---
title: How to Set Up Interactive Webinars
description: Interactive webinars allow both presenters and attendees to share their microphones and webcams in the live webinar room.
---

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# How to Set Up Interactive Webinars

## Interactive webinars allow both presenters and attendees to share their microphones and webcams in the live webinar room.

Still using the [Session Admin](https://kb.bigmarker.com/knowledge/introducing-the-new-session-admin?hsLang=en)? [Click here](https://kb.bigmarker.com/knowledge/interactive-webinars#session_admin) to learn where in the you can find the interactive settings.

Interactive webinars are highly interactive, real-time events best suited for meetings and round tables where attendees participate with mics + webcams actively. Presenters and attendees will both see the default webinar room, and there is no delay, allowing for seamless audience participation. Interactive webinars have stricter system requirements: attendees must have high-speed internet and a modern browser like Chrome or Firefox.

> **Note:** *To ensure the best possible attendee experience webcast mode will automatically be enabled for all attendees once your webinar reaches **250 total registrants** or more than **100 live attendees**.*

### How do I make sure my webinar is set up to be in interactive mode (not webcast mode)?

 When first creating your webinar, under **Live Event Experience**, click the **Interactive** button. 

![Setting up an interactive webinar](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Setting%20up%20an%20interactive%20webinar.png?width=600&height=360&name=Setting%20up%20an%20interactive%20webinar.png)

After creation, you can also adjust this setting in the [session admin](https://kb.bigmarker.com/knowledge/introducing-the-new-session-admin?hsLang=en). Go to **Production \> Live Experience** and look for the **Session Type** setting.

![](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-06-2026-06-16-32-5364-PM.png?width=600&height=371&name=image-png-May-06-2026-06-16-32-5364-PM.png)

### How can I let my attendees participate with cameras and microphones?

Unlike webcast webinars, interactive webinars allow for a greater amount of participation. Everyone is in the same studio room together and can communicate in real-time. To enable attendee mics and cameras, look for the **Attendee room access** setting within **Production \> Live Experience**. 

![](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-06-2026-06-24-37-2488-PM.png?width=450&height=236&name=image-png-May-06-2026-06-24-37-2488-PM.png)

If you choose **Custom** some additional settings will appear, allowing you to customize what features attendees have access to and what kind of prompt they receive upon entering the session.

![](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-May-06-2026-06-26-41-7606-PM.png?width=525&height=278&name=image-png-May-06-2026-06-26-41-7606-PM.png)

Inside of the webinar room, attendees will be able to adjust these settings using the icons at the bottom of their screens, just like presenters.

![Attendee View - Interactive Webinar - Inside Webinar Room](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Attendee%20View%20-%20Interactive%20Webinar%20-%20Inside%20Webinar%20Room.png?width=600&height=293&name=Attendee%20View%20-%20Interactive%20Webinar%20-%20Inside%20Webinar%20Room.png)

### Can I control attendees' mics and cams?

As an **admin\*** inside of the webinar room, you'll be able to see which attendees have enabled their microphones and webcams. The list of attendees will be available to you when you're in the **Presenter View**, on the people tab (as shown in the screenshot below).

> \*To give any presenter admin access inside of the webinar room, make sure to check the **Can access Host Control Panel in live webinar room** box when adding them as a presenter on the **Presenters** tab of the webinar.

![Admin Controls - Interactive Webinars](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Admin%20Controls%20-%20Interactive%20Webinars.png?width=600&height=292&name=Admin%20Controls%20-%20Interactive%20Webinars.png)

For any attendee who's enabled their microphone and/or webcam, you'll be able to make adjustments as needed, like muting/unmuting their microphone or turning off their webcam.

Clicking either the microphone or camcorder icons, you can enable or disable the attendee's devices (as long as the attendee has already allowed BigMarker to access them).

![Adjust Attendee Mics and Cams - Admin Abilities in Interactive webinars](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Adjust%20Attendee%20Mics%20and%20Cams%20-%20Admin%20Abilities%20in%20Interactive%20webinars.png?width=600&height=156&name=Adjust%20Attendee%20Mics%20and%20Cams%20-%20Admin%20Abilities%20in%20Interactive%20webinars.png)

To assist attendees in enabling their microphones or webcams:

1. Find the attendee in this list, and then click "**⋮**" next to their microphone and webcam icons
2. From there, hover over either **Manage Mic** or **Manage Camera**
3. You'll be able to click **Request Control![Interactive Room - Request Control](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interactive%20Room%20-%20Request%20Control.png?width=600&height=201&name=Interactive%20Room%20-%20Request%20Control.png)**
4. The attendee will then receive a notification of your request ![Interactive Room - Allowv2](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interactive%20Room%20-%20Allowv2.png?width=300&height=217&name=Interactive%20Room%20-%20Allowv2.png)
5. As soon as the attendee clicks **Allow (Recommended)**, you will be able to make adjustments to their microphone or webcam by using the toggles available, and then clicking **Next ![Interactive Room - Admin Changes to Mic and Cam](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interactive%20Room%20-%20Admin%20Changes%20to%20Mic%20and%20Cam.png?width=525&height=307&name=Interactive%20Room%20-%20Admin%20Changes%20to%20Mic%20and%20Cam.png)**
6. At that point, you'll see the attendee's icon(s) change to blue in the control panel![Interactive Room - Attendee Mic](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interactive%20Room%20-%20Attendee%20Mic.png?width=300&height=143&name=Interactive%20Room%20-%20Attendee%20Mic.png)
7. The attendee will see these changes reflected in the icons at the bottom of their screen![Interactive Room - Attendee Mic Side](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interactive%20Room%20-%20Attendee%20Mic%20Side.png?width=225&height=115&name=Interactive%20Room%20-%20Attendee%20Mic%20Side.png)

### How can I make sure my attendees are setup to be able to share their microphones and webcams?

Anyone wanting to share their microphones and/or webcams in a live webinar room should test their system setups using the [BigMarker System Check](https://www.bigmarker.com/system_check). 

Just like presenters, attendees will want to follow the instruction below:

- Use either **Chrome** or **Firefox** as your browser (especially if you intend to use your microphone and webcam in the webinar). Make sure your browser is updated to its latest version.
- If you have slower than required upload and download speeds, seen in the [BigMarker System Check](https://www.bigmarker.com/system_check), please hardwire into your router or set up as close to your router as possible.
- If you experience issues with your webcam display due to slow internet speeds, please consider joining the webinar with microphone only.

### What branding opportunities do I have in an interactive webinar?

Unlike webinars utilizing **Webcast** mode, those using **Interactive** mode will appear to attendees as shown in the screenshot below.

You will be able to update the logo visible in the room at upper left, and you will still be able to take advantage of BigMarker's **Audience Engagement** tools (eg Handouts, Offers, and Polls).

### ![Interactive Webinar - Branding](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Interactive%20Webinar%20-%20Branding.png?width=600&height=291&name=Interactive%20Webinar%20-%20Branding.png)

### Interactive settings in the Session Admin

To change whether your session will use the webcast or interactive experience, look for the setting **Live Experience** within the **Manage Webinar** dashboard.

![manage webinar adjustments](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/manage%20webinar%20adjustments.png?width=600&height=261&name=manage%20webinar%20adjustments.png)

When you set the session to Interactive, you'll have additional settings that will allow you to set the permissions for attendees when they first enter the room. Within the **Edit** tab you'll find these controls.

![Edit Tab - Allow Attendees to Share Mic and Cam](https://kb.bigmarker.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Edit%20Tab%20-%20Allow%20Attendees%20to%20Share%20Mic%20and%20Cam.png?width=600&height=423&name=Edit%20Tab%20-%20Allow%20Attendees%20to%20Share%20Mic%20and%20Cam.png)

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