Lookback’s session model supports one active moderator at a time, but it is possible for another team member to take over moderation partway through a session.
Having a second person help lead parts of a session can be useful in situations such as:
pairing researchers with other team members (e.g., product managers or designers)
handing over mid-session to another facilitator
collaborative studies with shared responsibilities
Can two people moderate at the same time?
No. Lookback only supports one active moderator at any given moment in a live session. Even if multiple team members join the session, only one person can drive the moderation controls at once.
Observers and other collaborators can join a session to watch, take notes, or chat - but they will not have simultaneous moderator privileges.
How to change moderators mid-session
There are two main steps to switching the moderator role during a live session:
Join with a collaborator seat in the observer room
The second person joins the session using the Observer Lobby link.
They will enter the session as an Observer, with view-only access by default.Take over as Moderator
Once the collaborator is in the observer room:they can click their avatar menu in the top right of the player
select Start Moderating
this makes them the active moderator
the previous moderator automatically becomes an Observer or can relinquish moderation
To minimize confusion for the participant, it’s best practice for the current moderator to announce the hand-off before another person takes over.
Role requirements
To switch moderators mid-session, the team member taking over must be:
added to your Lookback organization
assigned the appropriate role (Member or Collaborator)
(depending on your plan)
This ensures they have access rights to join as an Observer and then start moderating.
What this means in practice
At any given point in a live session, only one person is “in control” of the moderation interface.
Other team members can observe and prepare but must become the active moderator if they need to interact directly with the participant.
This design prevents confusion, interview overlap, and conflicting controls during research.