Starting or joining a meeting as the host

If you are the meeting host and need to start or join a scheduled meeting, there are several ways that you can join the meeting. As the host, you can start the meeting from the Zoom desktop app for macOS, Windows, or Linux, the Zoom mobile app for Android or iOS, your web browser, or an H.323 or SIP device.

You can start a meeting by phone as the host using your host key. Learn more about starting a meeting by dial-in.

Note: If you are invited to another Zoom user's meeting, learn how to join the meeting.

Requirements for starting or joining a scheduled meeting as the host

Table of Contents

How to start or join a meeting that you're hosting

Windows | macOS
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client
  2. Click the Meetings  tab.
  3. Under the Upcoming tab, select the meeting you want to start. 
    Additional options will appear.
  4. Click Start.
Linux
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client
  2. Click the Meetings tab.
  3. Under Upcoming, hover over the meeting you want to start.
    Additional options will appear.
  4. Click Start.
Android | iOS
  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop client
  2. Tap the Meetings  tab.
  3. Tap Start next to the meeting you want to start.
Zoom Web App
  1. Sign in to the Zoom Web App
  2. Click the Meetings tab.
  3. Click on the meeting you want to start. 
    Additional options will appear.
  4. Click Start.
SIP/H.323

To start a meeting as the host from an H.323 or SIP device, you will need to include the host key in the dial string. You can find your host key at zoom.us/profile. Learn more about host key.

H.323
Call out from the device using one of the following dial strings:

Meetings without a passcode:

[IP Address]##[Meeting ID]###[Host Key]
Example: 192.168.1.25##123456789###123456

Meetings with a passcode: 

      [IP Address]##[Meeting ID]#[Passcode]#[Layout]#[Host Key]
Example: 192.168.1.25##123456789#12345#11#123456

SIP
Call out from the device using one of the following dial strings:

Meetings without a passcode:

[Meeting ID]...[Host Key]@[IP Address]
Example: 123456789...123456@192.168.1.25

Meetings with a passcode: 

[Meeting ID].[Passcode]..[Host Key]@[IP Address]
Example: 123456789.12345..123456@192.168.1.25

Note: There are additional options for dial strings, including the ability to join with a specific video layout. Learn more about SIP/H.323 dial strings.

Web
  1. Login to My Meetings.
  2. Under Upcoming Meetings, click Start next to the meeting you want to start.
  3. The Zoom client should launch automatically to start the meeting.
Email
  1. Confirm that you are logged in at zoom.us/profile in the same browser.
  2. Start the meeting by clicking on the URL Link in your e-mail or calendar invitation.
  3. The Zoom client should launch automatically and start the meeting.
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