How to control Host and co-host in a zoom meeting

In a Zoom meeting, you have the ability to control many aspects, such as managing participants, as well as controlling the host controls.

A co-host function allows the host to share hosting privileges with another user, enabling the co-host to manage the administrative side of a meeting, including locating participants and starting or stopping recordings, as well as sharing hosting privileges with an alternate user. Co-hosts must be assigned by the host. Whether it is a meeting or webinar, there is no limit as to the number of co-hosts that can participate.

Co-hosts are not able to access the following controls as they are only accessible for those who are hosting the meeting.

Ensure closed captioning is started and ensure a third-party or someone assigned to provide it as part of the project
Initiates the live streaming process
By concluding the meeting with all participants
And assigning a co-host if necessary
Waiting room becomes active (co-hosts will place participants in the waiting area or will admit or remove them from the waiting area)

Co-hosts will also not be able to initiate a meeting. A host can assign an alternate host to start the meeting if they need someone else to be able to do so.

Contents

1 Prerequisites for using host or co-host controls

Prerequisites for using host or co-host controls

Permission from the host to take part in the meeting, or co-host permission (determined by the host)
Use of Zoom desktop client on Mac OS, PC, Chrome OS, or Linux
Mobile Zoom apps available for iOS and Android
Access Zoom through the web

Windows | macOS

You will be able to access the host controls at the bottom of your screen if you aren’t sharing your screen at the moment.

Join Audio or Unmute / Mute : When doing so, you will be able to connect to the meeting’s audio, then unmute your microphone once you are connected.
- Audio controls (click ^ next to Mute/Unmute):Zoom’s audio controls allow you to change the sound source, speaker, and microphone Zoom is currently using on your computer, as well as to open the Zoom settings page, which allows you access to all of Zoom’s audio options..
Start Video / Stop Video : Using this feature, you are able to start or stop your own video.
- Video controls (click ^ next to Start/Stop Video): In case your computer has more than one camera attached, you can choose which zoom is being used, access the full video controls in order to select your virtual background.
Security :
In the meeting, you have access to a number of security options.
Participants : This window displays a summary of the meeting participants, the summary of the nonverbal feedback, and the ability for additional people to join the meeting.
Chat : This window allows you to talk to the meeting participants.
Share Screen :
You can share your screen with the participants. If you choose to share a desktop or application, you will be able to select it from a list. When you share your screen, the controls will appear at the top of your screen, however you can drag them to anywhere else on your screen that is easier to reach.

Share Screen controls (click ^ next to Share Screen ): Choose the people who can share in your meeting as well as whether you want the host to be the only one who can start a new share when someone else shares.

Polling : As a result of this feature, the user is able to create, edit, and launch a poll. Choosing to create a poll will prompt your default browser to open the Zoom web portal where you can begin creating a poll. Once the poll has closed, you will be able to see the results as well as download the full results report. The meeting host and the co-host both can launch a poll that has been already created, but only the meeting host has the ability to edit or add new polls to the meeting.
Record :Recordings can be started or stopped by either party.
Closed Caption / Live Transcript (only available to the host):Click here if you want to access the closed caption options for your account if you have enabled closed captioning and live transcription for it.
Breakout Rooms : Select a breakout room and start it.
Reactions: Meeting reactions as well as nonverbal feedback and Raise Hand are a few ways that you can relate to hosts and presenters and provide them with issues or feedback without disturbing the rest of the meeting. This information is provided to you on your video panel as well as next to the name of your name on the participants panel.
Apps :If you want to use Marketplace Apps directly in your meeting, you need to open the Zoom Apps panel.
More : When you click on More, you will be able to access additional options.
- Start Focus mode: Starts the Focus mode for all participants in the meeting.
- Live on Facebook:Live-stream your meeting on your Facebook account.
- Live on Workplace by Facebook: Using Workplace by Facebook, you can broadcast your meeting live.
- Live on Youtube: By using Youtube, you can broadcast your meeting live.
- Live on Twitch: By using Twitch, you can broadcast your meeting live.
- Live on Custom Live Streaming Service: By using a custom streaming service, you can broadcast your meeting live.
End (only available to the host): Here are two options you can choose from.
- End Meeting for All:You and the other participants can end the meeting together.
- Leave Meeting: It is time to leave the meeting. During the meeting, you will be asked to assign a host so that it can proceed.

Linux

When you are not in a screen sharing session, you will see the host controls at the bottom of your screen

Join Audio or Unmute / Mute : Once connected to the meeting’s audio, you will be able to mute or unmute your microphone according to your requirement.
- Audio controls (click ^ next to Mute/Unmute):
- Zoom’s audio controls provide you with the option of changing the microphone and speaker Zoom uses on your computer, leaving the sound on the computer, and accessing the full range of Zoom’s audio settings.
Start Video / Stop Video : By using this feature, you will be able to start or stop your own video.
- Video controls (click ^ next to Start/Stop Video): The option to select the Zoom that is being used on your computer, the full video controls, and the option to select a Virtual Background can all be accessed if you have multiple cameras on your computer.
Security :During a meeting, you can access options for security.
Participants : The button opens up the window where participants and other meeting participants can be managed.
Chat : The chat window allows you to chat with other meeting participants.
Share Screen : Select this option to start sharing your screen. There is an option for you to choose which desktop or application you would like to share.
- Screen Share controls (click ^ next to Share Screen): When someone shares in your meeting, you can decide whether you want the host to be able to initiate a new share or any participant in the meeting to be able to initiate a share on their behalf.

Polling : Polls can be created, edited, and launched through this feature. You will be able to open up the Zoom web portal in your default browser when you choose the option to create or launch polls. The results of the poll will be available after the poll closes, and you can download the full poll report once the poll closes.
Record : The ability to start and stop cloud or local recordings.
Closed Caption / Live Transcript (only available to the host):The closed captioning features within your account are available if you’ve enabled them. Click here to access closed captioning options.
Breakout Rooms : Create a breakout room.
Reactions : As a meeting participant, you can communicate issues or feedback to the host or presenter without interfering with the meeting in any way. You can invoke meeting reactions, nonverbal feedback, and Raise Hand. On your video panel, as well as beside your name on the participants’ panel, you will see that people have reacted to your video.
More – You will find additional options when you click on More in the participant panel.
- Start Focus mode: All participants in the meeting will be put in Focus mode at the same time.
- Live on Facebook:The meeting will be broadcast live on Facebook.
- This will be done through Facebook Workplace.The following instructions will be used to live stream your meeting on Workplace.
- Live on Youtube: The video will be broadcast live on YouTube.
- Live on Twitch: The video will be broadcast live on the Twitch channel.
- Live on Custom Live Streaming Service:We offer a custom live streaming service which will enable you to broadcast your meeting live.
End (only available to the host): This will present you with two options.
- End Meeting for All:You can end the meeting for all of the participants as well.
- Leave Meeting:It is time for you to leave the meeting. If you would like to continue the meeting, you will be asked to assign a host.

Web client

In the bottom left corner of your screen, you will see the host controls.

Join Audio or Unmute / Mute : If you connect using this method, you can then mute or unmute your microphone once you are connected to the meeting’s audio.
Start Video / Stop Video : Using this option, you can start or stop your own video.
Security : During the meeting, you can access security options.
Participants : The participants list allows you to view, manage, and see non-verbal feedback from participants. You can also invite others to join.
Polls : Polls can be created, edited, launched easily, and can also be shared. In order to create or launch a poll, please open the Zoom browser in order to open the Zoom web portal. You can view the results of the poll once it has closed and you can download the full report once it is complete. There is no difference between the host and the co-host launching polls, however only the host can add polls to a meeting or edit the polls that have already been created.
Share Screen : Share your screen with others. There will be the option for you to choose whether to share your desktop or an application.
- Screen Share controls (click ^ next to Share Screen):
- Choose who will be allowed to share documents in your meeting, as well as if you only want the host, or any of the participants, to be able to start a new share when someone is already sharing.
Chat : You can chat with other participants using the chat window.
Record : The recording can be started or stopped.
Closed Caption / Live Transcription (only available to the host): The options for closed captioning can be accessed by clicking here if you have enabled closed captioning for your account.
Breakout Rooms :Click here to start a meeting room.
Reactions :By using meeting reactions, nonverbal feedback, and Raise Your Hand directly to the presenter or host, it is possible to communicate issues or feedback without disrupting the meeting. Your video panel and the list of participants that you are on will display your reactions to these questions.
Settings : You can change other settings for in-meeting/webinars.

More :
- Start Focus Mode:
- Using the Focus mode, you can apply the mode to the videos of your participants.
- Live on Facebook:
- Using Facebook, you can broadcast your meeting live.
- Live on Workplace by Facebook:
- By using Workplace by Facebook, you will be able to broadcast your meeting live.
- Live on Youtube:
- Through the use of YouTube, you will be able to broadcast your meeting live.
- Live on Custom Live Streaming Service:
- Through the use of a custom streaming platform, you will be able to broadcast your meeting live.
- Stop incoming video:
- With this feature, you will be able to disable the video of incoming participants. The purpose of this is to preserve bandwidth and to enhance your meeting experience by improving the quality of your connection.
End (only available to the host):
It is time to end the meeting. It is a fact that the meeting will end if you leave without designating an alternate host.
- If you choose to leave, the following procedure will be followed:
- If you would like to leave, end the meeting so that you and all participants can leave.
- Leave Meeting:
- It is time to leave the meeting. There will be a prompting that asks you to assign a host. The meeting will then be set up.

iOS

The host controls for smartphones can be found at the bottom of the screen, except for End, which ends the meeting or pops up a window to leave the call. The host controls for iPads can be found at the top of the screen.

Join Audio or Unmute / Mute : As part of this process, once you have successfully connected to the meeting’s audio, you can then mute or unmute your microphone.
Start Video / Stop Video : You can begin or end your video stream.
Share Content : If you’d like to share a file or your screen, click Share Content.
Participants : This section allows you to view and manage the list of participants.
More
There is also the possibility to set up additional options.
- Security : During the meeting, you have access to additional security options.
- Record to the Cloud : Record the meeting to the cloud.
- Polls/Quizzes :With this feature you can create, edit, and launch polls. You can create or launch polls by using the options on the Zoom web portal that will open in your default browser when you click on the link.
- Chat : You can chat with participants by accessing the chat window.
- Enable Live Transcript : A host can enable live transcription by selecting this option in the web settings.
- View Full Transcript : View the full transcript here if the option has been enabled in web settings.
- Meeting Settings : From here you can modify a few settings regarding the meeting that you are currently attending.
- Minimize Meeting : When you want to check your chat messages or schedule a new meeting, minimize the meeting window so you can access it more easily. You can move the minimized window wherever you need it on the screen. The minimized window can be re-sized once again once you have clicked the maximized window.
- Backgrounds and Effects : A virtual background and video filters can be configured and enabled.
- Focus Mode : The Focus mode will be applied to all meeting participants.
- Livestream to YouTube: Broadcast a live video stream of your meeting on YouTube.
- Disconnect Audio:Cut off your current connection to the audio system.
- Raise Hand / Lower Hand: If your host has enabled non-verbal feedback icons (if they are available): When you tap the icon, it will be displayed beside your name in the participants list and in your video panel. When you tap the thumbs up icon, such as, your name is placed alongside a thumbs up symbol.
End (only available to the host):Exit the meeting or end it.

Android

All hosts have control buttons at the bottom of their screen, with the exception of the end of the meeting button located at the top; this button appears next to the Meeting ID.

Join Audio or Unmute / Mute : You can unmute or mute your microphone.
Start Video / Stop Video : Select the video you wish to start or stop.
Share :If you wish to share a file or your screen, select that option.
Participants : Manage your participants by viewing the participants list.
More : There is a section called More where you can find additional settings.
- Record : You can start a recording in the cloud.
- Security : During a meeting, you have access to security options.
- Polls/Quizzes : During a meeting, you have access to creating, editing, and launching polls. Whenever you choose the option to launch or create a poll, your default browser will open up the Zoom web portal.
- Chat : You can chat with the participants through the chat window.
- Enable Live Transcript : This feature is available if the host has enabled it in the web settings.
- View Full Transcript : The full transcript can be viewed here if it is enabled in the web settings.
- Meeting Settings : In the Meeting Settings page you are able to access some of your personal settings for the current meeting.
- Minimize Meeting : The meeting window may be minimized to check if you have received a message or to schedule a new meeting. This window may be dragged around your screen at any time if necessary. If you would like to maximize the meeting window again before your next meeting, simply click on the minimized window.
- Backgrounds and Filters :This feature enables the configuration of virtual backgrounds.
- YouTube: Live video can be broadcast on YouTube as part of your meeting.
- Focus Mode :This mode applies to all attendees of the meeting.
- Disconnect Audio: Unplug the current connection to the audio system.
- Raise Hand / Lower HandTap an icon to view the non-verbal feedback icon in the participants list in your video panel and beside your name in the participants list if the host has enabled it. In the example above, you would notice that when you tap the thumbs up icon, it will appear beside your name.
End (only available to the host):Exit the meeting or close it.

Frequently Asked Questions

It is not possible to assign co-hosts in advance. In order to serve as co-host, an individual must be promoted by the host. An alternative host can be assigned by the host.

Windows or macOS users can assign new hosts by following the steps below:

Start Zoom and sign in.
Create a Zoom meeting as the host.
Press the End button in the host controls.
You will be prompted to leave the meeting in a new window.
The new host should be selected.
Assign and leave are the last steps.

One host is all that is needed. A participant can be made a co-host by assigning them co-host permissions (available only to the host). A co-host can be as many as you want. Participants’ names can be renamed to change how they appear to others.

An alternative host can be designated in the following way

Open Zoom on your mobile device and sign in.
Select the Schedule option.
Click on Advanced Options.
Choose an alternative host from the list.
You may enter email addresses or enter the names of the users you wish to add as alternative hosts.

Co-hosts do not lose their host roles. Meetings cannot be ended or re-hosted by a co-host.

How to control Host and co-host in a zoom meeting