Room Features · Beginner's Guide
Watch videos and share screens with friends, starting from this page.
1. Feature Overview
Room is the core of ZViewer's multi-user interaction. You can create a room, invite friends to join, and watch videos synchronously, share screens, or chat via voice in real time.
Core capabilities:
- Synchronized Watching: When the host plays, pauses, or seeks, everyone's画面 stays in sync.
- Screen Sharing: The sharer streams their screen or application window in real time.
- Audience Management: The host can kick, mute, approve join requests, and transfer host privileges.
- Danmaku and Comments: Chat while watching, with support for Bilibili-style danmaku and pen annotations.
- Disconnect Protection: If the host briefly disconnects, the room does not close immediately and viewers continue watching.
2. Room Mode Comparison
| Item | Watch Together | Screen Share |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Everyone watches the same video link synchronously | The sharer broadcasts their screen/window in real time |
| Best for | Watching series and movies together | Demonstrations, remote collaboration, game streaming |
| Playback control | Host has full control; viewers can request control | The sharer controls their own stream |
| Video source | Paste an online video link or add from the room list | Local screen/window capture by the sharer |
| Network requirements | mp4 mode carries minimal sync data traffic; dash mode relays through the server, requiring higher server bandwidth | Higher |
| Latency | Low (sync playback, transmission delay) | Medium (WebRTC real-time transmission) |
| Viewer count | Almost unlimited | Limited by the sharer's upstream bandwidth |
There is also an OBS stream-push mode for professional live streaming scenarios. See Screen Sharing and Streaming.
3. Creating a Room
Creating a room takes just three steps:
- Open the homepage and click the "Start Sharing" button in the center of the page, or the "Create Room" button in the top-right corner.
- Select a mode: In the popup, choose "Watch Together" or "Screen Share".
- Enter the room automatically: The system instantly creates the room, and you become the Host and enter the room interface.
Tip: You do not need to register an account to create a room. The first time you use it, the system will prompt you to set a nickname so your friends can recognize you.
4. Room Interface Overview
Once inside the room, you will see four main areas:
Top Bar
- Room Name: Displays the current room name. Click to edit.
- Room ID: A numeric ID that you can share with friends for them to join.
- Online Count: Shows the current number of online viewers.
- "Invite" Button: Click to show sharing options.
- "Settings" Button: A gear icon that opens the room settings panel.
- "Leave Room" Button: Exit and close the room (only the host can close it).
Player Area (Watch Together Mode)
The central main area is the video player, supporting:
- Play/Pause: Click the video or press the spacebar.
- Progress Bar: Drag to seek.
- Volume Control: Hover to adjust.
- Playback Speed: Supports 0.5x to 2x speed.
- Fullscreen: Click the fullscreen icon in the bottom-right corner.
In Screen Share mode, the central area displays the sharer's real-time stream.
Bottom Three Cards
Below the player, there are three cards that expand when clicked:
| Card | Content |
|---|---|
| Video List | All videos added to the current room; can switch, reorder, and add new ones |
| Chat | Real-time comments — supports text messages, danmaku mode, and pen annotations |
| Viewer List | Online viewers, showing nicknames and roles (host/viewer) |
Right Panel (Room Info)
Click the ">" arrow on the right edge to expand the room info panel, which contains three tabs.
5. Room Info Panel (Three Tabs)
Info Tab
- Room ID: Copy and send to friends. They can enter it on the homepage to join.
- Share Link: Copy the link directly and send it to friends. They can click it to join.
- Room Name: The host can change the room's display name.
- Current Mode: Shows "Watch Together" or "Screen Share".
Permissions Tab
The host can configure room access control:
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Room Password | When enabled, joiners must enter a password to enter |
| Max Members | Limits the maximum number of viewers in the room (including the host) |
| Join Approval | When enabled, new viewers require the host to click "Approve" or "Deny" in a notification |
| Auto Approve | When approval is enabled, whitelisted or followed users are automatically approved without manual confirmation |
6. Three Ways to Invite Friends
Method 1: Room ID
Copy the Room ID from the room info panel and send it to your friends. On the homepage, they click "Join Room" and enter the Room ID.
Method 2: Share Link
Click the "Invite" button on the top bar, select "Copy Link", and send the link to your friends. They click the link to enter the room directly (if a password is set, they will be prompted to enter it).
Method 3: Room List
Friends can browse the "Public Rooms" list on the homepage, find your room, and click the "Join" button. The host can set the room to "Public" or "Unlisted" in the permissions settings.
7. Joining a Room — Scenarios
Depending on the host's settings, joining a room works differently:
No Password + No Approval
Click the link or enter the Room ID to enter the room directly and start watching.
Password Protected
A password input dialog appears before entering. Enter the correct password to proceed. The password is set by the host in the Permissions tab.
Requires Approval
The host has enabled "Join Approval". When you click join, the page shows "Waiting for host approval". The host receives a notification and clicks "Approve" for you to enter.
Room Full
If the room has reached the "Max Members" limit, you will see a "Room is full" message and cannot join.
8. Host Disconnect Protection
ZViewer has a robust disconnect protection mechanism to prevent the room from crashing if the host temporarily disconnects:
| Phase | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Disconnected (0-10 seconds) | The server takes over playback state and continues broadcasting the current progress to viewers. Viewers experience no interruption |
| Disconnected (10 seconds - 10 minutes) | Viewers can freely control playback (pause/seek). The room runs normally |
| Timeout close (after 10 minutes) | If the host has not reconnected, the room automatically closes and all viewers are removed |
| Host reconnects | If the host reconnects within 10 minutes, control is automatically restored and playback state syncs to the latest position |
Tip: If it is just a network fluctuation, there is no need to worry — the room will wait for you.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the maximum number of people who can watch together?
A: There is no hard limit, but it is recommended to keep it under 10 people for the best experience, depending on the host's network bandwidth and server load.
Q: Do I need to register an account to join a room?
A: No. However, registering allows you to keep your avatar and nickname settings.
Q: Why can't I see the video?
A: Check the following:
- Is the video link valid (publicly accessible)?
- Is it being blocked by a browser ad blocker (try disabling the extension or using incognito mode)?
- Are you in approval-pending state and have not yet been approved by the host?
Q: In Screen Share mode, can the other person see my entire screen?
A: You can choose to share your entire screen, a specific application window, or a browser tab. It is recommended to share only the window you need to protect your privacy.
Q: What happens when the host leaves?
A: When the host leaves, the room automatically closes and all viewers are removed. If it is just a disconnect, there is a 10-minute protection window (see Section 8).
Q: How do I change the room password?
A: The host goes to the "Permissions" tab in the right panel, finds the "Room Password" setting, clicks "Change" and enters the new password.
Q: Can I join a room from a mobile device?
A: Yes. ZViewer is a web application. Open the link in your mobile browser to join, supporting basic playback sync and chat functions.
More questions? See the FAQ or contact the administrator.