Start a Zoom meeting from your computer or phone

To create a Zoom meeting, open the Zoom app on your device, click or tap the New Meeting button, and Zoom will generate a meeting room with a unique ID number. You can then share that ID with people you want to invite, or send them a link that takes them directly into the room. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

You do not need to schedule the meeting in advance — Zoom creates the room when ready when you click the button. If you want to set up a meeting for a specific date and time instead, you can schedule it ahead, and Zoom will send invitations to the people you list.

Key Takeaways

  • Click New Meeting in the Zoom app to create a room when ready, or use Schedule to set up a meeting for a future date and time.
  • Zoom assigns a meeting ID number automatically — you share this number or a link with the people you want to attend.
  • On a computer, you can start from the Zoom app or from your web browser without installing anything.
  • Your phone or tablet needs the Zoom app downloaded from the App Store or Google Play to create or join meetings.
  • Free Zoom accounts can host unlimited one-on-one meetings and group meetings up to 40 minutes long.

Create a meeting on Windows or Mac

Open the Zoom app on your computer. In the top left corner, you will see four buttons: New Meeting, Join, Schedule, and Share Screen. Click New Meeting and Zoom will open a video window with your meeting ID displayed at the top. The meeting is now live and ready for people to join.

To invite people, look for the Invite button at the bottom of the video window. Click it and you will see options to copy the meeting link, copy the meeting ID, or send an email invitation. Copy the link and paste it into a message, email, or chat — anyone who clicks that link will join your meeting directly without needing to type in a meeting ID.

If you do not have the Zoom app installed, you can also create a meeting from your web browser by going to zoom.us, signing in, and clicking Start a Meeting in the top right. Your browser will launch the meeting without requiring you to read anything first.

Create a meeting on iPhone or Android

Open the Zoom app on your phone or tablet. Tap the New Meeting button at the bottom of the screen. Zoom will ask whether you want to turn on video — you can choose yes or no. Tap Start Meeting and the meeting room will open.

To invite people from your phone, tap the three dots or More button at the bottom of the screen, then tap Invite. You will see options to send the meeting link through text message, email, or any app installed on your phone. Tap the option you prefer and select the people you want to invite.

Schedule a meeting instead of starting one now

If you want to set up a meeting for a specific date and time, use the Schedule button instead of New Meeting. On a computer, click Schedule in the Zoom app. On a phone, tap Schedule at the bottom of the screen.

A form will appear asking for the meeting title, date, start time, and duration. Fill in these details and click or tap Save. Zoom will create the meeting and give you the option to send invitations to specific people. You can add their email addresses and Zoom will send them a calendar invitation with the meeting link included.

Scheduled meetings appear in your Zoom calendar. You can edit or cancel them at any time before the meeting starts. When the scheduled time arrives, you will see a Start button in your Zoom app that lets you begin the meeting.

Share your meeting ID or link with others

Every Zoom meeting has a unique meeting ID — a nine or ten-digit number. You can share this number with anyone and they can join by opening Zoom, clicking Join, typing in the meeting ID, and clicking Join Meeting.

Sharing a link is simpler for most people. When you click Invite, Zoom generates a link that looks like zoom.us/j/1234567890. Anyone who clicks this link will join your meeting directly without typing anything. You can copy this link and paste it into email, text message, Slack, or any other communication tool.

You can also copy just the meeting ID and share that separately if you prefer. Some people find it easier to remember a number than to click a long link, especially if they are joining from a phone.

Understand what happens when people join

When someone clicks your meeting link or types in your meeting ID, they will see a screen asking them to enter their name. They type their name and click Join. If you have set the meeting to require a password, they will be asked for the password before entering.

Once they click Join, they will either enter the meeting when ready or wait in a virtual waiting room, depending on how you set up the meeting. By default, Zoom lets people in right away. If you want to control who enters, you can turn on the waiting room feature in your meeting settings, and you will see a list of people waiting to join — you can admit them one by one or all at once.

People joining from a computer can use their web browser if they do not have the Zoom app installed. People joining from a phone must have the Zoom app downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.

Know the limits of a free Zoom account

A free Zoom account lets you host unlimited one-on-one meetings with no time limit. If you are meeting with two or more people, the meeting will end automatically after 40 minutes. You can start a new 40-minute meeting right after if you need to continue.

If you need meetings longer than 40 minutes with three or more people, you can upgrade to a paid Zoom plan. Paid plans start at a monthly cost and remove the 40-minute limit. You can also end the meeting, have everyone leave, and start a new meeting if you want to avoid paying for an upgrade.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a Zoom account before I can start a meeting?

You need a Zoom account to host a meeting, but creating one is free and takes less than a minute. Go to zoom.us and click Sign Up. You will need an email address and a password. Once you sign in, you can create meetings when ready.

Can people join my meeting without a Zoom account?

Yes. People who receive your meeting link or ID can join without signing up for Zoom. They will be asked to enter their name, but they do not need an account. Only the person hosting the meeting needs a Zoom account.

What is the difference between a meeting ID and a meeting link?

A meeting ID is a nine or ten-digit number that identifies your meeting. A meeting link is a URL that contains that ID. Sharing a link is easier because people can click it and join directly. Sharing an ID requires people to open Zoom and type the number in manually.

Can I change my meeting ID after I create a meeting?

Zoom assigns a permanent meeting ID to your account. You cannot change it for a specific meeting, but you can generate a new temporary ID for each meeting if you want. Most people use the same ID for all their meetings and just share it with different people each time.

What should I do if someone joins my meeting who should not be there?

You can remove someone from a meeting by clicking on their name in the participant list and selecting Remove. After you remove them, they cannot rejoin unless you let them back in. You can also lock the meeting once everyone you want has joined, which prevents anyone else from entering.