You are considered an attendee in a webinar if you register for a webinar or join one without receiving a confirmation email from a panelist or alternative host that confirms you are a member of the webinar. Attendees of webinars have the opportunity to raise their hands in virtual discussion, submit questions in a Q&A session, and send messages to each other.

Note: Attendee controls that have been disabled by the host will not be available to attendees. There may be additional controls that are not listed here, for example, if you are a cohost, a panelist or an attendee for a webinar or meeting.

This article covers:

• How to join a webinar by invitation link
• How to manually join a webinar
• Waiting for the host to start the webinar
• Webinar controls

Prerequisites for attending Zoom Webinars

• Client for Zoom on the desktop
• App for Zoom on mobile devices
• Client for the web

How to join a webinar by invitation link

In order to join the webinar, click the link you received after registering or the link provided by the host. You can also find the link in the registration confirmation email sent by the host.

How to manually join a webinar

1. From your registration email, locate the meeting ID/webinar ID. A join link will appear after https://zoom.us/w/, either at the end of phone dial-in information or in the join link
2. Log in to Zoom on your desktop or mobile device.
   Note:
3. It is not necessary to be logged in to Zoom, but if you aren’t, you’ll need to provide a name and email address. The webinar link will be sent to you after you register if registration is required.
4. Tap or click Join.
5. Click Join Meeting or tap Join Meeting and enter the webinar ID.
6. Join by clicking Join Webinar or tapping Join if prompted.

Waiting for the host to start the webinar

There may be a message sent to you depending on your device type, if the host has not yet begun broadcasting the webinar or is preparing with a practice session, so wait for the host to start the webinar or wait for the host to start the meeting if he or she has not yet started broadcasting.

It is important to ensure that the date and start time of the webinar is correct, including the time zone, if you receive a message that shows the webinar date and time. Don’t forget to join the webinar when it begins so you won’t miss out on anything.

Webinar controls

Windows | macOS

Audio Settings (only visible if the host hasn’t granted you permission to talk):

The audio settings need to be changed. Also, you can change your speaker by clicking the upward arrow (*).

Unmute / Mute : Unmute during the webinar if the host allows it. Everyone will hear what you have to say. Your host will notify you whether you need to stay muted or unmuted if they allow you to speak.
Note: When you click the Unmute/Mute button, you will still have access to the audio settings.

Chat : If permitted, open chat to communicate with the host, panelists, and participants.

Raise Hand : Indicate that you need something from the host by raising your hand during the webinar. This may be used in a specific way by the host. Attendees can use this feature if they have a question and want to speak up for themselves.

Question & Answer: During the Q&A session, you will be able to ask questions to the panelists and host. In the Q&A window, you can either receive a reply via text or you can receive a live response.

To ask a question:

1. Click Send after entering your question in the Q&A box.
   Notes:
   • If you would like your question to appear anonymously in the Q&A, select Send Anonymously.
   • Depending on how your account admin has configured it, you are either warned or blocked from sending a message if your message triggers a Chat Etiquette policy. Whether the message triggers Chat Etiquette policies or not, the Chat Etiquette Tool never sends additional message information to the account administrator, Zoom, or any third-party service.
2. An answer will appear in the Q&A window if the host responds via Q&A. Live (out loud) answers are also available from the host. The Q&A window will notify you if this is planned.

The question of another attendee can also be liked or commented upon by an attendee. It comes in handy for a host or participant to identify popular questions, particularly in a webinar where there are many participants.

1. To like a comment, click the thumbs up icon.
   Tip: As of this writing, the question has received a total of 480 likes.
2. A red thumbs up icon indicates that the comment has been liked.
3. Answer an existing question by clicking Comment.
4. Click Send to send your comment.
   Under the question, you will be able to add a comment.

Leave meeting: Leaving the webinar is as simple as clicking the Leave meeting button. So long as the host has not locked the webinar, you can rejoin if you leave during the webinar.

Linux

Audio Settings (only visible if the host hasn’t granted you permission to talk):

The audio settings need to be changed. In addition, you can change your speaker by clicking the upward arrow (*).

Unmute / Mute : In case the host allows you to unmute, you can speak during the webinar. Your voice will be heard by all participants. The host will notify you whether you should remain muted or unmuted if you are allowed to talk.
Note: The Unmute/Mute button can still be accessed by clicking the * arrow.

Chat : If permitted, open chat to communicate with the host, panelists, and participants.

Raise Hand : Indicate that you need something from the host by raising your hand during the webinar. This may be used in a specific way by the host. Attendees can use this feature if they have a question and want to speak up for themselves.

Question & Answer: During the Q&A session, you will be able to ask questions to the panelists and host. In the Q&A window, you can either receive a reply via text or you can receive a live response.

To ask a question:

1. Enter your question into the Q&A box, then click Send.
   Notes:
   • Choosing Send Anonymously will prevent your name from appearing with your question.
   • Your account admin will determine whether to block you from sending a message if your message triggers a Chat Etiquette policy. Data, metadata, and event information, triggered by the Chat Etiquette Tool, are not sent to the account admin, Zoom, or any 3rd party service.
2. The Q&A window will show a reply if the host replies via Q&A. Your question can also be answered live (aloud) by the host. If this is planned, a notification will appear in the Q&A window.

Leave meeting: Leaving the webinar is as simple as clicking the Leave meeting button. So long as the host has not locked the webinar, you can rejoin if you leave during the webinar.

Android

Speaker icon: The speaker icon on your device can be turned off by tapping it in the top-left corner.

Unmute / Mute : Unmuting and talking during the webinar is permitted if the host gives you permission. You will be able to hear all participants. You can mute yourself by tapping Audio.

Chats : Chat options are available during the webinars, allowing you to communicate with the moderator, panelists, and other attendees (if it is allowed).

Raise Hand : If you need something from the host during the webinar, raise your hand to indicate that you need it. There may be instructions given to you by the host as to how this will be used. As a webinar host, you may have used this feature before in order to know if you have an attendee with a question and if they wish to speak out loud.

Q&A : You are able to ask questions to anyone, including the host and the panelists, when you open the Question & Answer window. Your question can either be answered live or you can send a text message to them in the Q&A window asking them to reply back to you.

To ask a question:

1. The Q&A box is where you can enter your question. Click on the Send button.
   Notes:
   • You can choose to send your question anonymously if you do not wish to have your name added to the question in the Q&A section.
   • It is possible that your message will be warned or blocked from sending if you get a prompt that you have triggered a Chat Etiquette policy based on what the account administrator has configured in your account settings. There is no additional information about the messages being sent from the Chat Etiquette Tool, such as data, metadata, or event information, to the account administrator, Zoom, or to any third parties, whether the messages are triggered by the Chat Etiquette Tool or not.
2. A reply will appear in the Q&A window if the host responds via Q&A.
3. Your question can also be answered live (by the host). If the host plans to do this, you will be notified in the Q&A window.

More : These options can be accessed by tapping.

• Disconnect Audio: Remove the audio from your device. Connect your audio by clicking Join Audio.
• View Full Transcript: The webinar audio is available as a live transcript.

Leave: The webinar can be left at any time by tapping Leave. The host will not lock the webinar if you leave while it is still in progress.

IOS

Speaker icon: Your device’s speaker can be turned on or off by tapping the speaker icon in the top-left corner.

Unmute / Mute : During the webinar, you may unmute and talk if the host permits. Your voice will be heard by all participants.

Raise Hand : Indicate that you need something from the host by raising your hand during the webinar. This may be used in a specific way by the host. Attendees can use this feature if they have a question and want to speak up for themselves.

Chat : If permitted, open chat to communicate with the host, panelists, and participants.

Q&A : You are able to ask questions to anyone, including the host and the panelists, when you open the Question & Answer window. If you ask a question in the Q&A window, they can either reply back to you via text or answer it live on the screen.

If you have a question, please do the following:

1. Click on the Ask a Question button.
2. If you have a question, please enter it in the Q&A box.
   Notes: If you do not want your name to appear next to your question in the Q&A, select Send Anonymously so that nobody will know who you are.
3. When you are ready to ask a question to the host, tap the send button on the screen.
   Note: Your account admin will decide whether to warn or block you if your message triggers a Chat Etiquette policy. No additional message information is sent to the account admin, Zoom, or any third party service when an account policy triggers the Chat Etiquette Tool.
4. The Q&A window will display a reply if the host responds via Q&A.
5. Live (out loud) answers can also be provided by the host. The Q&A window will notify you if this is planned.

More : These options can be accessed by tapping.

• Minimize Webinar: Navigate to the home screen of the Zoom app and change the webinar mode to a floating thumbnail.
• Note: In any application other than the Zoom app, a floating thumbnail cannot be minimized. Viewing the webinar requires the Zoom app.
• View Full Transcript: The webinar audio is available as a live transcript.
• Disconnect Audio: Make sure your device is not connected to the webinar if you want to disconnect your audio. You can reconnect your audio by clicking on the Join Audio button.

Leave: At any time during the webinar, you will be able to tap Leave to leave the session. As long as the webinar is not locked by the host, you can rejoin the webinar if the webinar is still in progress when you leave.