The co-host feature in Zoom is an essential tool for meeting and webinar hosts. It allows the primary host to share hosting privileges with other users, enabling them to take on various administrative roles during the session. This guide highlights the key aspects of the co-host feature.

Key Features of the Co-Host Role

Sharing Hosting Privileges

• Empowerment through Delegation: With Zoom, the host holds the power to delegate hosting responsibilities to another user, thus making them a co-host. This feature ensures seamless collaboration and management during meetings or webinars.

Administrative Control

• Comprehensive Management: Co-hosts are equipped with administrative control, enabling them to oversee various aspects of the meeting. This includes handling participant activities and managing the meeting’s recording. This functionality streamlines the coordination process, ensuring smooth proceedings.

Host Authority

• Exclusive Assignment: Only the meeting’s original host retains the authority to assign a co-host. This ensures a structured hierarchy within the meeting environment, maintaining clarity and accountability.

Unlimited Co-Hosts

• Flexibility in Collaboration: Zoom provides the flexibility of having unlimited co-hosts for a meeting or webinar. There are no restrictions on the number of co-hosts, allowing for extensive collaboration and support as needed. This feature caters to diverse organizational needs and ensures inclusive participation.

1. • Zoom Client Version Requirements

     Zoom Desktop Client

     • Windows: Ensure your system is running Windows with Version 3.5 or higher to access the Zoom Desktop Client seamlessly.
     • macOS: For macOS users, a version 3.5 or higher is required to utilize the full functionalities of the Zoom Desktop Client.
     • Linux: Users on Linux platforms must have Version 3.5 or higher installed to utilize the Zoom Desktop Client effectively.

     Zoom Mobile App

     • Android: To leverage the Zoom Mobile App on Android devices, ensure you have Version 3.5 or higher installed for optimal performance.
     • iOS: For iOS users, it is essential to have Version 3.5 or higher installed to access all features and functionalities of the Zoom Mobile App.

     .

Account Type Requirements: How to Enable and Add a Co-Host in Zoom Meeting

1.  Eligible Plans:

• • To unlock advanced features such as the co-host option, it is imperative to have a Zoom account subscribed to one of the following plans.

2. Pro Plan:

• The Pro Plan caters to individuals and small teams, offering an array of advanced features to enhance collaboration and productivity. Subscribers to this plan gain access to features like co-hosting to streamline meeting management.

3. Business Plan:

• Designed for medium to large-sized organizations, the Business Plan equips users with comprehensive tools for communication and collaboration. With features such as co-hosting, teams can efficiently manage meetings and ensure seamless interactions.

4. Education Plan:

• Tailored for educational institutions, the Education Plan provides educators and students with a platform for interactive learning experiences. By including features like co-hosting, Zoom facilitates engaging virtual classrooms and academic discussions.

5. API Partner Plan:

•  The API Partner Plan is specifically curated for developers and businesses integrating Zoom       functionalities into their applications. This plan offers access to advanced features like co-hosting through APIs, enabling customization and integration with existing workflows 

Guide to Enabling the Co-Host Feature in Zoom for Your Organization

Enabling the co-host feature in Zoom allows members of your organization to share hosting privileges during meetings, enhancing collaboration and meeting management. If you’re an administrator, you can activate this feature for all users in your account. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Steps to Enable the Co-Host Feature for Your Organization

1. Administrator Sign-In:
   • Log in to the Zoom web portal as an administrator with the ability to edit account settings.
2. Accessing Account Settings:
   • In the navigation panel, click on Account Management and then select Account Settings.
3. Navigating to Meeting Settings:
   • Click on the Meeting tab.
4. Enabling Co-Host Setting:
   • Look for the Co-host option under the In Meeting (Basic) section.
   • If the co-host setting is disabled, click the toggle to enable it.
   • Should a verification dialog appear, click Turn On to confirm the change.
5. Locking the Setting (Optional):
   • If you wish to make this setting mandatory for all users in your account, click the lock icon.
   • Confirm by clicking Lock. This ensures that the setting cannot be altered by individual users.

Group

Enabling the Co-Host Feature for a Group in Zoom

As an administrator with group editing privileges in Zoom, you have the ability to enable the co-host feature for specific user groups. This feature allows members of a group to share hosting responsibilities in meetings, providing flexibility and improved management. Here’s how to enable this feature for a particular group:

Steps to Activate Co-Host for a User Group

1. Administrator Login:

• Begin by signing into the Zoom web portal as an administrator with the necessary permissions to edit groups.

2. Accessing Group Management:

• In the navigation panel, navigate to User Management and then select Groups.

3. Selecting a Group:

• Choose the specific group you intend to modify by clicking on its name from the provided list.

4. Navigating to Meeting Settings:

• Once you’ve identified the group, proceed to click on the Meeting tab to access its settings.

5. Enabling Co-Host Setting:

• Within the Meeting tab, locate the Co-host option under the In Meeting (Basic) section.
• If the co-host setting appears disabled, simply click the toggle switch to enable it.
• Upon enabling, if a verification dialog appears, affirm the change by clicking Turn On.

Note: If the co-host option appears grayed out, it signifies that the setting is locked at the account level and necessitates adjustment there.

6. Locking the Setting (Optional):

• For added control and consistency, you have the option to make the co-host setting mandatory for all users within this group.
• To enforce this, click on the lock icon.
• Confirm your decision by clicking Lock, thereby preventing individual users within the group from altering the setting.

Enabling Co-Host Feature for Individual Users Use in Zoom

For individual Zoom users looking to utilize the co-host feature in their meetings, enabling it is a straightforward process. This feature is beneficial for sharing meeting management tasks, such as controlling participant activities and managing recordings. Here’s how to activate the co-host feature for your own Zoom account:

Steps to Activate Co-Host for Individual Users

1. Sign Into Zoom Web Portal:
   • Access your account by logging into the Zoom web portal.
2. Accessing Personal Settings:
   • In the navigation panel, click on Settings.
3. Navigating to Meeting Settings:
   • Select the Meeting tab.
4. Enabling Co-Host Setting:
   • Scroll to the In Meeting (Basic) section.
   • Check if the Co-host setting is enabled.
   • If it’s disabled, click the toggle to enable it.
   • In case a verification dialog appears, click Turn On to confirm your choice.
     • Note: If the co-host option is grayed out, this means it has been locked at the group or account level. You will need to contact your Zoom administrator to make changes at this level.

Co-Host Restrictions in Zoom

1. Closed Captioning Controls:
   • Co-hosts cannot start closed captioning.
   • They are also unable to assign someone or a third-party service to provide closed captioning.
2. Live Streaming:
   • The ability to start live streaming a meeting is reserved only for the host.
3. Ending the Meeting:
   • Co-hosts do not have the authority to end the meeting for all participants.
4. Assigning Co-Hosts:
   • A co-host cannot make another participant a co-host.
5. Managing the Waiting Room:
   • While co-hosts can place participants in the waiting room and admit or remove them, they cannot start the waiting room feature.
6. Starting the Meeting:
   • Co-hosts are not able to start a meeting.
   • If the host needs someone else to start the meeting, they must assign that person as an alternative host.

Additional Information

• Alternative Hosts: To grant someone the ability to start a meeting, the host needs to designate them as an alternative host. This is different from a co-host and needs to be done before the meeting begins.

Guide to Assigning a Co-Host During a Zoom Meeting

Assigning a co-host during a Zoom meeting is a straightforward process that can be done on various operating systems including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Here’s how you can assign a participant as a co-host during your meeting, enabling them to access co-host controls.

For Windows, macOS, and Linux – How to Enable and Add a Co-Host in Zoom Meeting

1. Start the Meeting:

   • Initiate your meeting as the host through the Zoom desktop client on your respective operating system.

   2. Access Participant List:

   • During the meeting session, navigate to the meeting controls and click on Participants to access the participant list.

   3. Selecting a Co-Host:

   • Hover your mouse over the name of the participant whom you wish to designate as a co-host.

   4. Assign Co-Host Role:

   • Click on More next to the participant’s name.
   • From the dropdown menu that appears, select Make Co-Host to assign the co-host role to the selected participant.

For Android and iOS – How to Enable and Add a Co-Host in Zoom Meeting

1. Starting the Meeting:
   • Initiate your meeting as the host.
2. Opening Participant List:
   • Tap on Participants in the meeting controls.
3. Choosing a Co-Host:
   • Tap on the name of the participant you wish to assign as a co-host.
4. Making Participant a Co-Host:
   • Tap Make Co-Host.

Outcome

• Once you have assigned a participant as a co-host, they will immediately gain access to various co-host controls, enabling them to assist in managing the meeting.

Enabling and Adding a Co-Host in Zoom” by Merlin

Overview of the Co-Host Feature in Zoom

Introduction:

• The video explains how to use the co-host feature in Zoom, beneficial for managing the administrative aspects of a meeting, such as handling participants and controlling the recording.

Key Points about the Co-Host Feature

1. Account Requirements:
   • The co-host feature is available for Pro account users or higher. Basic users do not have access to this feature.
2. Granting Co-Host Permissions:
   • Any participant in a meeting or a panelist in a webinar can be made a co-host, regardless of whether they are part of your Zoom account or their account type.
   • There is no limit to the number of co-hosts you can have in a meeting.
3. Limitations of a Co-Host:
   • Co-hosts can manage participants, start/stop recordings, adjust security settings, launch polls, etc.
   • However, they cannot:
     • Set up and start manual captioning.
     • Start live streaming.
     • Make another participant a co-host.
     • Start the waiting room (though they can manage it).
     • End the meeting for all participants.
   • Co-hosts also cannot start the meeting; for this, you need an alternative host.

Enabling the Co-Host Feature

1. Accessing Settings:
   • Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
   • Navigate to Settings and then to In Meeting (Basic).
2. Activating Co-Host Setting:
   • Ensure the co-host setting is enabled. If it’s grayed out, it’s locked at the group or account level, and you’ll need to contact your Zoom administrator.

Assigning Co-Host in a Meeting

1. During the meeting:
   • Once in a meeting with participants, you can grant co-host permissions.
   • On desktop: Click on Participants, hover over a participant’s name, choose More, and then click Make co-host.
   • On mobile: Tap on Participants, select a participant, and tap Make co-host.
2. Note on Assignment:
   • Co-hosts can only be designated once they are in the meeting, not before the meeting starts.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a co-host to a zoom meeting before it starts?

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