Maybe you want to get the opinion of your Zoom meeting participants but don’t want them to type a one or a two. You do a quick Google search but don’t find convincing answers. So, you’re now wondering, “How do I create a poll on Zoom?”
The truth is, creating a zoom poll isn’t as straightforward as many other Zoom features. To use the Zoom polling feature, you must be a paid subscriber. This won’t be a problem for some. If you have a free plan and know how to use zoom., you will need to upgrade. Below we take you through the workarounds of Zoom polls. So, stick with us, and you’ll be polling your Zoom participants in no time.
Zoom Poll Prerequisites
We’ve already mentioned that you must pay for a subscription to create polls on Zoom. But let’s review some other must-know information about Zoom polls before teaching you how to create them.
Ultimately, Zoom polls have a lot of rules, and knowing these rules before you get started will save you a lot of time trying to figure out why the steps aren’t working.
Zoom Poll Limitations and Requirements
If you don’t meet certain requirements or follow specific rules, you won’t have the option to create a poll. Review this list to ensure you meet all Zoom polling requirements:
- You must have a paid account.
- Use Zoom on your desktop. You can’t create polls on your iPhone or Android. But your participants can interact with polls from their mobile devices.
- Upgrade your Zoom desktop client to at least 5.12.0.
- You must use your Zoom PMI (Personal Meeting ID). We’ll show you how to find your PMI in the Gathering Your Materials section below.
- You can create 50 polls per meeting with a maximum of 10 questions each.
You will have an easy time creating a Zoom poll if you meet all the requirements above. However, there’s still work to be done to get ready.
Enable Polls in the Settings
Open the web link and sign into your account. Then, click the Meetings tab. Use the ctrl+f or cmd + f keyboard shortcut and type Polls. Then, enable the option.
How to Create a Poll in Zoom Before the Meeting
Now that we have everything ready and you meet the requirements to create a Zoom poll, let’s get started. Follow these steps to create the poll:
Step 1: Go to the Web Portal
You can’t create a poll using the Zoom iOS or Android app. Instead, you need to visit this website first. Go to the website and sign into your Zoom account.
Step 2: Schedule a Meeting

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If you haven’t already, it’s time to schedule a meeting. Click the Schedule Meeting link and follow the steps to create a meeting.
Helpful hint: If you already have a meeting scheduled, skip this step.
Step 3: Click the Polls Option

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You’ll see the Polls/Quizzes option to the right of the Details tab.
Step 4: Click Create

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When you see the +Create option, click it.
Step 5: Click Polls or Advanced Polls

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A new pop-up window will appear, asking whether you’d like to create a Poll or Advanced Poll. Select the Poll to create a Zoom poll or Advanced Poll for more options.
Step 6: Name Your Poll and Add Questions

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Finally, we’re at the fun part. Give your poll to make it easy to find in the following steps. Then, add your questions and answers.
Step 7: Click Save

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After naming your Zoom poll and adding the questions/answers, click Save.
Now, you can pick the poll up when you start your meeting.
How to Launch a Poll in Zoom
Only Zoom administrators can create and initialize a poll in Zoom. So, as long as you’re an administrator, you can follow these steps:
Click 1: Start Your Meeting

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Click to start your meeting.
Click 2: Click Polls/Quizzes

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After the meeting begins, you will see a list of options at the bottom. Select the Polls option in the lower menu.
Step 3: Click Launch

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The poll will immediately appear on your participants’ screen, and you can see the results in real time.
Helpful hint: You can exit the Poll menu and re-open it by clicking the Polls option again.
In the following video, Cheryl Tan provides an excellent demo of how to use polling in Zoom.
How to Create a Poll in Zoom After the Meeting
If your meeting has already started, or you want to add a new poll, you can. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Click Polls/Quizzes

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Click Polls in the menu at the bottom of the Zoom screen.
Helpful hint: If you’re using the Zoom web client and not the desktop app, this option says, Polls.
Step 2: Click Create

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The Create option is at the bottom of the pop-up menu. Click Create.
A web browser will open, letting you create a Poll as we did using the steps above.
Helpful hint: If you’re using the Zoom web client and not the desktop app, you can create a new poll without opening a new web page.
Step 3: Click Polls or Advanced Polls

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Choose whether you’d like to create a simple Poll or Advanced Poll.
Step 4: Name Your Poll and Add Questions

then add questions and
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Now you can name your Poll and add the questions and answers.
Helpful hint: Click Add Choice and Add Question to include more content.
Step 5: Click Save

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Click Save at the bottom of the poll creation window.
Step 6: Launch Your Poll

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Now go back to your Zoom meeting and click the Polls/Quizzes option. Then, choose the dropdown at the top of the window and select the poll you created. Finally, click Launch.
Helpful hint: You can edit your Zoom poll before launching by clicking the Edit button in the top right corner of the Poll menu from within the Zoom meeting.
How to View Zoom Poll Results
You can see your poll results in the Poll/Quizzes window. But if you want to go back and see the results after ending the poll, follow these steps:
Step 1: Click Polls/Quizzes

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While still inside the meeting, select the Polls/Quizzes option at the bottom of the screen.
Step 2: Click the Menu Icon

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There’s a three-dot menu icon at the bottom of the menu. Click it.
Step 3: Download the Results

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Finally, click Download Results and sign into your Zoom account when the web page opens.
What to Do If You Can’t Create a Poll in Zoom
Have trouble creating a poll, or can’t launch one in a meeting? First, you should verify your account is licensed; in other words, you have an active subscription. You should see Licensed under your name when you go to your Zoom Settings (in the desktop app or a web browser).
Next, assuming you have a paid subscription with Zoom, verify that the Zoom Poll settings are enabled (the instructions outlined above).
If you don’t have a Zoom paid subscription, or the feature isn’t working, and you’re pressed for time, you can create a free poll using Poll-Maker or another site and paste the poll in you meetings comment box.
Of course, this will take your participants to another site, so it isn’t as seamless as Zoom’s polls, but it will work in a pinch.
Attention: Polling All Zoomees
Polls are an excellent way to keep your participants engaged. They’re versatile and helpful, especially when you want to quiz your meeting participants or get everyone’s opinion without overwhelming the meeting chat.
However, Zoom’s polling feature is only available to some, and it takes some work to get them up and running. Of course, when you follow all the steps above a few times, you, too will be a Zoom poll expert.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©SvetaZi/Shutterstock.com.