A Zoom meeting can open from the desktop app, mobile app, browser, calendar invite, or meeting ID page. The cleanest path is to install Zoom from the official Download Center, test your audio, then join from the link or ID your host sent. Use the steps below to join, host, schedule, share, and manage the controls that matter during a call.
1. Get Zoom ready before your first call
This fixes the basic setup problems that slow people down before a meeting starts.
Go to Zoom's official Download Center at zoom.us/download.
On Windows, choose Download for 32-bit, 64-bit, or ARM64 under Zoom Workplace for Windows. On Mac, choose Download for Apple Silicon or Download for Intel. On Linux, select your Linux type and OS architecture, then choose Download.
Run the downloaded installer and complete the installation.
On Android, open Google Play, tap Apps, tap the Search icon, enter Zoom, choose Zoom Workplace, then tap Install and Accept. On iPhone, open the App Store, tap Search, enter Zoom, choose Zoom Workplace, then tap GET.
Open the app, then sign in when you want to host, schedule, or manage your own meetings.
Before a real call, go to zoom.us/test and click Join to test your speakers and microphone.
To update later on desktop, sign in to the Zoom desktop app, click your profile picture in the top-right corner, then choose Check for Updates. When a newer version is available, Zoom downloads and installs it. If your copy was installed from an MSI package, AutoUpdate is off and Check for Updates is removed, so ask your IT team or Zoom account admin to update it.
2. Join a Zoom meeting
Open the email or calendar invitation and click the meeting join link.
When your browser asks to open or download the Zoom app, follow the prompt to join in the Zoom Workplace app.
To join from a browser instead, click Cancel on the app prompt, then click join from your browser. Zoom turned this link on by default for accounts on February 7, 2026, but it does not appear when the meeting uses end-to-end encryption or when an admin disabled and locked the setting.
Click Allow when the browser asks for microphone or camera access.
Enter your name or sign in, then join the meeting.
To join by meeting ID instead, open a browser, go to join.zoom.us, enter the meeting ID from the host, and click Join.
Inside the desktop app, sign in, open Home, then click the meeting you want to join. You can also use Meetings or Calendar, or choose More and then Meetings or Calendar.
On mobile, sign in, tap Meetings or Calendar at the bottom, tap the meeting, then tap Join.
3. Set your microphone camera and phone audio
In a meeting on desktop, use Audio and Video in the meeting controls.
Click the up arrow next to Audio to change your microphone or speaker, leave computer audio, or open audio settings.
Click the up arrow next to Video to choose your camera, virtual background, or video settings.
On mobile, use Join audio, Unmute, Mute, Start video, and Stop video in the meeting controls.
To mute or unmute quickly on Windows, press Alt + A. On Mac, press Command + Shift + A.
To join audio by phone on desktop, choose Join Audio, open the Phone Call tab, and follow the dial-in instructions. If you are already on computer audio, use the up arrow next to Audio, choose Switch to phone audio, then open Phone Call. Dial-in appears only when the host is on a Pro or higher account with an Audio Plan and telephone join is enabled for the account and for that meeting.
On mobile, tap Join Audio, choose Dial In, select your country with the down arrow, and follow the listed dial-in steps.
If you joined from a browser on Mac, make sure the browser and macOS have permission to use the camera, microphone, and screen recording.
4. Start your own Zoom meeting now
This opens a meeting immediately and gives you a way to invite others.
On desktop, sign in to the Zoom app and open Home.
Open the down arrow under New Meeting when you want to choose Start with video or Use my personal meeting ID.
Click New Meeting.
To start from your browser address bar, type zoom.new. Zoom opens the Zoom Workplace app when it is installed, or the Zoom Web App when no app is detected.
Sign in when prompted, then use Participants and Invite to invite others.
On mobile, sign in, open Home, tap New Meeting, choose whether to turn Video on or use personal meeting ID, then tap Start a meeting.
From Zoom Chat, open Zoom Chat, select a contact or channel, then choose the video camera icon to invite that person or group into a meeting.
5. Schedule a Zoom meeting for later
On desktop, sign in to Zoom, open Home, and click Schedule. If Home is hidden, choose More and then Home.
Enter the meeting topic or name, set the date and time, choose the meeting options you need, then save or create the event.
You can also open Meetings, choose the add icon in the top-left corner, click Create event, set the details, and save.
On mobile, sign in, open Home, tap Schedule, enter the topic or name, set the date and time, choose meeting options, then tap Save.
In the Zoom web portal, sign in, choose the top-right Zoom Products icon, open Meetings, click Schedule a Meeting, enter the details, optionally add invitees, choose options, then click Save.
To start a scheduled meeting later, open Home, Meetings, or Calendar, select the meeting, and choose Start.
Calendar view appears when your calendar and contacts integration is connected; otherwise, use the Meetings tab.
6. Use Zoom in a browser or on a Chromebook
For browser access, sign in to the Zoom Web App, open Meetings, select the meeting, then choose Join as a participant or Start as the host. On Chromebook or Chrome, go to app.zoom.us/wc, then choose Join Meeting to join without signing in or Sign In to schedule and start meetings. Use the Zoom Web App or Zoom PWA on Chromebook because Zoom removed the legacy Chrome OS App after February 1, 2023.
7. Share your screen and use in-meeting tools
During a meeting or webinar, click Share in the toolbar. You see Share when the host allows participants to share, and in a webinar only the host, co-hosts, and panelists can share.
On Windows or macOS, choose Screens, Documents, or Advanced at the top of the share window. On Linux, choose Basic or Advanced. In the Zoom Web App, pick the tab, window, or entire desktop in your browser's prompt. On mobile, pick the type of content you want to share.
Select the content you want to share.
On desktop, choose options such as Share sound, Optimize for video sharing, Share to breakout rooms, or Show Zoom windows, then click Share.
While sharing, use the floating toolbar for Stop share, Audio, Video, Participants, Chat, Pause, Resume, Layout, and Annotate.
To annotate while sharing, click Annotate or Whiteboard. To annotate while viewing shared content, click the pencil icon in the bottom-left corner.
Use the meeting toolbar for Participants, Chat, React, Meeting info, Apps, and Leave. Open More for options such as Transcript, Captions, Docs, Notes, and Whiteboards.
For recording as a participant on desktop, open More, choose Record, then select Record to this computer, Request to record to this computer, or Request host to record to the cloud.
8. Add Zoom to Google Calendar or Outlook
This puts Zoom scheduling inside the calendar or email tool you already use.
For Google Calendar and Gmail, install Zoom for Google Workspace from the Google Workspace Marketplace, then sign in from the Zoom icon in the Gmail or Google Calendar side panel.
In Google Calendar, create an event or time slot, open More options, choose Add video conferencing, select Zoom Meeting, adjust Zoom settings in the side panel, and click Save.
In Gmail, open an email thread, click the Zoom icon in the right-side panel, choose Schedule a meeting, pick the settings, then click SCHEDULE MEETING.
For Outlook web, install Zoom for Outlook from the Microsoft App Store. In Calendar, click New Event, enter the details, choose Zoom, click Add a Zoom Meeting, sign in when prompted, then click Save.
On Outlook for Windows, open Calendar, choose Home, click New Meeting, open the ellipsis menu, choose Zoom, open Settings, pick your options, click Add Zoom Meeting, then click Send.
In Outlook web, automatically add Zoom to meetings by opening calendar settings, choosing Events and invitations, enabling Add online meeting to all meetings, selecting Zoom as the meeting provider, and clicking Save.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Zoom account to join a meeting?
Not always. On Chromebook or the Zoom Web App flow, Zoom lets you choose Join Meeting without signing in. Sign in when you want to start, schedule, or manage your own meetings.
Can I use Zoom without installing the desktop app?
Yes. Use the Zoom Web App in a supported browser, or click join from your browser after opening an invite link. Some web features are limited compared with the desktop or mobile app.
Why do I not see Calendar in Zoom?
Zoom shows Calendar when calendar and contacts integration is connected. If you do not see it, use Meetings, or open More and then Meetings or Calendar when those tabs are hidden.
Can participants record a Zoom meeting?
Participants can use More, Record, then choose an available local recording request or request that the host record to the cloud. Participants cannot directly start cloud recordings.