What an alternative host does and why you need one
An alternative host in Zoom is a person you designate to take over a meeting if you cannot attend or need to leave early. When you assign an alternative host, that person can start the meeting on your behalf, manage participants, record the session, and end the call — all the powers a regular host has. The meeting still uses your account and your meeting ID, but someone else runs it.
You need an alternative host when you schedule recurring meetings, when you might be unavoidably delayed, or when you want someone else to handle technical issues while you focus on content. If you do not assign one and you are late or absent, participants sit in a waiting room until you join, and nobody can start the meeting.
The alternative host must have a Zoom account on the same plan as yours — they cannot be a guest or someone without a Zoom login. They also do not need to be in the same organization; any Zoom user can be your alternative host.
Key Takeaways
- An alternative host is a Zoom user you name to start and run your meeting if you cannot attend, and they need their own Zoom account.
- You assign an alternative host when you schedule a meeting, either in the Zoom web portal or in the Zoom desktop app, by entering their email address.
- The alternative host receives no notification that they have been assigned unless you tell them separately.
- An alternative host can start the meeting, admit participants, record, and end the call, but cannot change the meeting settings after it starts.
- You can change or remove the alternative host at any time before the meeting begins.
How to add an alternative host when scheduling a meeting
Open the Zoom web portal at zoom.us and sign in with your account. Click Meetings in the left sidebar, then click Schedule a Meeting in the top right. Fill in the meeting title, date, time, and duration as usual.
Scroll down to the Meeting Options section. Look for the field labeled Alternative Hosts. Click in that field and type the email address of the person you want to assign. If you want to add more than one alternative host, type each email address separated by a semicolon (;) with no space after it — for example: jane@company.com;mark@company.com.
The person you name does not receive a notification from Zoom that they have been assigned. You must tell them separately that they are the alternative host for this meeting, what time it starts, and what they should do if you do not show up.
Click Save at the bottom of the page. The meeting is now scheduled with the alternative host assigned.
How to add an alternative host in the Zoom desktop app
Open the Zoom desktop app and click Schedule in the home window. Fill in the meeting title, date, time, and duration. In the Meeting Options section, find the Alternative Hosts field.
Click in the field and type the email address of the person you want to assign. You can add multiple hosts by separating email addresses with a semicolon and no space. Click Save when you are done.
The process is identical to the web portal — the alternative host will not be notified by Zoom, so contact them directly to confirm they know they have been assigned.
How to change or remove an alternative host before the meeting
Go to the Zoom web portal and click Meetings. Find the meeting in your list and click on it to open the details. Click Edit in the top right.
Scroll down to Meeting Options and find the Alternative Hosts field. To change the host, delete the current email address and type a new one. To remove the alternative host entirely, delete the email address and leave the field blank.
Click Save. The change takes effect when ready. If you are removing an alternative host, that person will no longer be able to start the meeting on your behalf.
What the alternative host can and cannot do
Once the meeting starts, the alternative host has the same controls as you would: they can admit or remove participants, mute or unmute people, lock the meeting, record the session, and end the call for everyone. They can also share their screen and use the chat and breakout room features.
The alternative host cannot change the meeting settings after the meeting has started — things like the waiting room setting, recording options, or participant permissions are locked once participants join. If you need settings changed mid-meeting, you must make those changes yourself or ask the alternative host to end the meeting and reschedule.
If you join the meeting after the alternative host has started it, you automatically become the host again and regain full control. The alternative host becomes a regular participant.
When the alternative host should start the meeting
The alternative host should start the meeting at the scheduled time if you have not joined within a few minutes. They do this by opening their Zoom app or web portal, finding your meeting in their list of upcoming meetings, and clicking Start. The meeting will open with them as the host.
If you are running late, send the alternative host a message (text, email, or chat) to let them know you are on your way. That way they do not start the meeting prematurely. If you know you will miss the meeting entirely, tell them as soon as possible so they can start without waiting.
Once the alternative host starts the meeting, participants will be admitted from the waiting room (if you have that setting on) or will join automatically (if the waiting room is off). The meeting proceeds normally with the alternative host running it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the alternative host get notified that they are assigned?
No. Zoom does not send them a notification. You must tell them separately that they are the alternative host, give them the meeting time, and explain what to do if you do not show up. It is a good idea to send them a message a day or two before the meeting as a reminder.
Can I assign an alternative host to a meeting that already happened?
No. You can only assign an alternative host when you schedule a meeting or edit it before it starts. Once the meeting has ended, you cannot add an alternative host to it. For future meetings, you can assign one at any time before the meeting begins.
What if both the host and the alternative host do not show up?
Participants will sit in the waiting room (if that setting is on) or will be in an empty meeting with no host. Neither the host nor the alternative host can join later and take control — the meeting will have already started without a host. Always make sure your alternative host knows the meeting time and understands their role.
Can an alternative host be someone from outside my organization?
Yes. The alternative host only needs a Zoom account; they do not need to work for your company or be part of your Zoom workspace. You can assign any Zoom user as an alternative host by entering their email address.
If I join the meeting after the alternative host starts it, do they stay as a co-host?
No. When you join, you automatically become the host again and the alternative host becomes a regular participant. They lose host powers unless you manually promote them to co-host, which you can do from the participant list during the meeting.