Configuring Zoom's chat and messaging features involves adjusting both in-meeting chat settings and broader Team Chat preferences to optimize communication. Whether you're a host managing participant interactions or an individual user customizing notifications, Zoom provides granular controls for text formatting, message organization, and access permissions. The platform supports real-time collaboration through features like @mentions, emoji reactions, and continuous meeting chat, while administrative tools allow organizations to enforce chat policies across teams.

Key findings from available sources:

• In-meeting chat controls: Hosts can restrict messaging to "Host only," disable chat entirely, or allow private/group conversations ^[1][6]
• Team Chat customization: Users can format text, bookmark messages, set reminders, and translate conversations in real time ^[5][9]
• Notification management: Default alerts, keyword triggers, and "Do Not Disturb" schedules are configurable ^[10]
• Advanced features: Slash commands, file uploads, and cross-platform interoperability expand functionality ^[9]

Configuring Zoom Chat and Messaging Features

In-Meeting Chat Configuration

Hosts and participants can adjust chat settings during live meetings to control communication flow and privacy. The chat toolbar, accessible via the meeting controls, offers options to direct messages to specific audiences or disable chatting altogether. These settings are particularly useful for managing large meetings or sensitive discussions where uncontrolled messaging could disrupt the session.

For hosts, the critical configurations include:

• Recipient restrictions: Limit chat to "Host only," "All participants," or disable it completely. This is adjusted by clicking the "More" (⋮) button in the chat window and selecting "No one," "Host only," or "Everyone" ^[1][6]
• Private messaging controls: By default, participants can send private messages to individuals or create group chats (requires Zoom app version 6.2.10+). Hosts can disable this by navigating to Settings > Meeting > Chat in their Zoom web portal ^[1]
• Chat transparency during screen sharing: A floating chat window remains visible to the presenter but is hidden from other participants. This allows hosts to monitor messages without interrupting their screen share ^[1]
• Post-meeting transcripts: Hosts can save chat logs for record-keeping by clicking the "Save Chat" option in the chat window’s "More" menu. Note that private messages are only visible to the sender and recipient in the saved transcript ^[1]

Participants, meanwhile, can:

• Format messages with bold, italics, or emojis using the toolbar above the chat input box. For example, typing bold renders as bold ^[1]
• Reply directly to specific messages by hovering over a chat bubble and clicking "Reply," creating a threaded conversation ^[1]
• React with emojis by hovering over a message and selecting the smiley face icon, which adds a quick visual response without cluttering the chat ^[1][5]

Zoom Team Chat Customization

Beyond in-meeting chat, Zoom’s Team Chat feature—accessible via the desktop or mobile app—offers persistent messaging for ongoing collaboration. Users can tailor this environment through settings that enhance organization, accessibility, and productivity. The sidebar, notifications, and message handling tools are fully customizable to match individual workflows.

Key customization options include:

• Sidebar organization: Users can hide unused collections (e.g., "Starred Messages" or "Channels"), limit the number of sections open simultaneously, and reorder tabs for quicker access. This is configured under Settings > Chat > Sidebar ^[10]
• Message display preferences:
• Toggle "Show unread messages at the top" to prioritize unread chats in the list ^[10]
• Enable "Automatically position new messages at the top" to keep the latest messages visible without scrolling ^[10]
• Activate real-time translation for messages in foreign languages via Settings > Chat > Message Translation ^[5][10]
• Notification controls:
• Set default notification sounds and pop-up alerts for direct messages, @mentions, or keywords under Settings > Chat > Notifications ^[10]
• Create keyword alerts to receive notifications when specific terms (e.g., "urgent" or "deadline") appear in chats ^[10]
• Schedule "Do Not Disturb" periods to mute notifications during focus hours or outside work times ^[10]
• Advanced messaging tools:
• @mentions: Notify specific users or entire channels by typing @ followed by their name. This triggers a direct alert for the mentioned party ^[9]
• Slash commands: Quick actions like /call to start a meeting or /away to set status are executed by typing / in the chat input box ^[9]
• File management: Drag and drop files into chats (up to 512MB per file) or use the paperclip icon to attach documents. Shared files are stored in the chat thread for future reference ^[9]
• Message bookmarking: Hover over a message and click the bookmark icon to save it for later. Bookmarked messages are accessible under the "Saved Messages" tab ^[5][9]

For administrators managing organization-wide settings, the Team Chat admin panel (available in the Zoom web portal under Account Management > Team Chat) includes:

• Global chat toggle: Enable or disable Team Chat for all users in the organization ^[2]
• 1:1 chat permissions: Restrict or allow private messaging between employees ^[2]
• External communication controls: Limit or permit chatting with users outside the organization ^[2]