Joining a Zoom meeting without an account
You do not need a Zoom account to join meetings as a participant. If someone invites you to their meeting, you can join without creating or signing in to an account. However, a Zoom account allows you to create and host your own meetings, invite others to join your meetings, and update personal settings to get the most out of your Zoom virtual meeting experience.
Learn more about common questions and problems users come across when using Zoom for the first time.
Note: If the host of the meeting has restricted who can join by setting up authentication profiles, then all participants must be signed in to a Zoom account to access the meeting.
Prerequisites for joining a Zoom video call as a guest
- Each meeting has a unique 9, 10, or 11-digit number called a meeting ID that will be required to join a Zoom meeting
- The host of the meeting must have Authentication profiles disabled, or authentication exceptions are set up to allow guests to join
- The host of the meeting must have Only authenticated users can join meetings from Web client disabled
- If you want to join from your desktop browser without downloading Zoom, the host must have Show a “Join from your browser” link enabled
Note: Join from browser only works on desktop web browsers. If you are joining the meeting from a mobile device, you must download and join through the Zoom mobile app.
How to use Zoom without an account
There are many ways to join a meeting, but the easiest ways to join as a guest are to click the link provided to you by the host or enter the meeting ID and passcode directly into Zoom.
Note: Depending on the host’s settings, you can join the meeting from your desktop browser without downloading Zoom first. Joining meetings from a web browser gives you access to basic Zoom meeting features.
Use the link provided
- Click the meeting invite link you received from the host, for example in your email or calendar invitation.
On your web browser, a pop-up window will prompt you to open or download the application. - In the pop-up window, click Cancel.
- At the bottom of the page, click the Join From your Browser link.
Note: If you don’t see the link to join from the browser, the host may not have it enabled and you will have to join a Zoom meeting by opening the Zoom client or downloading it first. - In the pop-up window at the top-left corner of the screen, click Allow to allow Zoom permission for your microphone and camera.
- In the Your Name field, enter a display name.
- (Optional) Select the Remember my name for future meetings check box.
- Click Join.
You will join the meeting as a guest.
Enter the meeting ID and passcode in Zoom
- In your web browser, go to zoom.us/join.
- Enter the meeting ID provided by the host/organizer.
- Click Join.
A pop-up window will prompt you to open or download the application. - Do one of the following:
- Launch the meeting on the Zoom client if it’s already downloaded on your device.
- Click Cancel in the pop-up window, then click Download Now to download Zoom before joining.
- Click Cancel in the pop-up window, then click the Join from Your Browser link if you do not want to download Zoom before joining the meeting.
Note: You are not required to download Zoom on a desktop device before joining, but you will have access to limited functionality if you join from your browser. If you want to join a meeting from an Android or iOS device, you must download the Zoom mobile app.
- If prompted, allow Zoom to use your microphone and camera.
- Enter a display name, then click Join.
- (Optional) Select the Remember my name for future meetings check box.
- If prompted, enter a meeting passcode, then click Join again.
You will join the meeting as a guest.
Learn more about ways to join virtual meetings on Zoom.