Configuring Layouts
Moderators and presenters can configure the screen layout for all participants at once — switching between presentation-focused and video-focused views to match the current activity.
Available Layout Options
BigBlueButton offers several layout options to optimize the screen for different types of content:
| Layout | Description |
|---|---|
| Presentation focus | The presentation area takes up most of the screen. Webcam videos are displayed in a small strip. |
| Video focus | Webcam videos are prominently displayed. The presentation is shown smaller or hidden. |
Additional layout variants may be available depending on your BigBlueButton version. The options above are the standard layouts in BigBlueButton 2.7 and later.
Pushing a Layout to All Participants
As a moderator, you can set the layout for all participants at once so everyone sees the same view:
Open the settings menu by clicking the gear icon or the plus button.
Select the desired layout from the available options.
Click Push to all to apply the layout for every participant in the meeting.
All participants immediately see the selected layout applied to their screen.
Global vs. Individual Layouts
There is an important distinction between global and individual layout settings:
- Global layout (moderator only) — the moderator pushes a layout to all participants at once. This is useful for ensuring everyone has the same view during a presentation or discussion.
- Individual layout (all participants) — every participant can adjust their own view at any time, regardless of the global layout setting.
After a moderator pushes a layout to all participants, individual users can still change their own view. The global layout serves as a starting point, not a permanent lock.
When to Use Which Layout
- Use Presentation focus when sharing slides, documents, or screen content that participants need to see clearly.
- Use Video focus for discussions, introductions, or social activities where seeing each other is more important than the presentation.