Getting started with the Zoom web client

The Zoom web client allows joining a Zoom meeting or webinar in a web browser without downloading any plugins or software. The web client can help users who are limited in what they can install or download, allowing them to use their web browser and join Zoom meetings without downloading the application. By default, participants joining through the web client do not need to be signed in to a Zoom account, but the host can require authentication.

Through your settings, you can control if the Join From Browser link appears automatically or if it only appears once the participants attempt to download the Zoom client. 

Notes:

• The web client has limited features and functions best on Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Chromium Edge. See a detailed list of meeting features available in the web client.
• Currently, panelists can not join a webinar practice session from the web client. 

This article covers:

• How to start or join meetings and webinars with the web client
  • Join a meeting or webinar
  • Start a scheduled meeting or webinar
  • Start an instant meeting
  • Join audio
• How to use the web client while in a meeting
  • View video
  • Invite others
  • Share your screen
  • Request remote control
  • Start a cloud recording
  • Add and launch polls
  • Manage participants
  • Use webinar Q&A
  • Use Mask Background
  • Use other features

Prerequisites for using the web client 

• Desktop
  • Chrome: Within 2 versions of current version
  • Firefox: Within 2 versions of current version
  • Edge: Within 2 versions of current version
  • Safari: Within 2 versions of current version
• Mobile
  • Safari: Within 2 versions of current version
  • Chrome: Within 2 versions of current version
  • Firefox: Within 2 versions of current version

As an example, if the current version of Chrome on mobile is 111, then the Zoom Web App is supported on versions 109, 110, and 111. As new versions are released, the minimum version will also follow behind by 2 versions.

Notes:

• These are the officially supported web browsers. The Zoom Web App and web client may work in other browsers, but those browsers are not officially supported and may vary in terms of compatibility and functionality.
• For web browsers, older versions may also still work, but for best results, we recommend keeping within 2 versions of the current version.

How to start or join meetings and webinars with the web client

Join a meeting or webinar

Users can join Zoom meetings or webinars from their web browser and bypass downloading Zoom.

1. Locate the meeting invite link from your email or calendar invitation.
2. Click the join link to join the meeting.
3. If a pop-up window prompts you to open or install the Zoom desktop client, click Cancel.
4. At the bottom of the page, click the Join from your Browser link.
   Note: If you don't see this option, make sure to enable Join From Browser.
5. If prompted, sign in to your Zoom account. If you do not have a Zoom account, create a new account. 
   You will be prompted to enter your name and the meeting password if it was not included in the join link.
6. Click Join.

Start a scheduled meeting or webinar

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. In the navigation menu, click Meetings or Webinars.
3. Click the meeting you want to start.
4. Click Start this Meeting in the top-right corner.
5. If prompted to open the Zoom desktop client, click Cancel.
6. Click the Join from your Browser link.
   Note: If you don't see this option, make sure to enable Join From Browser.

Start an instant meeting

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
2. Click HOST A MEETING in the top-right corner next to your profile picture, then select an option to start a video-on, video-off, or screen share only meeting.
3. If prompted to open the Zoom desktop client, click Cancel.
4. Click the Join from your Browser link.
   Note: If you don't see this option, make sure to enable Join From Browser.

Start join audio

Once you have joined, you can join the audio by computer, dial in by telephone, or choose call me (if enabled for the host's account). Call Me and toll-free numbers require an audio conferencing plan. 

1. Click Join Audio in the meeting controls.
2. Click Phone Call, Computer Audio, or Call Me tab to choose your join method. 
   
   • Phone Call: Follow the instructions on the screen for dialing in by phone.
   • Computer Audio: Click Join Audio By Computer. After joining computer audio, you can click Mute/Unmute at the lower left corner or click on the ^ to select a different microphone and/or speaker. 
   • Call Me: Choose the country of the phone you are calling from the drop down, and then enter the phone number you wish to be called. Check Remember the number on this computer if you would like this number stored for future meetings. Click Call Me.

How to use the web client while in a meeting

View video

You can view participants' videos in Gallery view and Speaker view, as well as up to 9 specific participants videos, if the host spotlights someone. You can also stop all incoming video, which can be useful when you have limited internet bandwidth or to avoid mental fatigue.  

Invite others

1. Click Participants in the meeting controls.
2. In the lower-left corner of the Participants panel, click Invite.
3. The available options will depend on the available add-ons for your account, if you are the host, and if you are logged in.
   
   • Contacts: Invite Zoom contacts you already have established. 
   • Zoom Rooms: Invite Zoom Rooms that are on your account. 
   • Email: This will open up the options to send an email with your default email client, Gmail, Yahoo email, copy the URL, or copy the entire invitation.
   • Call Out: If you have an audio conferencing plan, you can call out to participants by phone. Enter the name you would like to display for them, select their country, enter their phone number, choose if you want them to hear a greeting or require them to press 1 before being connected, and click Invite.
   • Room System: If you have the Cloud Room Connector add-on, view the information for an H.323 or SIP room system to join the call or invite them by calling out to their IP address.

Share your screen

1. Click Share Screen located in your meeting toolbar. 
2. Select the screen you want to share then click Share. If you are using multiple monitors, you will see each screen.
   To share a specific application window, click the Window tab, select an application, then click Share.
   Notes:
   • When sharing an application, live changes made to a document may not appear for others. If you experience this issue, stop sharing and restart the share or share your entire screen to avoid this issue. 
   • For Windows 10 users, if several applications are open, a limited number will be listed as an option to share. If the application you want to share is not listed, close unnecessary applications and try again. 
   • When connected in the Chrome browser, you can even choose a specific Chrome tab to share. 
3. While screen sharing, you will have access to the following controls:
   • A notification at the top of your Zoom meeting window shows a preview of your shared screen. Click Pause Share to pause screen sharing.
   • Click Resume Share to start screen sharing again. You can also click Stop Share to stop sharing your screen.
   • A floating notification bar appears on top of your browser. Click Stop sharing to stop sharing your screen. Chick Hide to remove the floating notification bar. 
4. (Optional) Click the upwards arrow beside the Share screen button to change who has access to screen sharing.

Request remote control

While another participant is screen sharing, you can remotely control their screen. 

1. While viewing a screen share, click View Options at the top, then click Request Remote Control.
2. Click Request to confirm.
3. Click inside the screen share to start controlling the participant's screen.
4. To stop remote control, click Give Up Remote Control at the top.
   

Use webinar Q&A

You can ask, upvote, and comment on questions if these features are enabled by the host.

1. Click Q&A in the webinar controls.
2. You'll have access to the following controls:

• Type your question in the text box to ask a question.
• If another participant has asked a question, click the thumbs up icon to upvote the question or click Comment. Questions are sorted based on the number of upvotes. 

Start a cloud recording

As the host of the meeting, click Record to record video, audio, and chat text to the Zoom cloud. Local recordings are not supported in the web client.

Add and launch polls

The polling feature for meetings allows you to add questions for your meetings. You will be able to launch the poll during your meeting and gather the responses.

Manage participants

Click Participants in the meeting controls to manage participants. Some features may not be available in the web client. For more information, refer to the detailed list of Meetings and Webinar features available in the web client.

Use webinar Q&A

As the webinar host, co-host, or panelist, click Q&A to answer and manage questions submitted by attendees. 

Use Mask Background

Similar to the Virtual Background feature, the Mask Background feature allows you to mask your background while keeping a portion of your face visible in the meeting.

Devices meeting the necessary system requirements can also use the Virtual Background feature in the web client. 

To enable the Mask Background during a meeting:  

1. Join or start a meeting. 
2. In the meeting controls, click More and select Settings. 
3. Click the Background tab. 
4. Click on the background you wish to use. 
5. (Optional) Click Mirror my video to have your view of your video mirrored. This may feel more natural for some users. 
6. (Optional) To adjust the shape and location of the cutout your face fits into, click on the shape in the video preview window. Three options will appear (Circle, Rectangle, Heart), and click them to change the shape. To change the location, click-and-drag the shape around the video preview window. 
7. Click the X to close the Settings window and return to the meeting. 

To upload more images to use as a background: 

1. Join or start a meeting. 
2. In the meeting controls, click More and select Settings. 
3. Click the Background tab. 
4. Click the plus button to open your file browser. 
5. Select the image you wish to use and click Open. 
   The image will be added to the list of available backgrounds.
6. Click the new image to set that as your background. 

Use other features

For more web client features, see the detailed list of features available in the web client.