Assigning Presenter
The presenter role in BigBlueButton controls who can upload presentations, share their screen, and manage the whiteboard. Moderators can assign the presenter role to any participant — but only one person can be the presenter at a time.
Granting Presenter Rights
Click on the participant's name in the participant list.
Select Make presenter from the context menu.
The participant immediately receives all presenter capabilities. A blue screen icon (presenter icon) appears next to their name.
As a presenter, the participant gains access to:
- The plus button for uploading presentations and starting polls
- The screen sharing button
- Full whiteboard annotation tools
Revoking Presenter Rights
There is no separate action to remove presenter rights. When you assign a new presenter, the previous presenter automatically loses the role. Only one person can be the presenter at any given time.
The presenter role is not the same as the moderator role. A presenter can share content but cannot manage participants, change settings, or start/stop recordings. A moderator has full administrative control.
Reclaiming Presenter Rights
If a participant currently holds the presenter role and you want to take it back as a moderator:
Click the plus (+) button at the bottom of the screen.
Select Become presenter.
You immediately become the presenter, and the previous presenter returns to their regular role.
Common Use Cases
- Student presentations — give students the presenter role so they can share and present their own slides.
- Alternating moderation — pass the presenter role between speakers during a panel discussion or workshop.
- Collaborative tasks — let participants take turns presenting during group exercises.
Before handing over the presenter role, make sure the participant knows how to use the presentation controls. Consider giving a brief walkthrough of the plus button and screen sharing feature.