera off, choose the **Video** icon again.
# Changing video sources during a meeting
In the Amazon Chime desktop client and web app, you can change video sources during a meeting. To switch, you must have more than one video source connected to your device. The source that you choose becomes your new default setting.
**To change video sources during a meeting**
1. If your video is turned on, choose the **Video** icon in the call control bar to turn it off.
1. Open the **Video** menu (**^**) and choose one of the available video sources.
# Blurring your video background
If you want to reduce visual distractions in your video tile during a meeting, you can turn on background blur. You can turn this feature on or off before you join a meeting, as well as adjust the strength of the blurring effect. To turn this setting on or off, or adjust the blur strength during the meeting, you use the **Video** menu.
**Note**
Background blur does not support virtual backgrounds.
Currently, background blur only runs in the desktop clients on Windows 10 and macOS Mojave 10.14 or later. The feature uses your computer's graphics processing unit (GPU) for best performance. Older GPUs may not have the power to run it. If you try to use background blur on a computer with an unsupported operating system or an older GPU, Amazon Chime displays a message to let you know. You can't turn on background blur on unsupported devices. If you have an older computer and your video starts to lag, confirm that your video driver is up to date. If updating your video driver doesn't help, turn off background blur.
**To blur your background**
1. In the call control bar at the bottom of the meeting window, choose the **Video** menu (**^**).
1. Select **Blur my video background** to turn on background blur. Select **Blur my video background** again to turn the feature off.
**To change blur strength**
1. In the call control bar at the bottom of the meeting window, choose the **Video** menu (**^**).
1. Hover over **Blur strength**, then choose one of the options from the menu.
**Background blurring and privacy**
Video background blurring uses a pre-trained model to distinguish between you and your background. Because it's pre-trained, the feature never uses facial recognition. It never gathers or stores biometric data, and it never uses images stored in a database. Because of this pre-trained model, background blurring may not always distinguish between you and the elements behind you.
Follow these best practices when you use background blur during a meeting:
+ Wear clothing that contrasts strongly against your background.
+ If your video looks grainy, turn on or increase the amount of light around you. Most webcams, including those built into laptops, don't perform well in low light.
+ Sit directly in front of the camera, with a distance of about three feet between you and the lens. Look directly towards the camera when speaking.
+ The pre-trained model doesn't recognize hats and other headwear. They may be blurred during a meeting.
**Providing feedback**
If you have any feedback on this feature, leave a comment in the online form that appears when you leave a meeting, or contact your AWS IT Administrator to file a ticket with AWS Support.
# Using your video tile
Your video tile shows the view that other attendees have of you when you use your camera during an Amazon Chime meeting. Your tile appears when you turn your camera on. Meeting attendees can mute your video or hide your tile, and you can do the same with other attendees' tiles. Unless otherwise noted, the steps in this section apply to both the desktop client and web app. For information about using video tiles in the Amazon Chime mobile app, see [Using video](mobile-meeting-video.md) in the Amazon Chime mobile app guide.
**Note**
Amazon Chime prioritizes audio over video if your network connection slows down. The system pauses any video or screen share tiles if a slowdown occurs. When this happens, Amazon Chime displays the following message: **Video paused to prioritize your audio connection**. Once your network connection improves, Amazon Chime resumes playing any video and screen share tiles.
**To turn your video tile on or off**
+ In the call control bar at the bottom of the meeting window, choose the **Video** icon.
# Undocking video tiles (desktop client only)
If you run the desktop client, you can undock the video tiles from the rest of the meeting window during a meeting. For example, if you have dual monitors, you can drag the video tiles to one screen and make it easier to see screen shares and chat messages in the meeting window.
Undocking moves all the video tiles, and they appear in a separate grid.
**Note**
At least one meeting attendee must have their camera on in order to undock video tiles.
**To undock video tiles**
1. On the left toolbar, open the **Media layout** menu (![\[An icon showing a stylized app window with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose **Undock video from meeting window**.
1. As needed, drag the tiles to the desired location.
**To dock video tiles**
1. On the left toolbar, open the **Media layout** menu (![\[An icon showing a stylized app window with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose **Dock video to meeting window**.
# Hiding attendee video tiles during a meeting
If you need more room for a screen share, or if you find attendee video tiles distracting, you can hide them during a meeting.
**Note**
Your video tile remains visible after you hide the other videos. For information about hiding your video tile, see [Hiding your video tile during a meeting](hide-your-video.md), later in this guide.
**To hide all video**
1. On the left toolbar, open the **Media layout** menu (![\[An icon showing a stylized app window with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose **Hide all available video**.
To show the video tiles, repeat these steps.
# Hiding your video tile during a meeting
If you don't want to watch your video, or you want to make more room for a screenshare, you can hide your tile. When you hide your tile, other attendees still see your video. If you don't want others to see your video, turn your camera off.
**To hide your video tile**
1. On the left toolbar, open the **Media layout** menu (![\[An icon showing a stylized app window with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose **Hide my own video**.
To show your video tile, repeat these steps.
# Changing the video row location
By default, attendee video tiles appear in a row at the top of the meetings window. You can move that row to the bottom of the window before and during a meeting. Typically, you move the row to make featured content easier to see.
**To change the location before a meeting**
1. Open **Settings**. For more information, see [Amazon Chime global program settings](chm-settings.md).
1. Choose **Meetings**.
1. Under **Video row location**, choose **Above featured content** or **Below featured content**.
**To change the location during a meeting**
1. In the left control bar, choose the **Media layout** icon (![\[An icon showing a stylized app screen with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Point to **Video row location**, and on the menu that appears, choose **Above featured content** or **Below featured content**.
**Note**
You can also use the **Settings** page to change the location. For more information, see [ Audio and video settings How to manage the audio and video settings that the Amazon Chime desktop client provides. The **Audio and video** tab provides the following settings. **Video settings**
**Blur background**
Starts or stops background blur during meetings. Also sets a default blur strength. During meetings, you can turn background blur on and off and change the blur strength.
**Mirror my self view**
Starts or stops mirroring. When on, you see a mirror image of yourself. For example, with mirroring on, your left hand appears on the left side of your screen.
**Show me my self view uncropped**
When selected, keeps your video tile in the 16:9 format.
**Hide the undocked video when sharing my screen**
When selected, hides any undocked video tiles while you share your screen. **Audio settings**
**Join muted**
When selected, automatically mutes your microphone whenever you join a meeting.
**Voice Focus (noise suppression)**
When selected, starts or stops Voice Focus, which helps reduce background noise during meetings.
**Auto-adjust audio levels**
When selected, prevents the audio from becoming too loud or soft. When off, you need to adjust levels manually.
**Auto-detect microphone problems**
Automatically detects microphone problems and displays a message with information about troubleshooting steps.
**Mute detection**
When selected, displays an alert when you speak into a muted microphone.
**Push to talk**
When selected, allows you to mute and unmute your microphone by pushing the space bar on your keyboard.
**Auto-correct system audio settings.**
When selected, automatically adjusts your system audio to its previous settings. **Headset call control device interactions**
**Mute and unmute microphone**
When selected, allows you to use your headset controls to mute and unmute your microphone.
**Answer and leave meetings and calls.**
When selected, allows you to use your headset controls to answer calls and join meetings. **Device preview**
**Skip device preview dialog when joining meetings and calls**
When selected, hides the Device preview dialog box and joins you directly to a meeting or call. Use this setting when you have stable audio and video inputs. For example, when you always join meetings in a conference room or on your laptop. ](chm-settings-audio-video.md#chm-settings-audio-video.title).
# Sorting active speakers into view
In a meeting with a lot of video tiles, you may not always see the tile of the person speaking. To solve that problem, you can automatically sort the active speaker's tile into view.
**To sort speaker tiles**
1. In the left control bar, choose the **Media layout** icon (![\[An icon showing a stylized app screen with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose **Sort active speaker into view**.
A check mark appears next to the option, which remains selected until you change it.
# Unmirroring your self view
By default, your video tile displays a mirror image of you during meetings. For example, your left hand appears on the right side of your video tile, and any text appears in reverse. When you present during a meeting, unmirroring your self view allows you to see what the other attendees see. For example, if you use a whiteboard during the meeting, you don't need to see it in reverse.
**To unmirror your view**
1. Open the **Video** menu, located below the screenshare window.
![\[Image of a video camera icon and a caret symbol. The caret indicates the menu.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/video-menu-closed.png)
1. Select the **Mirror my self view** command to clear the checkmark.
Repeat these steps to mirror your self view.
# Uncropping your video tile
By default, Amazon Chime crops all video tiles during a meeting. Amazon Chime does that in order to include more tiles in the meeting window. You can undo that cropping whenever you display your video tile. Un-cropping changes your tile's aspect ratio to 16:9. Only you see the change.
**To uncrop your video tile**
1. On the Call control bar, open the Video menu (**^**).
1. Choose **Show me my self view uncropped**.
Repeat these steps to crop your video tile.
# Sharing your screen during an Amazon Chime meeting
You can share your screen if you use the desktop client or web app to join a meeting, or you have a supported in-room video system. If you use the desktop client, you can also stop notifications from appearing while you're sharing your screen. Remember the following:
+ If your network connection slows down, Amazon Chime prioritizes audio over video. The system pauses all video except your video tile and the screen share, and the following error message appears: **Video paused to prioritize your audio connection**. The system restores video after it resolves the network problem.
+ The Amazon Chime web app supports screen sharing on Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox for Windows, macOS, and Linux desktops. You don't need a plugin or extension. If you installed the Amazon Chime screen share extension for Google Chrome versions 34 -71, and you now run a more recent version of Google Chrome, Amazon Chime bypasses the extension and uses the browser's native capabilities.
**Note**
If you want others to see your mouse pointer while you present, you must share your entire screen instead of an individual window.
The steps in the following sections explain how to share your screen and use the various screen sharing tools.
**Topics**
+ [Sharing your screen](share-your-screen.md)
+ [Using the screen share control bar](share-controls.md)
+ [Stopping notifications while sharing](stop-notifications.md)
+ [Playing videos while sharing your screen](screen-share-audio.md)
+ [Hiding your screenshare view](hide-screenshare-view.md)
# Sharing your screen
When you share a screen, you can share any open program window, or you can share your entire screen. The following steps explain how to do both.
**Note**
If you want others to see your mouse pointer while you present, you must share your entire screen instead of an individual window.
**To share your screen during a meeting**
1. On the call control bar at the bottom of the meeting window, choose **Start screen**.
The **Choose what to share** dialog box appears and displays thumbnail images of the applications that you're currently running.
1. Do one of the following:
+ To share an application window, choose the desired thumbnail image.
+ To share your screen, choose **Entire screen**, then choose **Entire screen** again.
1. Choose **Share**.
Desktop users in the meeting see a **Shared screen** pop-up, and mobile users see an alert to either view or ignore the shared screen. Meeting attendees who view your shared screen can use their pointers to zoom in and out.
# Using the screen share control bar
When a meeting host or attendee shares their screen, the screen share control bar appears: ![\[A dark gray bar with four icons.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/meeting-shared-screen-controls.png)
Moving from left to right:
+ **Hide all video** – Hides all attendee video tiles, including yours.
+ **Zoom in** – Zooms in on the shared screen.
+ **Zoom out** – Zooms out of the shared screen.
+ **Undock screen to share in a new window** – Moves the shared screen to a separate window. Other attendees continue to see the undocked window. To re-dock, close the undocked window. The shared screen appears in its original location.
# Stopping notifications while sharing
To stop notifications from appearing while you share your screen, update your Amazon Chime settings. This only applies to the desktop client.
**To stop notifications**
1. In the desktop client, open the horizontal ellipsis menu next to your name and choose **Settings**.
1. Choose **Meetings**, and under **Notifications**, choose **Suppress all notifications while screen sharing**.
# Playing videos while sharing your screen
When you play a video while sharing your screen, other meeting attendees can see the video, but they can't hear the audio. Why? By design, Amazon Chime only captures and distributes audio from microphones.
To include audio with a video, you can use the following tools to redirect the audio as a mic input to Amazon Chime.
+ OBS and a virtual camera: [https://streamlabs.com/streamlabs-obs](https://streamlabs.com/streamlabs-obs).
+ VB Cable: [https://vb-audio.com/Cable/index.htm](https://vb-audio.com/Cable/index.htm).
+ An HDMI to USB adapter cable. You route the signal out from HDMI and back in via USB.
+ Loopback: [https://rogueamoeba.com/loopback/](https://rogueamoeba.com/loopback/).
# Hiding your screenshare view
If you select the Amazon Chime meeting window while sharing your screen, you and others see an infinite number of meeting windows. For example:
![\[Repeated instances of the Amazon Chime meetings window, out to infinity.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/infinity-mirror.png)
Hiding your screenshare view prevents that from happening.
**To hide the view**
1. In the left control bar, choose the **Media layout** icon (![\[An icon showing a stylized app screen with three panels.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/chime/latest/ug/images/left-control-5.png)).
1. Choose **Hide my own screenshare view**.
A check mark appears next to the option, which remains selected until you change it.