When scheduling a meeting, the host can designate another Licensed user on the same account to be the alternative host. The alternative host can start the meeting on the host's behalf. This user will receive an email notifying them that they've been added as an alternative host, with a link to start the meeting. If this email notification is disabled in the Zoom web portal, the alternative host will not receive an email to start the meeting.
Both users need to be Licensed and on the same account
For webinar, the user who schedules the meeting needs both a license and the webinar add-on; the alternative host only needs to be Licensed
Alternative hosts must be signed in to Zoom with the correct account in order to be granted the host or co-host permissions
Limitations for designating an alternative host
The alternative host can start the meeting using the join link in the email or calendar invite sent to them by the host. The meeting will not be displayed in the upcoming meetings list in the desktop app, mobile app, or web page for alternative hosts.
Alternative hosts can't schedule on behalf of the host. If you need to schedule a meeting on behalf of another user, use scheduling privilege. You can also give another Licensed user scheduling privilege, which allows them to schedule meetings for you and makes them an alternative host for those meetings.
If the original host joins after the alternative host, the original host is given the option to reclaim host control of the meeting, or have the host-controls remain with the alternative host. If the original host retakes host control, the alternative host is demoted to a participant.
Alternative hosts who were automatically added with scheduling privileges or added manually by the host can be demoted by the host to an attendee role when not needed for hosting duties. The demoted user can leave and rejoin the session to regain alternative host privileges.
Alternative hosts can only be assigned during scheduling or before the scheduled start time. If a host is attending a meeting but needs assistance with managing the meeting, they can assign a co-host during the meeting instead of an alternative host. Learn more about roles in a meeting.
If an alternative host is designated for a meeting, the meeting will still follow the original host's limitations or add-ons. For example, if the host has a Large Meeting 500 add-on but the alternative host does not, the meeting will still start with the expanded 500-participant capacity, since the system checks the host's meeting profile, rather than the first participant or alt-host that starts the meeting.
Recurring meetings with scheduled occurrences cannot have their alternative hosts edited for a single occurrence. To modify the alternative host, they will need to edit all occurrences in the web portal.