Ever wished your Moodle classes felt a little more real? Like actually seeing your students’ faces or chatting live instead of just through text? I’ve been there too. The first time I added video calls to my Moodle site, I was amazed at how much more connected everyone felt.
how to install Jitsi Meet on your Moodle platform. No tech jargon, no confusing steps. Just clear, simple instructions that work.
What is Jitsi Meet?
Think of Jitsi Meet as your free, easy-to-use Zoom alternative — but with no logins, no downloads, and no ads. It’s open-source and privacy-friendly, meaning your students’ data stays safe. It runs directly in the browser, which makes it perfect for schools, colleges, and educators like us.
I’ve personally used it for:
- Live lectures
- Q&A sessions
- One-on-one mentoring
- Even parent-teacher meetings
And guess what? It’s completely free.
Why Connect Jitsi Meet with Moodle?
Moodle is already a powerful learning platform. But when you add live video, it really comes alive.
Here’s why this combo works so well:
- Real-time communication with students
- No expensive tools needed
- 100% free and open-source
- Works in any browser
- Keeps your students’ data private
What You Need Before You Start
Here’s a quick checklist to make sure you’re ready:
- A working Moodle site (version 3.7 or higher recommended)
- Admin access to that Moodle site
- A Jitsi Meet server — either the public one at https://meet.jit.si, or your own (recommended for privacy)
Pro tip: Hosting your own Jitsi server gives you more control. But for getting started, the free public server works just fine.
Step 1: Download the Jitsi Meet Plugin
- Head over to the Moodle plugins directory.
- Search for “Jitsi.”
- Find the official Jitsi plugin and click Download.
- Save the ZIP file to your computer.
Step 2: Install the Plugin on Moodle
Now, let’s install what you just downloaded:
- Log into your Moodle as an admin.
- Go to Site administration > Plugins > Install plugins.
- Upload the ZIP file you got from the Moodle site.
- Click Install plugin from ZIP file.
- Follow the prompts — Moodle will guide you through the process.
Reminder: Always back up your Moodle site before installing anything new. Better safe than sorry!
Step 3: Set Up the Plugin
Once the plugin is installed, it’s time to tweak the settings:
- Go to Site administration > Plugins > Activity modules > Jitsi.
- Enter your Jitsi server URL. If you’re using the public one, just type:
https://meet.jit.si - If you have your own Jitsi server, enter that URL instead.
- Configure security options — for example:
- Require users to be logged in
- Choose who can start meetings (like teachers only)
Tip from experience: Using your own Jitsi domain makes everything feel more professional and secure.
Step 4: Add Jitsi Meet Sessions to Your Course
Now that everything’s set up, here’s how to start using Jitsi Meet in your classes:
- Open a course where you want to add a video meeting.
- Click Turn editing on (top right corner).
- Click Add an activity or resource.
- Choose Jitsi from the list.
- Fill in the meeting details, such as:
- Title of the session
- Date and time
- Password (optional but recommended for privacy)
That’s it! Your students will see a join link directly in the course.
Extra Tips for a Better Experience
Here are a few things I’ve learned the hard way — so you don’t have to:
- Plan ahead: Schedule meetings early so students can prepare.
- Use passwords: Prevent random people from joining.
- Want to record sessions? You’ll need to set up a tool called Jibri — it’s a bit advanced, but worth it for recording.
- Customize Jitsi: If you’re using your own server, you can add your school’s logo or change colors for a branded look.
Conclusion
Adding Jitsi Meet to your Moodle site is one of the easiest and most impactful upgrades you can make. It brings back the human connection to online learning — and that’s something every student deserves.
If you need help setting up Jitsi Meet with Moodle or want support with extra features, you can contact the team at jitsi.guide. They offer professional help for schools and teachers who want to use Jitsi Meet in a simple and secure way.