Neat and Zoom - All FAQs
All FAQs
Are there separate part numbers for Neat devices depending on whether you wish to run this on Microsoft Teams or Zoom?
There is only one model per Neat product. At the end of the out of box setup, you will be asked to choose your conferencing platform.
Can I add a Neat Pad as a Zoom scheduling display outside of the room where I have my Neat Board set up?
Yes! Neat Pad can be added to any meeting room as a scheduling display, including those with Neat Board. Equipping your Neat Board with a Neat controller and a Neat scheduling display outside the room, gives you that complete and seamless Zoom Rooms experience. You can order Neat Pad here.
Can 3rd party room and desk booking applications work alongside my Zoom Room or Microsoft Teams Room meeting spaces?
Yes. Both Microsoft Teams and Zoom Rooms support alternative room and desk booking applications on Neat Pads to address space bookings. For example, a Neat Pad running Robin for room booking can utilize the same calendar account as a Neat device running Microsoft Teams Room or Zoom Rooms.
Can I share content from my laptop using an HDMI cable when running Zoom Rooms?
Neat Bar has an HDMI in port and supports sharing screen content with audio via an HDMI cable. Note that this only supports 1080p30 resolution for content sharing and therefore you should connect a laptop that is capable of supporting this resolution.
Additionally, you can use ‘direct sharing’ (no cables required) offered by Zoom. There are two options for direct sharing:
- Ultrasound proximity sharing: you just bring your laptop running Zoom desktop client near the Neat Bar and press the ‘Share screen’ button your laptop.
- If proximity detection doesn’t work, you can activate direct sharing by entering a Sharing Key or Meeting ID. Click on Neat Pad’s ‘Share content’ button and you will see a Sharing code/Meeting ID. Now on your Zoom desktop client -> Home -> click on ‘Share screen’ and you’ll be asked to enter either Sharing Key or Meeting ID.
Can Neat Bar still be paired with Neat Pad to operate as a dedicated Microsoft Teams Room or Zoom Room?
Yes. Customers can still use Neat Bar as a dedicated appliance for MTR or Zoom, but support for this will end September 2027 for Microsoft Teams and September 2028 for Zoom. Customers are recommended to purchase Neat Bar Gen 2 instead for a native solution with Microsoft Teams & Zoom.
Can Neat Bars deployed in dedicated Microsoft Teams or Zoom mode be switched to BYOD only mode?
Yes. It would require a factory reset and be setup in Select mode.
Can customers still use a Neat Bar for native Microsoft Teams and Zoom Rooms?
Yes. Neat Bar can be set up in dedicated appliance mode with Microsoft Teams and Zoom. This mode is supported with Neat Bar until September 3, 2027 for Microsoft Teams and September 2028 for Zoom.
Can my users switch between Neat certified business applications and Microsoft Teams or Zoom on a Neat video device?
No, not without a reset of the Neat device. A user cannot switch between Zoom, Microsoft Teams and business applications as this capability is not supported by Zoom or Microsoft. However, IT administrators can choose to reset a Neat device to run Microsoft Teams, Zoom or business applications across meeting spaces when/if needed.
Can relevant Neat certified business applications join a Microsoft Teams or Zoom meeting in the same space?
Yes. Customers can bring applications running on a Neat video device into a Zoom or Microsoft Teams meeting running on a different video device in the same space using Neat Share.
Can you join a Microsoft Teams meeting when Neat Bar is configured as a Zoom device?
Zoom Rooms can join a Microsoft Teams meeting using the Microsoft Teams Direct Guest Join for Zoom Rooms feature. More information can be found on Zoom’s Support Site.
Can you share content to Neat Board when not in a Zoom meeting?
Yes. You can share content to Neat Board and all Neat devices whether in a remote meeting over Zoom or with teammates in person within the physical meeting space. The easiest way is to use direct share with one click from your Zoom client, but you can also share content over an HDMI cable.
As an existing Neat Partner, can I now offer Neat devices to my Microsoft Teams customers?
Yes! As a Neat Partner, you now have the expanded capability to offer Neat devices to your Zoom customers as well as Microsoft customers.
Can I use Neat Pad as an additional controller for Neat Board Pro?
Yes. Neat Pad can be connected to Neat Board Pro, giving you complete control of your Zoom Rooms or MTR meeting experience without leaving your seat.
Can you share content with Neat devices when not in a Zoom meeting?
Yes. You can share content with all Neat devices, whether in a remote meeting or with teammates right there in the meeting room. Of course, the easiest way is to use a direct share from your Zoom client, but you can also share content using an HDMI cable.
Do I need a Neat Pad to work with a Neat Board when running Zoom or Microsoft Teams?
The short answer is no. The Neat Board is a self-sufficient Zoom Room or Microsoft Teams room device with touch screen so all the setup can be done directly on your Neat Board, without the need of a Neat Pad. This is unlike a Neat Bar, which requires a Neat Pad to configure it.
However, you have the option to purchase additional Neat Pad(s) and set them up as a controller or scheduler for your room. For example, you may have a large meeting room and do not want to walk to the Neat Board every time you want to join/leave/mute the meeting and instead would like to have a Neat Pad on a desk closer to your participants. You can then buy a Neat Pad and choose the setup ‘Add a controller’ to use with the Neat Board. Similarly, you can use the Neat Pad as a Scheduler for your meeting room as well.
Does Neat Board have environmental sensors? Can they be monitored in Zoom?
Yes! Neat Board’s built-in environmental sensors monitor the air quality of your meeting space to help you keep your teammates healthy and safe. Monitoring and reporting of humidity, temperature, CO2(equivalent), and VOC (volatile organic compounds) levels is available now, once enabled in the Zoom portal (see the article How to Set Up Neat Sense).
Does Neat Pulse platform replace Microsoft Teams admin center (TAC) or Zoom Device Management (ZDM)?
No. Microsoft Teams Admin Center (TAC) and Zoom Device Management (ZDM) are essential tools for configuring and administering the Microsoft Teams Rooms and Zoom Rooms software applications. Neat Pulse complements TAC and ZDM by giving the administrator Neat hardware-specific management features and comprehensive control of not only the meeting room software but also the device.
Does Neat support Zoom Digital Signage capabilities?
Yes, Neat devices support full Zoom digital signage functionality. Please see here for more info: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360000030683-Zoom-Rooms-digital-signage
Does the Neat Board camera offer zoom capability?
The Neat Board camera supports up to 4x digital zoom based on a 4056*3040 (12 MP) capture resolution. The 120 degrees horizontal field of view enables automatic zooming and framing of people in the meeting room.
During the setup of my Neat Pad I’m being prompted for a Zoom Room activation code. Where do I find it?
The Zoom Rooms activation code is in your Zoom portal. If you’ve already added the meeting room to your Zoom account, scroll down to that room name in the Zoom Portal to find your activation code.
For more information on how to sign in to your Zoom Room, please see this article from Zoom: Signing in to Zoom Rooms
How can I access the Zoom meeting controls on Frame when I am sharing content?
To view the meeting controls when sharing, swipe down from the top of the screen of your Frame. The Zoom meeting controls will then appear at the bottom of the Neat Frame.
How do I obtain an activation code for my Zoom Room?
If you are setting up a Neat device, you may be asked to enter the activation code or activation key when signing in to your Zoom Room.
An activation code is a 16 digit number that is generated after setting up the Zoom Room on the Zoom web portal. When it is generated, an email is sent out to the user who created the room and it is also viewable in the Zoom web portal. If you are not a Zoom administrator in your organization, you will have to ask for this code from your Zoom admin when you first set up a Neat Bar/Pad/Board.
The activation code is active for 10 days, after which a new activation code will need to be generated (you can use the ‘regenerate’ button).
For more information, please see the Zoom article: Signing into Zoom Room using an activation code
Do I need a Neat Pad to work with a Neat Bar?
Yes. The Neat Bar ships with a Neat Pad and both will need to be paired together to operate as a complete Zoom Room device.
When installing a Neat Bar with its dedicated Neat Pad, choose the setup: ‘Set up Neat Bar with controller’.
You can also buy additional Neat Pads to work as either extra Zoom Room Controller or Zoom Room Schedular (however, these do not need to be paired with a Neat Bar at the Neat level). If you are using the Neat Pad as an extra controller either for a Neat Bar/Neat Board or a 3rd party Zoom Room system, choose the setup ‘Add a controller’. To use Neat Pad as a Schedular, choose the ‘Add a schedular’ option.
How can I change the default volume of Neat devices?
The default volume can be set within the Zoom application or Zoom Device Manager. Microsoft Teams uses the last used volume
How is Neat Share different from Zoom Companion Mode?
Zoom Companion workflows give users the ability to link multiple devices in the same space together (permanently or temporarily) to share content, use the Zoom Whiteboard experience, access secondary camera angles (for a camera-enabled companion devices like Neat Boards) into a Zoom call. The important distinction is that this connection occurs at the Zoom Room application level. For more details, see Zoom’s documentation here.
Neat Share enables you to wirelessly and seamlessly share applications installed via App Hub from the “App Hub Neat device” to another “conferencing-platform-anchored Neat device” in a Zoom or Microsoft Teams call while preserving the native experience of your Zoom, Microsoft Teams and the app platform with just a tap. The important distinction is that the Neat Share connection occurs at the Neat firmware level.
To clarify, both workflows involve multiple devices in the room working together. Zoom Companion workflows involve all devices running Zoom Rooms and no App Hub apps. Neat Share involves one device running Zoom/Teams, and a second device running App Hub-installed apps (but not Zoom or Teams).
How is Neat as a Service different from Zoom’s Hardware as a Service offering?
Neat as a Service (NaaS) is a global subscription service offered directly from Neat and aligned with Zoom’s Hardware as a Service (HaaS) offering. With NaaS, Zoom customers anywhere around the globe can experience Zoom Rooms the Neat way through a budget-friendly, fixed subscription service. NaaS includes a Neat device and all updates and upgrades. With NaaS, you bring your Zoom Rooms license or use your free Zoom for Home license. Like Zoom HaaS, all technical support is provided by Zoom. Neat as a Service is ideal for Zoom customers outside the US or any Zoom customers with offices and teams geographically scattered around the globe.
My screen doesn’t show all participants in my Zoom meeting. What can be wrong?
You can change your video layout by clicking on the ‘Change View option shown on your Neat Pad Zoom Room Controller. The options are ‘Speaker’, ‘Gallery’ or ‘Thumbnail’. If you would like to see multiple participants, you can choose the Gallery view.
However, if this is not working as expected, it is possible you have your TV screen connected to the incorrect HDMI port of your Neat Bar. Please ensure that when using a single TV screen, you are connected to the HDMI 1 port of your Neat Bar to your TV monitor. If you have a second screen, you can use HDMI 2 port of your Neat Bar.
The HDMI content is shared at the start of my Zoom meeting automatically, how can I turn this off?
Please go to the Zoom administrator page and navigate to ‘Rooms’. Once you have chosen your specific room to edit, you can find the option ‘Start HDMI content share manually on controller’. Enabling this setting will prevent automatic sharing of content in the meeting.
What are Microsoft and Zoom doing to support digital signage applications?
Zoom does not support 3rd party digital signage applications on Zoom Rooms devices and requires customers to use the Zoom Rooms digital signage capability. Microsoft recently announced support for Appspace and XOGO on Microsoft Teams Windows (MTR-W). They have stated that support for Microsoft Teams Rooms Android (MTR-A) is planned for sometime in 2025.
What controls are available for my Zoom meetings with Neat Pad as a Zoom Rooms controller?
Neat Pad natively runs Zoom Rooms. That means you can tap ‘Start’ to join a meeting, adjust the volume or camera, mute or unmute the audio and video, share content wirelessly, record your meeting, invite participants and a host of other features. For a complete list of Zoom Rooms controller capabilities, visit Zoom.com.
What is the process to change between Zoom or Microsoft Teams on Neat devices?
In order to change meeting platforms, you will need to factory reset your Neat devices. Once you are at the end of the setup process, just select the platform you would like to run.
What management and monitoring capabilities does Neat Pulse provide that my customers can’t get with Microsoft Teams Admin Center (TAC) or Zoom Device Management (ZDM)?
Neat Pulse will provide Neat-specific control and monitoring. The ability to change Neat firmware settings, apply settings profiles, secure remote control, view live environmental and room usage data and other functions that are not available via ZDM and TAC for Neat devices, even when devices are not connected to Zoom or Teams. In the future, historical environmental and room usage data will also be provided through Neat Pulse.
What type of environmental sensors and Zoom Room monitoring comes with Neat Bar Pro?
Like all Neat devices, Neat Bar Pro has sensors for noise, light, people presence, real-time people count, air quality, humidity, CO2 (equivalent) and VOC (organic chemical levels in the room – scents, odors, etc.). Similar to other Neat devices, Neat Bar Pro sends the data to Zoom for display in the Zoom dashboard/metrics interface, helping you support a safe and healthy work environment.