Hosting an instant meeting

After you’ve created a Zoom account and installed the application, it’s simple to host an instant meeting. An instant meeting allows you to immediately start a meeting without scheduling or inviting participants beforehand. You can also invite others anytime using host controls during your meeting.

Note: Instant meeting IDs generated from the Zoom desktop app or mobile app expire immediately after the meeting ends. Those scheduled through the API expire within 24 – 48 hours.

This article covers:

Prerequisites for hosting an instant meeting

How to start an instant meeting on the Zoom desktop app

Note: If you don’t have the Zoom desktop app installed, download and install it on your computer.

Home tab

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. In the navigation menu, click the Home tab
  3. (Optional) Under the New Meeting icon , click the down arrow icon to get the following options:
  4. Click the New Meeting icon  to start an instant meeting.
    Note: By default, no one is invited to the meeting, so be sure to invite others to join. 

Team Chat tab

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. In the navigation menu, click the Team Chat tab  .
  3. Select a contact or channel name to open a chat.
  4. (Optional) Next to the video camera icon , click the down arrow icon  to select the Meet with video option.
  5. Click the video camera icon  to start an instant meeting. 
    This instant meeting starts and will invite every member of that group chat or channel.

How to start an instant meeting on the Zoom mobile app

Android | iOS

Meetings tab

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Meetings tab , then select New Meeting .

  3. (Optional) Toggle the following options to use them in your meeting:

  4. Once you’re done with the adjustments, select Start a meeting to host your instant meeting.
    Note: By default, no one is invited to the meeting, so be sure to invite others to join. 

Team Chat tab

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. In the navigation menu, select the Team Chat tab .
  3. Tap a contact or channel name to open a chat.
  4. Tap the video camera icon to start an instant meeting.
    This instant meeting will invite the contact or every member of that group chat or channel.