Neat and Zoom - All FAQs
General FAQs
What operating system runs on Neat devices?
All Neat devices run NeatOS which is based on an Android operating system. This is hardened and secure firmware locked to work with native applications, such as Zoom Rooms and Microsoft Teams.
Note that Neat Center runs NeatOS and has the same secure network and software capabilities as all Neat devices. However, it doesn’t directly support native applications and works as an extension to another Neat device as main device.
For more information about the Neat operating system, see the article NeatOS: A Secure and Reliable Meeting Platform.
What are the Network and Firewall requirements for Zoom Rooms?
Follow Zoom’s advice here to ensure you can connect to Zoom on your Network:
Are all Neat devices Zoom certified?
Yes. All our devices have Zoom Room certification! Feel free to schedule a demo if you would like to test out any of our devices on your Zoom environment: Book a Demo
Please note that the Neat Bar is Zoom Room certified until September 2028, and the Neat Board until February 24, 2028. For more information, see this article: Neat End-of-Sale notice, Feb 2025: Neat Bar, Neat Board and Neat Frame.
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. Please see here for more info: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/360000030683-Zoom-Rooms-digital-signage.
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 late 2025 or 2026.
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.
Are there different part numbers for Neat devices depending on whether you wish to run Microsoft Teams or Zoom?
There is only one model per Neat product—the same model can support Microsoft Teams or Zoom. At the end of the out-of-box setup, you will be asked to choose your preferred conferencing platform.
Configuration FAQs
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
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.
Features & Capabilities FAQs
What type of environmental sensors are in Neat Devices and how do I view their data?
Neat devices come with built-in sensors for temperature, humidity, air quality (TVOC + estimated CO₂ equivalent), ambient light, and people count. For a detailed overview of which sensors are available on each Neat device, please see the following article: Neat Sense and Sensor Data Overview.
At the time of writing, sensor data can be viewed through the Zoom Dashboard or via the Neat Pulse API.
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 set up in Neat Bar BYOD mode (previously known as Neat Select mode). For more information, see the article: How to Set Up and Use Neat Bar BYOD Mode (without Neat Pad).
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 provides 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.
At the time of writing, sensor data can be viewed through the Zoom Dashboard or via the Neat Pulse API. For more info, see Neat Sense and Sensor Data Overview.
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.
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 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.
Operations & Management FAQs
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Setup FAQs
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 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.
Troubleshooting FAQs
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.