How to Use & Remove Zoom’s Watermark Feature

Zoom's watermark feature serves as a valuable tool for enhancing security and branding during virtual meetings. Whether you're aiming to protect your content or personalize your meetings, understanding how to utilize and remove this feature is essential. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore Zoom watermarking, how to enable or disable them, and alternative methods to achieve a watermark-free experience.

What Is A Zoom Watermark Feature?

Zoom offers two primary types of watermarks: visual and audio.

Visual Watermark

The visual watermark overlays a participant's email address onto their video feed during a meeting. This feature is particularly useful for discouraging unauthorized recording or sharing of meeting content. To activate this, ensure that your meeting settings require participants to sign in before joining.

Audio Watermark

The audio watermark embeds an inaudible signature into the meeting's audio stream. This allows Zoom to trace recordings back to specific participants if necessary. Like the visual watermark, enabling this feature requires that participants authenticate before joining the meeting.

How to Enable Watermarks in Zoom

To add watermark to zoom follow these steps:

1. Sign In to Zoom Web Portal: Navigate to zoom.us and log in with your administrator credentials.

2. Access Account Settings: Click on "Settings" in the left-hand menu.

3. Enable Visual Watermark:

   • Under the "Security" tab, locate the option labeled "Only authenticated users can join."

   • Toggle this setting to "On" to require participants to sign in.

   • Scroll to the "Meeting Options" section and check the box for "Add watermark that identifies the viewing participant."

4. Enable Audio Watermark:

   • In the same "Security" tab, find the "Add audio watermark" option.

   • Toggle this setting to "On" to embed an inaudible watermark into the meeting's audio.

   
   

These settings will apply to all scheduled meetings requiring authentication.

How to Remove Zoom’s Watermark

Removing a watermark from an ongoing or recorded Zoom meeting is not straightforward. Once a watermark is embedded, especially the audio watermark, it becomes a permanent part of the recording. Zoom intentionally designs these features to deter unauthorized sharing.

For Ongoing Meetings

To disable the visual watermark during an active meeting:

1. Click on the "Security" tab in the meeting controls.

2. Uncheck the "Add watermark that identifies the viewing participant" option.

Please note that this action will only affect the current meeting and will not remove watermarks from any recordings made during the session.

For Recorded Meetings

Once a recording has been processed, the watermark becomes embedded and cannot be removed through Zoom's settings. Attempting to remove it using third-party software is generally ineffective and may result in degraded video quality.

Alternative Methods to Achieve a Watermark-Free Experience

If removing the watermark from recordings is essential, consider the following alternatives:

Use a Custom Virtual Background

Implementing a custom virtual background can effectively obscure the watermark. Design a background that aligns with your branding and upload it through the Zoom settings. This method provides a professional appearance without the need to disable watermarking features.

Utilize External Streaming Tools

For live streaming purposes, external tools like OBS Studio, vMix, or Zoom ISO can capture your Zoom meeting feed and stream it without the Zoom watermark. These tools allow for greater control over your broadcast's appearance and branding.

Contact Zoom Support

In certain cases, especially for enterprise-level accounts, reaching out to Zoom's support team may provide solutions tailored to your organization's needs. They can offer guidance on branding options or other features that align with your requirements.

Leveraging Watermarks for Branding and Security

While removing watermarks may be necessary in some scenarios, utilizing them can enhance your meetings' professionalism and security. Watermarks serve as a deterrent against unauthorized content sharing and can reinforce your brand's presence during virtual interactions.

Custom Branding Options

Zoom allows for the customization of meeting interfaces, including the addition of logos and brand colors. By integrating these elements, you can create a cohesive and branded experience for your participants.

Security Considerations

Enabling watermarks adds an extra layer of security, ensuring that any unauthorized recordings can be traced back to the individual responsible. This feature is particularly beneficial for sensitive or confidential meetings.

Understanding how to utilize and manage Zoom's watermark feature is crucial for maintaining the integrity and professionalism of your virtual meetings. While removing watermarks from recordings is challenging, employing strategies like custom backgrounds or external streaming tools can help achieve a watermark-free experience when necessary. By leveraging these features effectively, you can enhance both the security and branding of your Zoom meetings.