Using your host key

The host key is a 6-digit PIN used to claim host controls a meeting. You can edit or view your host key in your profile. This host key is applied to meetings you schedule.

You need to use the host key to claim host in these scenarios:

Notes:

Requirements for using your host key

Table of Contents

How to view and customize your host key

You can edit and enter your preferred 6-digit host key. This host key is applied to meetings you schedule.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation panel, click Profile.
  3. Scroll down to the Meeting section.
  4. Select the eye icon next to your Host Key to view your current 6-digit pin.
  5. Click Edit.
  6. Input the new host key desired and click Save.

How to claim host

Follow these steps if you need to claim the host role when you join a meeting and join before host is enabled.

Windows | macOS | Linux
  1. Join a meeting.
  2. In the meeting controls, click Participants icon .
    The Participants panel will appear on the right side of the screen.
  3. Click Claim Host at the bottom of the participants list.
  4. Enter your host key.
  5. Click Claim Host.
    Once the host key is verified, you will have host controls in the meeting.
Zoom Web App
  1. Join a meeting.
  2. In the meeting controls, click Participants icon .
    The Participants panel will appear on the right side of the screen.
  3. Click Claim Host at the bottom of the participants list.
  4. Enter your host key.
  5. Click Claim Host.
    Once the host key is verified, you will have host controls in the meeting.
Android | iOS
  1. Join a meeting.
  2. Tap More in the meeting controls.
  3. Tap Enter Host Key to Claim Host.
  4. Enter your host key.
  5. Tap Claim.
    Once the host key is verified, you will have host controls in the meeting.
H.323/SIP

You can join via an H.323 or SIP device as the host by adding the host key to your dial string. If Join before host is enabled for the meeting, accessing the in-meeting host menu will also prompt you to enter the host key.

Note: Even if joining using the host key or via pairing, they will still show as "Guest" to other participants in the meeting. Due to this, participants joining using other Zoom clients may see the notification "Host is not in the meeting yet", even though the device has joined as host.

Use one of the following dial strings to join as the host:

H.323

Meetings without a password:

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

Meetings with a password:

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

SIP

Meetings without a password:

[Meeting ID]...[HostKey]@[IP Address]
Example: 123456789...123456@zoomcrc.com

Meetings with a password:

[Meeting ID].[Password]..[HostKey]@[IP Address]
Example: 123456789.12345..123456@zoomcrc.com

Telephone

Zoom Meetings

After joining a meeting through telephone audio only, a phone participant can claim host with the host key. This participant must fully join the meeting before claiming host, and thus they must have the meeting ID and passcode to fully join.

  1. Join the call through telephone dial-in.
  2. Enter ** to listen to the additional options.
  3. Enter *1 to claim host.
  4. Enter your host key and then press #.
    If you entered the correct host key, you will be granted host privileges and hear additional PSTN codes you now have access to.

Personal Audio Conferences

PAC meetings allow the meeting host (or another participant who knows the host key) to start a PAC meeting by entering the 6-digit host key when prompted. After entering the host key on a PAC meeting, the meeting will start and others will be able to join as participants. The host of the meeting will have host controls available using the dial pad.