---
title: "Use breakout rooms in meetings"
slug: "work-for-desktop-use-breakout-rooms-in-meetings"
updated: 2026-07-23T10:07:29Z
published: 2026-07-23T10:07:29Z
canonical: "help.8x8.com/work-for-desktop-use-breakout-rooms-in-meetings"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.8x8.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Use breakout rooms in meetings

> [!NOTE]
> Note:
> 
> This feature applies to 8x8 desktop apps, versions 10.14 and newer of 8x8 Work for Mobile, and all browsers. Participants joining from the 8x8 Meet mobile app or older versions of 8x8 Work for Mobile are not able to see, join, or be moved to a breakout room.

## Use breakout rooms in meetings

Let's say that during a meeting between the Marketing, Sales, and Engineering teams, the three teams need to break out into individual team sessions to chart out their next steps, then return to the main meeting for further discussion; a moderator in an 8x8 meeting can create breakout rooms within the same meeting, enabling the teams to immediately pick up where they left off without needing to schedule separate meetings!

Use breakout rooms whenever you need to split people into smaller groups and bring them back together when needed:

- Create brainstorming groups so more ideas can be discussed in parallel without people talking over one another.
- Before the end of a meeting with multiple presenters, create a room for each presenter so they can more quickly answer questions specific to them.
- During a virtual training session, create a room for each trainer, enabling them to focus on smaller groups of people to train.
- And much more!

**To create breakout rooms as a moderator:**

1. As a moderator in a meeting, click **Participants** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-invite_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D). If you are joining via your mobile app, tap **More actions** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-more_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D) first to see this option.
2. In the participant panel that opens, click **Add breakout room** below the end of the participant list. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/whats-new-meet-breakout-button.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D)

**To join breakout rooms:**

1. While in the main room of a meeting, click **Participants** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-invite_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D). If you are joining via your mobile app, tap **More actions** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-more_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D) first to see this option.
2. In the participant panel that opens:
  - **On desktop**: Hover over the name of a breakout room to show the option to join the room.
  - **On mobile**: Hold down on the name of a breakout room to show the option to join the room.
3. Click **Join**. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/whats-new-meet-breakout-join-close.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D)

**To leave breakout rooms:**

1. While in a breakout room during a meeting, click **Participants** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-invite_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D). If you are joining via your mobile app, tap **More actions** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-more_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D) first to see this option.
2. In the participant panel that opens, click **Leave breakout room** to return to the main meeting room. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/whats-new-meet-breakout-leave.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D)

**To close breakout rooms as a moderator:**

1. As a moderator in a meeting, click **Participants** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-invite_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D). If you are joining via your mobile app, tap **More actions** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-more_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D) first to see this option.
2. In the participant panel that opens:
  - **On desktop**:
    1. Hover over the name of a breakout room to show additional options for the room.
    2. Hover over **More** ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/icon-more_18x18.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D) next to the name of the meeting room, and click **Close** to return all participants there to the main meeting room. ![](https://cdn.us.document360.io/e3a59e39-abd3-4423-964c-0a4008dc5673/Images/Documentation/whats-new-meet-breakout-join-close.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T21%3A14%3A10Z&se=2026-11-03T22%3A14%3A10Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=GzyaKoah52febI7lmCQ54UDHcCRRQG6mP8G%2F00PcoOw%3D)
  - **On mobile**:
    1. Hold down on the name of a breakout room to show additional options for the room.
    2. Tap **Remove** to return all participants there to the main meeting room.