Using host and co-host controls in a meeting Host controls enable you, as the meeting host, to manage various aspects of a Zoom meeting, including participant management.
The co-host feature enables the host to share hosting privileges with another user, allowing the co-host to manage the administrative side of the meeting, such as managing participants or starting and stopping a recording. The host must assign a co-host . There is no limitation on the number of co-hosts you can have in a meeting or webinar.
Requirements for using host or co-host controls
Limitations of co-host permissions
Co-hosts do not have access to the following meeting controls, as they are only available to the meeting host:
Start closed captioning and assign someone or a third-party to provide closed captioning Start live streaming End meeting for all participants Make another participant a co-host Start waiting room (co-hosts can place participants in waiting room or admit/remove participants from the waiting room) Additionally, co-hosts can't start meetings. If a host needs someone else to be able to start the meeting, they can assign an alternative host .
How to use meeting controls as a host or co-host
Windows | macOS | Linux
Access the meeting controls toolbar
Sign in to the Zoom desktop app. Start or join a meeting as the host. Available host controls
Join Audio or Audio / This allows you to connect to the meeting's audio, then, once connected, mute or unmute your microphone. Audio controls (click ^ next to Audio ): The audio controls allow you to change the microphone and speaker that Zoom is currently using on your computer, leave computer audio, and access the full audio options in the Zoom settings. Video / :
This allows you to start or stop your own video. Video controls (click ^ next to Video ): The video controls allow you to change the camera selection, quickly blur your background, and manage all other settings related to video and effects. Participants :
Chat
React Meeting reactions, nonverbal feedback , and the Raise Hand features allow you to communicate feedback without disrupting the meeting. These reactions are shown on your video panel and next to your name in the Participants panel. Share :
Start sharing your screen . You will be able to select the desktop or application you want to share. When you are screen sharing, floating controls will appear at the top of your screen, but you can drag the toolbar to another location. Screen share controls (click ^ next to Share ): Select who can share in your meeting and if you want only the host or any participant to be able to start a new share when someone is sharing. AI Companion Start AI Companion features in the meeting, such as meeting summary and meeting questions.Note : In-meeting AI Companion features must be enabled in your web portal settings to use them in a meeting. More Click More to view additional options that aren't available on the meeting controls toolbar. You can drag and drop options from the More menu to place them in your toolbar.
Record : Start or stop a cloud or computer recording.Show /Hide Captions : If manual or automated captions are enabled on your account, click here to access the caption options.Transcript : View, search through, and and save the meeting transcript. Breakout rooms : Start breakout rooms .Polls/quizzes : Allows you to create, edit, and launch your polls and quizzes . When the poll closes, you can view the results and can download the full poll report. If a poll has already been created, both the host and co-host can launch the poll, but only the host can edit or add polls to the meeting.Docs : Open an existing Zoom Doc to share in the meeting or create a new doc with the meeting participants as co-editors.Whiteboards : Open an existing Zoom Whiteboard or create a new whiteboard .Apps : Open the Zoom Apps panel to use Marketplace Apps directly in the meeting.Livestream : Select a livestream service and choose if you want to remind new participants to watch the livestream if the meeting reaches capacity.
Live on Facebook : Broadcast your meeting live on Facebook .Live on YouTube : Broadcast your meeting live on YouTube .Live on Twitch : Broadcast your meeting live on Twitch .Live on Custom Live Streaming Service : Broadcast your meeting live on a custom streaming platform .Remind new participants to watch livestream Start billable hours (Windows and macOS only): Track and mange billable hours for meetings.Meeting info : View meeting information, including topic, join information, description, meeting agenda, and more.Transfer to room : Transfer this meeting to a Zoom Room.Host tools in-meeting security options such as lock the meeting, enable waiting room, hide profile pictures, and set what you want to allow participants to do or suspend all participant activities.Settings : Open the Settings panel, where you can manage your personal in-meeting settings. Settings in this menu are only applicable to you and do not change other participants' meeting experience:
Video & effects : Switch your camera selection, touch up your appearance, choose a new virtual background, and more.Audio : Manage speaker and microphone settings, or choose a different microphone mode.Display and controls : Manage your personal display settings for the meeting, including theme and dark right panel, keep the meeting controls visible, show chat previews, and more.Recording : Update your recording preferences and storage.Share screen : Customize screen sharing behavior. Accessibility : Customize closed captioning font size, font type, and text position, and choose if you want to always show captions in meetings and webinars without needing to enable them each time. End (only available to the host): Display the following two options:
End meeting for all : End the meeting for yourself and all participants.Leave meeting : Leave the meeting. You will be prompted to assign a host so that the meeting can continue.
Android | iOS
Access the meeting controls toolbar
Sign in to the Zoom mobile app. Start or join a meeting as the host. Available host controls
AI Companion Join Audio or Unmute / Mute Start video / Stop video : Start or stop your own video.Chat : Opens the Chat panel, where you can chat with others in the meeting .More : Tap More to view additional options that aren't available on the meeting controls toolbar.Raise hand / Lower hand Nonverbal feedback icons: Tap an icon to temporarily display the icon beside your name in the participants list and in your video panel. For example, tapping the thumbs up icon places the thumbs up icon beside your name. Tap the ellipsis icon Participants : View the participants list and manage participants .Share : Start sharing your screen . You will be able to select the desktop or application you want to share.Record cloud recording .Show /Hide CC : If manual or automated captions are enabled on your account, tap here to access the caption options.Polls/Quizzes polls . The option to create a poll will open the Zoom web portal in your default browser.Meeting info : View meeting information, including topic, join information, description, meeting agenda, and more.Host tools : Access in-meeting security options , such as lock the meeting, enable waiting room, hide profile pictures, and set what you want to allow participants to do or suspend all participant activities.Settings Settings menu with the following options:
Meeting settings : Customize settings related to the meeting experience.Virtual backgrounds : Add, update, or remove a virtual background . If your video is currently on, your virtual background will change in the meeting if you change it from these settings.Video filters : Apply or remove video filters .Avatars : Apply or remove an avatar on your video.Audio : Choose from available microphone modes , including Noise removal (default) and Original sound for musicians .Captions and translations : Set your caption language, enable translation, and choose if you want to show original and translated captions together.Zoom Rooms : Enable Zoom Rooms auto-detection and manage device connection behavior.Livestream to YouTube (only available to the host): Broadcast your meeting live on YouTube .Apps : Open the Zoom Apps panel to use Marketplace Apps directly in the meeting.Transfer to room : Transfer this meeting to a Zoom Room. End (only available to the host): Display the following two options:
End meeting for all : End the meeting for yourself and all participants.Leave meeting : Leave the meeting. You will be prompted to assign a host so that the meeting can continue.
Web app
On the Zoom Web App, start or join a meeting as the host. When you're not screen sharing, the host controls will appear at the bottom of your screen in the meeting controls toolbar. While hosts and participants have similar controls in a meeting, hosts have additional capabilities to manage the meeting.
Join Audio or Unmute / Mute
This allows you to connect to the meeting's audio, then once connected, mute or unmute your microphone. Audio controls (click ^ next to Unmute /Mute ): The audio controls allow you to change the microphone and speaker that Zoom is currently using on your computer, leave computer audio, and access the full audio options in the Zoom settings. Start Video / Stop Video :
This allows you to start or stop your own video. Video controls (click ^ next to Start Video ): The video controls allow you to change the camera selection, quickly blur your background, and manage all other settings related to video and effects. Participants :
Chat :
Reactions Meeting reactions, nonverbal feedback , and the Raise Hand features allow you to communicate feedback without disrupting the meeting. These reactions are shown on your video panel and next to your name in the Participants panel. Share Screen Start sharing your screen . You will be able to select the desktop or application you want to share. Screen Share controls (click ^ next to Share Screen ): Select who can share in your meeting and if you want only the host or any participant to be able to start a new share when someone is sharing. Security AI Companion Start AI Companion features in the meeting, such as meeting summary and meeting questions.Note : In-meeting AI Companion features must be enabled in your web portal settings to use them in a meeting. Record : Start or stop a cloud recording .More :
Captions manual or automated captions is enabled on your account, click here to access the caption options.Breakout Rooms : Start breakout rooms .Polls : Allows you to create, edit, and launch your polls . The options to create or launch polls will open up the Zoom web portal in your default browser. When the poll closes, you can view the results and can download the full poll report. If a poll has already been created, both host and co-host can launch the poll, but only the host can edit or add polls to the meeting.Whiteboards : Create a new whiteboard or open an existing one.Settings : Access other in-meeting/webinar settings .Start Focus Mode : Apply focus mode to your participants and their videos.Livestream (only available to the host):
Live on Facebook : Broadcast your meeting live on Facebook .Live on YouTube : Broadcast your meeting live on YouTube .Live on Twitch : Broadcast your meeting live on Twitch .Live on Custom Live Streaming Service : Broadcast your meeting live on a custom streaming platform .Stop incoming video : Allows you to disable incoming participant videos. This can be used in order to preserve bandwidth and improve the quality of your meeting experience.Reset to default : Reset the meeting controls toolbar to the default list.End (only available to the host): Leave the meeting. If you leave the meeting without designating another host, the meeting will end.
End Meeting for All : End the meeting for yourself and all participants.Leave Meeting : Leave the meeting. You will be prompted to assign a host so that the meeting can continue.Learn more about using the Zoom web app .