How to use zoom

How To Use Zoom: A Step-by-Step Guide

Want to learn how to use Zoom?

With teams across the world working remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic, video conferencing tools like Zoom have become extremely popular.

However, if this is your first time using Zoom, understanding it might be challenging!

This article is a step-by-step guide to help you get started with Zoom quickly. We’ll also cover the tool’s key features and pricing to help you determine if it’s the right video tool for you and your team.

Additionally, we’ll highlight three tips to help you conduct effective virtual meetings.

This article contains:

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3 Additional Features Of Zoom (and how to use them effectively)

Let’s get started.

What Is Zoom?

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing tool that lets you host virtual one-on-one or team meetings easily. With powerful audio, video and collaboration features, this remote communication tool connects remote team members with each other.

Zoom’s key features include:

How to Use Zoom Meetings (Step-by-Step Guide)

Zoom makes it super easy for anyone to set up and conduct a virtual face-to-face meeting — but if you’ve never used the tool before, this can still be tricky.

To help you out, here’s a step-by-step guide to using Zoom Meetings the right way.

We’ll cover the steps for both desktop and mobile platforms on:

A. How to Get Started with Zoom

1. For Desktop

Step 1: To get started with Zoom, head to their website, and click on the “SIGN UP” button that’s at the top-right corner of the screen.

Step 2: You have two options when it comes to creating a Zoom account.

If you’re using Zoom for a company meeting or other work purposes, it’s best to sign up using your work email address.

Step 3: Zoom will now send you an email with a confirmation link.

Click on that link to go to Zoom’s Sign Up Assistant and sign in using your credentials.

Step 4: Download the desktop app/Zoom client from the Zoom website for easy access.

2. For Mobile

Step 1: Download the Zoom iOS or Android app from the App Store/Play Store.

Step 2: Sign up or sign in to Zoom by following the on-screen instructions that are similar to the desktop process.

B. How to Set Up a Zoom Meeting

Here’s a step-by-step guide to set up a Zoom meeting easily:

1. For Desktop

A. Starting a Zoom Meeting

Step 1: Log in to your Zoom account.

Step 2: Hover your cursor over the “HOST A MEETING” link at the top-right corner of the screen, and select one of the following options:

Step 3: The website will redirect you to the Zoom app and start a meeting. Here, you can edit meeting settings or copy the “Invitation URL” that you send to the attendees.

Note: You can also start a meeting quickly through the desktop app by following the instructions we list for mobile devices later on.

B. Adding Participants

Step 1: Start a new meeting on the Zoom desktop app.

Step 2: In the new meeting screen, click on the “Invite” button in the toolbar at the bottom.

Step 3: Here, Zoom will give you the options to either “Copy URL” or “Copy Invitation”. You can send these to participants via text, email or instant messaging.

Step 4: You can also directly email the meeting details through your preferred email client via the Zoom app itself.

2. For Mobile Devices

A. Starting a Zoom Meeting

Step 1: Open the Zoom mobile app and sign in to your account.

Step 2: Tap the orange “New Meeting” icon that appears on your screen.

Step 3: Edit meeting settings according to your preferences (such as switching video off for participants, using a Personal Meeting ID, etc.).

Once you’re done, tap the blue “Start a Meeting” button.

B. Adding Participants

Step 1: Once the meeting starts, tap the “Participant” icon in the toolbar at the bottom of your screen to add and manage participants.

Step 2: In the Participants window that opens up, tap on the “Invite” option at the bottom left.

Zoom will now give you the option to share your meeting details via a variety of communication platforms. These include various text, email and messaging apps on your smartphone.

C. How to Join a Zoom Meeting

Here’s a step-by-step guide to join a Zoom meeting quickly:

Note: The same steps apply to both your desktop and your phone.

A. Join Using a Meeting Link

If you have a join link for a meeting, just click on it or paste it into your web browser to join the meeting.

B. Join Using a Meeting ID

Step 1: Open the Zoom app and click on the “Join” icon.

Step 2: Paste the Meeting ID in the box provided, add your display name for the meeting and click on the “Join” button.

D. How to Schedule Meetings

With a busy schedule, you can easily forget about appointments or upcoming business meetings.

Luckily, Zoom lets you schedule meetings in advance to avoid this!

You can schedule a meeting by setting:

Here’s a step-by-step guide to schedule meetings in Zoom easily:

A. For Desktop

Step 1: To schedule a meeting, head to the Zoom app and click on the blue “Schedule” button (looks like a calendar icon).

Step 2: Enter meeting details in the Schedule Meeting pop-up window that appears.

You can set its date and time, privacy and access settings. You can also select your preferred calendar (between iCal, Google Calendar or others) to schedule the event in your calendar.

Quick Tip: Setting a meeting password can help avoid Zoombombing, which happens when someone who hasn’t been invited to the meeting joins and disrupts it.

Step 3: Once you’ve adjusted preferences, click on the “Schedule” button at the bottom right of the screen.

B. For Mobile

Step 1: Open the Zoom app.

Step 2: Go to the Meet & Chat homepage and click on the “Schedule” button.

Step 3: Enter the meeting name, date and time and click “Done.”

Step 4: Zoom will redirect you or open another form for adding the event to your preferred calendar. Enter details like participant names and set the notifications into your calendar event, then tap “Done.”

You have now scheduled a Zoom meeting!

E. How to Record Zoom Meetings

Recording a meeting lets you easily use it as a reference to document everything that was discussed. This is especially important for remote teams who use Zoom video conferencing as their key mode of communication.

Zoom allows you to record meetings easily and save them either to your local device or the Zoom cloud. By saving it to the Zoom cloud, your team members can access it across multiple platforms easily.

Here’s how to record Zoom meetings:

A. For Desktop

Step 1: Start a meeting.

Step 2: In the Zoom toolbar, click on the “Record” icon.

Step 3: Choose between “Record on this Computer” or “Record to the Cloud.” This starts the recording, and all meeting members will see the word “Recording” in red at the top of the screen.

Step 4: Click on “Pause/Stop Recording” to stop recording the meeting. Alternatively, you can also end a meeting to stop recording it.

Step 5: After you end the meeting, Zoom converts the recording to MP4 format and stores it in your preferred location. You can now easily access your recorded sessions any time you want!

B. For Mobile

The mobile version of Zoom lets you save meeting recordings only to the Zoom Cloud. Here’s how to record a Zoom meeting from your mobile:

Step 1: During a meeting, tap on the “More” option in the toolbar.

Step 2: Select the “Record to Cloud” feature to begin recording.

Step 3: You can pause or stop the recording by clicking the “More” button.

Step 4: After the meeting, you can find your recording in “My Recordings”. You can access this section by logging into your Zoom account on a web browser.

F. How to Track Attendance in Zoom

As an account owner or an administrator of a pro Zoom account, you can review various Zoom statistics on the Reports section of the Zoom web portal.

This includes data such as registrations, attendees list, webinar poll results, performance, and Q&A.

Follow the below steps to access the attendance report:

Step 1: Log in to your account on the Zoom web portal.

Step 2: In the left panel, click on Reports.
If you are an admin, the Reports link will be available under the Account Management link in the same panel.

Step 3: Go to Usage Reports and select Usage.
All your previous Zoom meetings will be listed here. The following information will be displayed for each of those meetings:

Step 4: Select the date and click Search.

Step 5: Click on the Participants link to generate a Meeting Participants report.
The following information will be shown in the report:

Step 6: Export this report in CSV format.

3 Additional Features of Zoom (and How to Use Them Effectively)

You now know how to use Zoom Meetings.

But since there are so many features, it can still be slightly overwhelming!

Here’s a detailed look at three additional Zoom features and how to use them effectively.

1. Screen Sharing

Zoom lets you share your screen with other meeting participants easily.

To share your screen, just click on the “Share Screen” icon in the toolbar at the bottom.

This lets you share:

If you want more screen sharing options, click on the “Advanced” tab at the top of your screen.

Here, you can choose to share:

2. Zoom Phone

Zoom Phone uses the Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to help you make Zoom calls over the cloud. This is similar to calling from a phone number, except that the calls here are hosted over the internet.

Zoom Phone comes with plenty of additional features to make your calling experience seamless.

3. Zoom Rooms

Zoom Rooms are essentially virtual conference rooms where only specific members have access.

You can use these rooms for various purposes such as:

Zoom Rooms offer various features, such as:

Zoom Pricing

Zoom offers four different pricing plans to suit your specific needs:

3 Bonus Tips for Effective Zoom Video Conferencing

Most in-office teams might not be used to video conferencing and coping with the additional challenges it poses.

To make your experience more comfortable, here are three tips that can help team members conduct seamless Zoom meetings and calls:

Tip #1: Always Mute Your Microphone Unless Speaking

Make sure to mute your microphone when you’re not speaking. This eliminates any background noise or interference in the audio.

To mute your microphone, use the mute button at the bottom left of the Zoom toolbar that appears in the meeting screen and looks like a microphone.

Alternatively, you can set your Zoom meeting preferences to mute your microphone at the start of every meeting automatically.

To unmute yourself, hit the mute button again or hold your spacebar for as long as you’re speaking. This basic rule allows group meetings or conversations to run smoothly!

For more efficient background noise elimination, use noise cancellation tools like Krisp to elevate your audio quality to the next level.

Tip #2: Inform Participants Before Recording the Meeting

Before you record any audio or video conference, make sure that all meeting participants:

You could even get this permission in writing or record it at the start of the meeting.

Not only does this maintain common courtesy, but it may be required by consent laws and regulations in many companies and regions.

Tip #3: Ensure that Everything Is Working Correctly Before Starting a Meeting

It’s extremely common for video conferences to be delayed or get interrupted due to technical snags.

To ensure that this doesn’t happen, turn on your device and check if Zoom’s working correctly at least 10-15 minutes before every meeting. And if something’s wrong, alert your meeting host at the earliest (if you’re the host – inform your participants of the same).

While conducting a check before every meeting may feel tiring, it’s far better than being embarrassed or annoyed when something goes wrong during your Zoom meeting!

Conclusion

Most in-office teams have struggled to communicate effectively during the Coronavirus quarantine. However, using the right video conferencing tool like Zoom can help you bridge most of the gaps well.

Just follow the instructions in this Zoom guide and you’ll be all set to host your own video calls to discuss projects, review team performance and engage in virtual team-building activities!

And if Zoom isn’t the right tool for you, you can also check out other video conferencing tools, like Google Meet (formerly called Hangouts) and Microsoft’s Skype or Teams.

Zoom FAQs

Is Zoom free?

Basic licenses for Zoom are free. All you need to start using Zoom is sign up for an account and download the application from Zoom’s website.

Is my privacy protected on Zoom calls?

As one of its primary goals, Zoom complies with global privacy frameworks in an effort to keep you, your calls, and all of your information as safe as possible.

Can I host a webinar on Zoom?

Absolutely! However, you’ll need a webinar license, which is different and costs more than the free basic license. You can upgrade your license through your account’s billing settings.

Can I record my Zoom meetings?

Zoom hosts can record locally to their computer unless the recording feature has been disabled by their account owner or admin. Hosts who are licensed also have the option of recording in both local mode and through cloud storage with just one simple click.

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How to use Zoom on your computer or mobile device — a quick guide for video meeting basics

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Whether it’s your Friday team check-in or your grad school Wednesday workshop, Zoom allows you to stay in contact with colleagues and classmates to complete work remotely.

While the platform is fairly easy to use, its basic functions are organized slightly differently depending on if you use the desktop or mobile version.

Most of the key tasks, however, remain easy to spot despite slight changes: scheduling or joining calls, keeping track of your contacts and meetings, and making changes to your account settings.

Many companies may already have video services in place, but Zoom is proving to be especially helpful for high school and college-level courses as it allows for up to 100 participants with a free account subscription.

Here’s a quick guide to the app’s essential features.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

How to use Zoom on your computer

1. Open the browser of your choice on your Mac or PC and head to the Zoom website to create and manage an account. Click on «My Account» after logging in to bring you to your account details.

2. You can schedule, join, or host a meeting at the top of the screen. Click on any of these three options and follow the prompts to set up or join a video call online. To join a call, you’ll need the Meeting ID or name.

3. On the left hand side, you’ll find a variety of options, including the first and perhaps most important: Profile. This is where you can change your profile picture, edit your email or password, and make other changes in this settings section. You’ll also find the option to sign out of Zoom on all of your devices at the bottom of this page.

4. Below your profile tab, you’ll find a summary of your meetings. You can start or delete upcoming meetings or review previous meetings at the top.

5. Other tabs on the left hand side include webinars, recordings, and your settings. The webinar feature can only be enabled if you pay for an account, and recordings will direct you to enable the feature for you and your meeting participants.

6. You’ll also find more advanced settings towards the bottom of the left panel, including managing users and rooms. You can also upgrade your account under «Billing,» or manage your payment information if you’ve already upgraded to Pro, Business, or Enterprise.

If you downloaded the desktop app, you’ll find a more streamlined version of these options upon opening. The app is organized into four main tabs at the top of the screen: Home, Chat, Meetings, and Contacts.

1. The «Home» tab gives you the option to start a new meeting, join a current call, schedule a future event, or share your screen. If you have any upcoming meetings for the day, you’ll also find them in a checklist on the right hand side. You can also click your profile in the top-right hand corner at any time. This will open a dropdown menu to make quick changes, such as switching your availability or profile photo.

2. You can also access settings from that menu from any page, or by clicking the gear icon in the right hand corner of the «Home» tab. This will open the complete Settings menu. Browse through the tabs on the left hand side to make changes. In «General» you can also find «View More Settings» at the bottom, which will open your profile online for complete access to your Zoom account.

3. The «Chat» tab keeps track of any conversations you have between contacts. You can star or favorite conversations for easy access or browse through your recent ones. You’ll also find «Contact Requests» if anyone has requested to join your directory. Additionally, any shared files between contacts will appear in the «Files» section.

4. The «Meetings» tab shows a summary of any upcoming meetings, organized by date. You can also toggle between upcoming and recorded meetings at the top, or click the plus sign to schedule a new one. Click on any pre-existing meeting to view options to start it early, copy the invitation, edit, or delete it. You can also click to show the meeting invitation sent to any invitees.

5. Lastly, the «Contacts» tab keeps track of the colleagues and classmates you add to the platform. View contact information by browsing through the left hand categories: starred, external, and cloud contacts. You can also click to view any channels, which are groups of contacts to help organize your activities. Click the plus sign to add a new contact or channel.

How to use Zoom on your mobile device

The mobile version of the app on iPhone, iPad, and Android offers a simplified version of the online Zoom platform, and the main tabs are found at the bottom: Meet & Chat, Meetings, Contacts, and Settings. (The setup is slightly different due to limited space.)

1. «Meet & Chat» combines the desktop «Home» and «Chat» tabs. The main options are found at the top: New Meeting, Join, Schedule, and Share Screen. Below, you’ll see recent call and chat history, along with any outstanding Contact Requests. Tap to view the chat with any contact or to accept a request. You can also tap the star icon in the top-left corner to view your favorites or the pencil icon in the top-right corner to draft a new message.

2. «Meetings» shows a lineup of upcoming events. You can also start a call, send an invitation, or edit a current event at the top of the page. Tap to begin any one of these options and follow the prompts provided. Your «Personal Meeting ID» is your unique code to start an individual meeting. Tap on an upcoming meeting to view its details or delete it entirely. Tap on a meeting and you’ll also find the option to add invitees and send invitations to these contacts via email or text message.

3. «Contacts» looks extremely similar to the desktop version and lists your starred favorites, as well as any others in your company directory. Search for contacts at the top of the page. Tap the plus symbol in the top-right corner to open a pop-up menu to add a contact, create a new channel, or join a public one. You can also toggle between contacts and channels at the top.

4. Finally access «Settings» to make any changes to your account. Your Zoom settings are organized by Meetings, Contacts, Chat, and General. You can also add Siri Shortcuts. To make changes to your profile, tap your name at the top of the screen, where you can change your profile photo, display name, or update your password. This is also where you can sign out of the Zoom app.

How to Use Zoom on a Chromebook With Our New Progressive Web App (PWA)

June 25, 2021 4 min read

We’re excited to announce we’re launching a new Zoom progressive web application (PWA) for Chrome OS! This will improve the Zoom experience for Chromebook users, and give them access to even more Zoom features on Chrome OS devices.

What’s a Progressive Web App (PWA) & why do I need it?

We’ve partnered with Google to create the best possible application experience on Chrome OS, and are excited to offer a PWA client that gives you even more features and improved performance.

PWAs are web apps that can be installed on your OS to provide an app-like experience while using the same technology as your web browser and Chrome OS. PWAs are usually faster and more functional than a regular app, and take up less storage — which is great for cloud-based devices.

As Zoom centrally updates our web client, the PWA will also receive updates automatically to get the latest and greatest Zoom features.

If you’re a systems administrator, you can still remotely install and manage the PWA, providing centralized configuration and security options.

Read on to see how Chromebook users can get started using the new PWA come June 29!

Downloading & installing the Zoom PWA

The new PWA will be installable from the Google Play store (click the link, or search for ‘Zoom PWA’ or ‘Zoom for Chrome PWA’ in the Play store), and will appear as an application on your Chrome OS device.

Download the app, then either log in or join a meeting — and you’re up and running. You can also install the new app directly from your web browser navigation bar as well as via central admin management.

Though customers who have Chrome Enterprise and Chrome Education Upgrade will have access to the legacy native app through January 2022, it’s best to switch to the new Zoom PWA client as soon as possible.

Zoom functionality on a Chromebook

Our PWA offers much of the same great Zoom functionality as you would experience on a Windows or Mac desktop, and has even more features than the previous Zoom app for Chromebook:

We’ll also be introducing a wide range of new features releasing over the next 3-6 months that will further accelerate what Zoom can do on Chrome and web.

Teachers hosting a Zoom class from a Chromebook can:

Students using Zoom on Chromebooks can:

Students and other participants also still won’t have the Annotate option on shared screens.

Additional tips & resources

The new Zoom PWA requires the most recent Chrome browser and OS update — Chrome 91.x — to offer the full range of performance and feature upgrades. We strongly encourage users to update their Chrome OS for the best possible experience.

A few other tips for anyone using Zoom’s Chromebook app:

Check out the Zoom for Education page or our Education blog for more tips and resources on using Zoom for teaching, learning, and connecting your educational community.

Editor’s note: This article was originally published April 23, 2020, and has been updated with the latest information about using Zoom on Chrome devices.

Getting Started with Zoom Meetings

December 16, 2020 6 min read

Video communication is more popular than ever, and luckily, it’s also easier than ever to get started with Zoom!

We’ve compiled all you need to know to get started with Zoom Meetings (spoiler alert – it’s super easy!), with tips for downloading the app, hosting and joining a Zoom Meeting, and keeping your meetings secure. We’ve also provided answers to some of the more common questions about using our platform.

So, let’s get Zooming!

How to Get Started with Zoom

Download the Zoom client from our website; you can also download the Zoom mobile app for OS or Android operating systems if you wish to use it on your phone.

Next, open the Zoom client, click the “Sign In” button, and enter your Zoom credentials. If you don’t have a Zoom account, you can create one using a valid email address and a password of your choosing.

How to Start a Zoom Meeting

Now that you’re logged in, it’s time to host your first meeting! To instantly start a Zoom Meeting, click the orange “New Meeting” button found in the Home tab.

Be sure to give the Zoom application access to the camera and microphone on your device. Once you have started your instant meeting, you can then invite other participants using the in-meeting controls.

How to Schedule a Zoom Meeting

Scheduling a meeting on the Zoom client is easy! Start by clicking the blue “Schedule” icon located in the Home tab on the Zoom client, which will open the scheduler window. Here you can select your meeting settings, including the topic of the meeting, its start time, your preferred time zone, and the option to make it a recurring meeting (daily, weekly, monthly, or annually).

The cool thing about Zoom: You can integrate Microsoft Outlook, Google Calendar, and other services to view, schedule, and start your Zoom Meetings. It makes for a seamless meeting experience!

How to Join a Zoom Meeting

From the app

To join a Zoom Meeting, click on the meeting link in the invitation email sent to the address associated with your account. Once you click on the meeting invite, you may be prompted to launch the Zoom client.

After launching the Zoom client, you will see a preview of your video. To start a meeting with video enabled, click the “Join with Video” option. If you wish to disable video initially, you can click the “Join without Video” option. You can always turn your video on/off during the meeting.

You may also see a message that says, “Waiting for the host to start this meeting,” in which case you must wait for the host to join the meeting before it begins.

From a browser

You can also join a Zoom meeting using your web browser without the need to download the Zoom client.

To join a meeting from your web browser, simply open your web browser and go to zoom.us/join. Enter in the meeting ID provided by the host or organizer and click “Join.” For specific instructions on joining a Zoom Meeting from your web browser, visit our support site.

Essential Zoom Meeting controls

Zoom provides an expansive set of in-meeting controls, located in the toolbar at the bottom of your Zoom UI, to help you create a secure and effective meeting experience. Here are some of our essential in-meeting controls to get you started:

How to Secure your Zoom Meeting

Now that you’re basically a Zoom pro, let’s ensure your meetings are secure to prevent unauthorized parties from joining. We recommend the following:

For more information on how to secure your Zoom Meetings, visit our security page.

Frequently asked questions

Can a Zoom Meeting start without a host?

If the host has the “Join before host” feature enabled, then participants may join before the host. However, if this isn’t toggled on, the meeting won’t start until the host arrives.

Can I start or join a video meeting from my phone?

The Zoom app works similarly across desktop, tablet, and mobile devices; just hit “Start a meeting” or “Join a meeting” to get started. You can also dial in to a meeting by phone without the use of video if you want to participate in the meeting using just audio.

How do I instantly start a Zoom Meeting?

You can instantly start a Zoom Meeting by selecting the “Start a meeting” button in the Home tab of the Zoom client. You can also instantly start a meeting from Zoom Chat by clicking the “Meet with Video” option in the dropdown menu next to a contact’s name.

Where can I learn more about using Zoom Meetings?

For more information about using Zoom Meetings, check out our Quick Start Guide for New Users on our support page.

How to use Zoom

Video-conferencing is a tool that is consistently growing. Whether you need to join a video call with your coworker or want to connect with family members who are far away, Zoom is a great option that’s easy to use.

Zoom allows you to set up a video call with many participants, and it will enable you to be virtually present even though you are not physically there. This tool is valuable when you are working remotely.

In this guide, we show you how to get started. You can also check out some Zoom tips and tricks and discover how to troubleshoot issues that may come up with our guide to the most common Zoom problems and how to fix them.

How to set up a Zoom meeting

Zoom can be free to use with some limitations, like limiting meetings hosted via free accounts to 40 minutes for groups of three or more attendees.

Starting a Zoom meeting is easy enough. The first thing you need to do is to install the Zoom client on a PC.

Step 1: Go to the Zoom website and sign in to your account. If you don’t yet have an account, click on the Sign Up, It’s Free button in the top right corner and follow the on-screen prompts to create one. You can also click on Sign In and scroll down to sign in with your Google or Facebook account. Once you’re signed in, hover over Host A Meeting and then choose to create a meeting with one of three modes: With Video Off, With Video On, or Screen Share Only.

Daniel Martin/Screenshot

Step 2: Once you kick off your first meeting, the Zoom client will prompt you to launch your previously installed Zoom desktop app or prompt you to install the Zoom app. If it’s the latter, download and open the installer and follow the installation instructions. In this example, we hosted a meeting with the video already enabled.

Step 3: Another important first step is to test your audio and video. You’ll have this option each time you start a meeting. Click on Test Speaker And Microphone to kick off the process.

Daniel Martin/Screenshot

You’ll have the option to test and configure your speakers and your microphone. If either doesn’t work immediately, select the proper speakers and/or microphone from the drop-down menus provided.

Once you’ve confirmed that your audio is working, you can join the meeting.

Note: Once you install the Zoom desktop app, you don’t have to start meetings via the Zoom website anymore. To instantly start a meeting, open the Zoom app and click on the New Meeting button.

How to mute, stop video, and chat in Zoom

All the most important controls of Zoom are in the toolbar at the bottom of your screen. Need to mute your audio? Just click Mute in the bottom-left corner. Next to that, you’ll find Stop Video, which will turn off your webcam.

If you click on the Chat button, it’ll pull up the text chat for the meeting, where you can group message the other meeting attendees.

How to share your screen on Zoom

Sharing your screen is a useful feature if you’re giving a presentation or providing instructions. Start by clicking on Share Screen in the bottom toolbar. From there, you’ll see a menu of types of sharing you’d like to perform.

Under the Basic tab, you can choose to share your screen, share a specific app, share your iPhone or iPad display (if that option is configured), or create a whiteboard session. Creating a whiteboard session lets you collaborate on notes and drawings. Under the Advanced tab, you can choose to share things like a PowerPoint presentation as a virtual background (currently a beta feature), a portion of your screen, or even content from a second camera. And finally, the Files tab will let you share files from several cloud services like Google Drive or Dropbox. Once you’ve made your selection, click the blue Share button to share your screen.

Daniel Martin/Screenshot

Note that if you choose to share your screen, it’ll share your whole screen, so make sure you’ve tidied up your workspace a bit before showing it to the world.

How to invite people to your Zoom meeting

Since you created the meeting, you have control over a few features. First, you can invite participants to the meeting. To do so, click on the Participants button at the bottom of your screen and then click Invite on the right side of your screen. Under the Email tab, you’ll have a selection of email clients and services to distribute your invitation.

screenshot

Here, we used the default client (Windows Mail). The email sent out will contain all the meeting information and how to gain access. Just add your desired recipient(s), and your chosen email service will take care of the rest.

Another way to invite people to your meeting is by sending them the meeting ID, shown at the top of the window. Look for a numerical code. Finally, at the bottom of the Invite People To Join Meeting window, you can click Copy Invite Link, which will give you the full link to share with others.

Once your meeting has started and you have participants, you can manage them. Click on More to see options for the entire session.

Click on the Participants button at the bottom of the screen, hover over individual participants listed in the sidebar menu that appears on the right side of the screen, and then click on More for participant-specific options like Ask To Start Video or Make Host.

Daniel Martin/Screenshot

You can record your meetings as well. To do so, click on the More icon and then choose Record on This Computer from the menu that pops up. Zoom will then record the session. A set of controls will show up on the upper-left portion of the Zoom interface. Hit the Stop button when recording has concluded. It will save your video as an MP4 once your meeting ends.

Once your meeting finishes, you can end the Zoom session. If you want to leave but keep the meeting running, you must assign a new host.

How to join a Zoom meeting

There are two ways to join a Zoom meeting. The host should provide either a link or a meeting ID. If it’s the full link, paste it into your web browser, and you’re on your way.

If you have a meeting ID, head over to Zoom.us/join. From there, paste in the meeting ID and click Join.

If you haven’t set Zoom up yet, then follow the same instructions as at the beginning of this guide. Once you get set up, you’ll have the same option to join the meeting with audio and to test and configure your audio settings.

Mark Coppock/Digital Trends

Once you’re in the meeting, you’ll have similar options as the meeting host but without the administrative functions. You can kick off a chat, record the meeting, invite other participants, share your screen, and view a list of participants. You can also mute your audio and stop your video.

When you’re finished, click the Leave button in the bottom right.

How to update Zoom

Since Zoom is on the rise, with increasing popularity and utility, the company has been coming up with updates at a record pace to keep up with user demands and resolve problems as they occur. Whether you are the host of the meeting or just attending, having an out-of-date version can lead to issues, unnecessary annoyances, and wasted time for every group member. Fortunately, updating Zoom is a pretty simple task.

How to change your Zoom reaction’s skin tone

If you weren’t aware, Zoom offers two skin-tone specific reactions to use during meetings — a finger pointed upwards and hands clapping. Personalizing your Zoom reactions with skin tones can add a more personal feel to your meetings and better represent your identity in a digital workspace. All you have to do is sign into Zoom via your computer or phone.

How to raise your hand in Zoom

The simplest and most successful method for calling attention to ourselves is a visual cue that we have been using since grade school: raising our hand. However, rather than needing to physically raise your hand and potentially interrupt the meeting, (and risk looking a little silly), you can perform the digital interpretation of it in the Zoom chat. Should the host give you the floor, you may be prompted to unmute yourself. While unmuted, your profile picture and name are displayed to the host and panelists. Only your name is displayed to other attendees.

Step 1: Click Raise Hand in the Webinar Controls that resembles a grey hand, which will notify the host that you’ve raised your hand.

Step 2: Click Lower Hand to lower it if needed. Note that if you are unmuted, this will not automatically mute you.

How to use Breakout rooms in Zoom Admin Accounts

As if it wasn’t challenging enough to deal with ten to twelve participants in a single meeting, Zoom offers breakout rooms that allow a host to organize and split up to 50 participants to encourage spontaneous chats that the host can switch between and modify at will. You can create a breakout room by hand or have one preset. This allows participants to break off and create individual sessions as needed. It should be noted that you will need to be the owner of the account or have admin privileges to use or modify the setting of breakout rooms.

Daniel Martin/Screenshot

Step 1: Log in to the Zoom web portal as the owner or admin with account settings editing privileges.

Step 2: Select Account Management > Account Settings from the navigation menu.

Step 3: From the Meeting tab, locate the Breakout room option and verify that the setting is switched on. Note that you may be required to verify the change to ensure the option is enabled. You can tick the box to let meeting hosts assign breakout room participants in advance and make the setting mandatory for all account users by selecting the Lock icon and confirming the setting.

How to enable Group settings for Breakout rooms

Step 1: Log in to the Zoom web portal as the owner or admin with account settings editing privileges.

Step 2: Select User Management > Group Managemen t from the navigation menu.

Step 3: Select the name of a group and click the Settings tab.

Step 4: Locate the Meeting tab and check that the Breakout room option is enabled. Note that you may see this slider greyed out, indicating it has been disabled on the account level. You can tick the box to let meeting hosts assign breakout room participants in advance and make the setting mandatory for all account users by selecting the Lock icon and confirming the setting.

How to enable Group settings for Breakout rooms on individual accounts

Step 1: Log in to the Zoom web portal as the owner or admin with account settings editing privileges.

Step 2 : Select Settings from the navigation menu.

Step 3: Locate the Meeting tab and check that the Breakout room option is enabled. Note that you may be required to verify the change to ensure the option is enabled.