Changing security settings in a Zoom meeting


During a meeting, the host or co-host can quickly enable or disable certain settings from the meeting controls toolbar to secure the meeting and minimize disruption, including locking the meeting, enabling waiting room, and suspending participant activities. The host and co-hosts can also view the security features this meeting was scheduled with while in the meeting.

Most of these security settings are also available to enable in the Zoom web portal at the account, group, and user level prior to the meeting. If applied at the account, group, or user level, these settings will be applied in meetings by default. If the options are enabled or disabled and locked by an account admin at the account or group level, they will not be modifiable in-meeting by the host or co-host.

Note: The ability to report users is under the Participants icon in the meeting controls toolbar. This allows you to report a user to Zoom's Trust and Safety team. You will be able to select which user to report and provide details about the problem. You can also upload evidence such as screenshots.

Prerequisites for using in-meeting security options

Enable or disable in-meeting security controls

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Start a meeting as the host or co-host.
  3. In the meeting controls toolbar, click Host tools (or click Security if you're on a desktop app version lower than 6.0.0).
    You can enable or disable the following settings from the menu: 
    • Lock meeting: Locks the meeting, preventing new participants from joining the meeting.
    • Enable waiting room: Enables the waiting room for incoming new participants or to move current participants into the waiting room.
    • Hide profile pictures: Hide all profile pictures, including the host's. Display names are shown instead.
    • Allow all participants to:
      • Share screen: Allows participants to share their screens.
      • Chat: Allows participants to use the in-meeting chat feature.
      • Rename themselves: Allows participants to rename themselves from the Participants panel.
      • Unmute themselves*: Allows participants to unmute themselves without the host's permission.
        Note: The host, any co-hosts, and any language interpreters are exempt from this when it's disabled. 
      • Start video*: Allows participants to start their video in the meeting.
      • Annotate on shared content: Allows participants to annotate over content shared during the meeting. This option is is only available when the host or co-host is sharing. 
      • Share whiteboards: Allows participants to open and share a Zoom Whiteboard. 
      • Share notes: Allows participants to open and share Zoom Notes. 
      • Record to computer: Allows participants to record locally to their device without requesting permission from the host.
      • Request to record to computer: Allows participants to request permission from the host to record locally to their device. 
      • Request host to start cloud recording: Allows participants to send a request to the host to start recording to the cloud. 
      • Collaborate with Zoom Apps: Allows participants to view and work collaboratively with a Zoom App. 
      • Set meeting timers: Allows participants to set a meeting timer.
        *Note: Disabling the Unmute themselves and Start video options does not affect participants' ability to control their audio and video while in a breakout room. Only participants in the main session are affected. 
    • Remove participant: Remove a participant during the meeting. The participant can not rejoin unless Allow removed participants to rejoin is enabled in Meeting settings.
    • Suspend participant activities: Turn off all participants' video, audio, Zoom Apps, and ability to share their screen. Also locks the meeting to prevent participants from joining. This will apply to all participants, including those joined using a Zoom Room.

Explore an overview of in-meeting security settings

When in a meeting, the host or co-host can check which security settings were enabled for this meeting. You cannot change these settings during a meeting, but they are meant to provide quicker and easier access to this information. 

  1. In a meeting, click the shield icon at the top of the meeting window.
    A pop-up window with meeting information will appear.
  2. (Optional) Next to Encryption, view the type of encryption being used in the meeting.
  3. Click Security settings overview.
    The Security settings overview window will appear, listing all security-related meeting settings and if they are currently enabled for this session.

Android | iOS

Enable or disable in-meeting security controls

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Start a meeting as the host or co-host.
  3. In the meeting controls toolbar, tap More.
  4. Tap Security .
    You can enable or disable the following settings from the menu:
    • Lock meeting: Locks the meeting, preventing new participants from joining the meeting.
    • Waiting room: Enables the waiting room for new incoming participants or to move current participants into the waiting room.
    • Hide all profile pictures: Hide all profile pictures, including the host's. Display names are shown instead.
    • Allow all participants to:
      • Share screen: Allows participants to share their screens.
      • Chat with: Controls how participants can use the in-meeting chat feature.
      • Rename: Allows participants to rename themselves from the Participants panel.
      • Unmute*: Allows participants to unmute themselves without the host's permission.
      • Start video*: Allows participants to start their video in the meeting.
      • Share Whiteboards: Allows participants to open and share a Zoom Whiteboard.
      • Share Notes: Allows participants to open and share Zoom Notes.
      • Record to computer: Allows participants to record locally to their device without requesting permission.
      • Request to record to computer: Allows participants to request permission to record locally to their device.
        *Note: Disabling the Unmute and Start video options does not affect participants' ability to control their audio and video while in a breakout room. Only participants in the main session are affected. 
    • Remove participant: Remove a participant during the meeting. The participant can not rejoin unless Allow removed participants to rejoin is enabled in Meeting settings.
    • Suspend participant activities: Turn off all participants’ video, audio, Zoom Apps, and ability to share their screen. Also lock the meeting to prevent participants from joining. This will apply to all participants, including those joined using a Zoom Room.

Explore an overview of in-meeting security settings 

When in a meeting, the host or co-host can check which security settings were enabled for this meeting. You cannot change these settings during a meeting, but they are meant to provide quicker and easier access to this information. 

  1. In a meeting, tap the shield icon at the top of the meeting window.
    A pop-up window with meeting information will appear.
  2. (Optional) Next to Encryption, view the type of encryption being used in the meeting.
  3. Tap Security settings overview.
    The Security settings overview window will appear, listing all security-related meeting settings and if they are currently enabled for this session.
  4. Tap Done to close the window and return to the meeting.

Web App | Web client

  1. Do one of the following:
  2. In the meeting controls toolbar, click Security .
    You can enable or disable the following settings from the menu:
    • Lock Meeting: Locks the meeting, preventing new participants from joining the meeting.
    • Enable Waiting Room: Enables the waiting room for new incoming participants or to move current participants into the waiting room.
    • Hide Profile Pictures: Hide all profile pictures, including the host's. Display names are shown instead.
    • Allow participants to:
      • Share Screen: Allows participants to share their screens.
      • Chat: Allows participants to use the in-meeting chat feature.
      • Rename Themselves: Allows participants to rename themselves from the Participants panel.
      • Unmute Themselves*: Allows participants to unmute themselves without the host's permission.
      • Start Video*: Allows participants to start their video in a meeting.
      • Share Whiteboards: Allows participants to open and share a Zoom Whiteboard.
      • Request Host to Start Cloud Recording: Allows participants to send a request to the host to start recording to the cloud.
        *Note: Disabling the Unmute Themselves and Start Video options does not affect participants' ability to control their audio and video while in a breakout room. Only participants in the main session are affected. 
    • Remove Participant: Remove a participant during the meeting. The participant can not rejoin unless Allow removed participants to rejoin is enabled in Meeting settings.
    • Suspend Participant Activities: Turn off all participant's video, audio, and ability to share their screen. Also lock the meeting to prevent participants from joining. This will apply to all participants including those joined using a Zoom Room.