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:
- After starting a PSTN-only personal audio conference (PAC) meeting.
- After joining a meeting by phone.
- Starting a meeting from a SIP/H.323 device or using host options during a meeting.
- After joining a meeting using the Zoom client and join before host is enabled.
- After manually joining a scheduled meeting in a Zoom Room. In other words, joining by entering the meeting ID or personal meeting link in the Zoom Room controller.
- After joining a meeting using the meeting list in a Zoom Room. If multiple Zoom Rooms join a meeting, the first one to join becomes the meeting host. You can claim host by using the host key.
Notes:
- If you're an admin, you can change advanced security settings so that users can't change their host key.
- If a participant has claimed host of someone else's meeting and the original host joins while signed in to their account, the original host will be given the option to reclaim host controls or allow the current host to retain host controls. If the host reclaims host controls, the former host will be demoted to a participant. The host can then promote them back to host or co-host if they wish or need.
This article covers:
Prerequisites for using your host key
- Zoom desktop client for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higher
- Zoom mobile app for Android or iOS: Global minimum version or higher
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.
- Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
- In the navigation panel, click Profile.
- Scroll down to the Meeting section.
- Select the eye icon
next to your Host Key to view your current 6-digit pin. - Click Edit.
- 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- Join a meeting.
- In the meeting controls, click Participants icon
.
The Participants panel will appear on the right side of the screen. - Click Claim Host at the bottom of the participants list.
- Enter your host key.
- Click Claim Host.
Once the host key is verified, you will have host controls in the meeting.
Zoom Web App- Join a meeting.
- In the meeting controls, click Participants icon .
The Participants panel will appear on the right side of the screen. - Click Claim Host at the bottom of the participants list.
- Enter your host key.
- Click Claim Host.
Once the host key is verified, you will have host controls in the meeting.
Android | - Join a meeting.
- Tap More
in the meeting controls. - Tap Enter Host Key to Claim Host.
- Enter your host key.
- Tap Claim.
Once the host key is verified, you will have host controls in the meeting.
H.323/SIPYou 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
TelephoneZoom 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.
- Join the call through telephone dial-in.
- Enter ** to listen to the additional options.
- Enter *1 to claim host.
- 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.