LIBRARY BLOG
How to Join a Zoom Meeting on a Desktop Computer
In this article you will learn how to join a Zoom meeting on a desktop computer. A Zoom account is not required to join a meeting.
To join a meeting in Zoom, a host must first create a meeting and share a URL link, ID, and password to the meeting with you. You can join a Zoom meeting on a desktop computer either via a URL link or via Zoom Client.
How early you can enter a meeting depends on the host. The host has the option to enable participants to join as early as they like, even before the host joins. More often than not though, participants will have to wait for the host to allow them into the meeting.
Joining a Zoom Meeting on a Desktop Computer Via a URL Link:
1. In this instance, a host has sent you a URL link in an email invitation. The email will look similar to the one pictured.
A few minutes before the meeting is scheduled to begin, click on the URL link in blue indicated by the red arrow in the picture.
** The meeting ID and Passcode are included in your invitation. (See blue arrow) You may be prompted to use these to sign into the meeting.
2. After clicking on the URL link, your computer will prompt you to allow Zoom to launch on your browser. Click on the “open URL:Zoom Launcher.” If this prompt does not appear, click on the blue “launch meeting” button in the middle of the screen.
If the computer does not allow you to download or run the Zoom Client application, click on the “Join from your browser” option just below it.
3. The meeting host has the option of when to allow participants to enter. If the host has not yet allowed participants into the meeting, you will see a window informing you of this and asking you to test your audio while you wait.
If you do not have a Zoom account, you will be asked to give a name that will appear in the participants list. If you already have a Zoom account, you will be able to log in at this time. For directions on creating a Zoom account through a web browser please refer to the article “How to Create a Zoom Account.”
4. It is a very good idea to go ahead and test your audio while you wait. After clicking the “test computer audio” button, a screen will appear like this next image.
Click the “test speaker” button indicated by the red arrow. You should hear a dinging or bells. If not, try raising the volume of your computer and pressing the button again.
To test your microphone, press the “test mic” button indicated by the green arrow. The button will change to “recording.” Speak a test phrase out loud. When you are done speaking press the button again. It will change to “playing.” You should hear yourself.
Troubleshooting Tip:
If either the speakers or the mic are not working, you may need to change the source of the sound. You can do this by changing the selection on the drop-down menus to the right of each.
If you have not tried using a headset with a mic yet, try connecting one to your computer and running the test again. Some computers have built-in microphones, but many do not.
5. Once the host has allowed participants into the meeting you will see a window similar to the next image. Depending on the number of participants & the host settings, the window may appear slightly different. Instead of your name, you may see the host’s presentation or the video of participants.
The icons are for the following:
Red Arrow: You may be automatically muted upon entering a meeting. If your mic has a red line through it, then you are muted. If not, click on the mic and it will mute. Likewise, click on the mic again to unmute. It is good Zoom etiquette to keep yourself muted unless you are the one speaking.
Blue Arrow: Like the mic, your video may be automatically turned off. You can control it my clicking on the camera icon. If your video is on, participants will be able to see whatever is in the view of your computer camera.
Green Arrow: This allows you to see how many people are participating in the meeting. By clicking on the icon, a side bar will open with the names of all participants.
Yellow Arrow: By clicking on the chat icon, a side bar will open that allows you to communicate with the host & participants without speaking out loud. When sending a chat, you can choose “everyone” or specific participants to chat with my using the drop-down menu.
Grey Arrow: Zoom allows participants to share content to the meeting window. If the host allows, participants can click this icon and then choose what files from their computer to share.
White Arrow: Depending on the host settings, you may find an option to record the meeting to your computer.
Orange Arrow: When you are ready to leave the meeting, click the red “leave” button. Another red “leave meeting” button will appear. Click this one and you are done!
Joining a Zoom Meeting on a Desktop Computer via Zoom Client:
Zoom Client allows participants to join meetings without downloading any plugins or software. It works similar to an app on a mobile device and does not require you to open an internet browser. It usually downloads automatically after you start/join your first Zoom meeting. If not, you can download the client by visiting https://zoom.us/download .
1. To join a meeting using Zoom Client, open the application on your computer. You will be prompted to either “join a meeting” or “sign in.” Signing in is not necessary to join a meeting unless you have an account already and would like your name to automatically appear. For directions on how to create a Zoom account, please refer to the article “How to Create a Zoom Account.”
2. After clicking “join a meeting”, you will be prompted to enter a meeting ID. This information must be provided to you by the host. If the host emailed the invitation to you, it would be located below the URL link. The meeting ID is usually a series of numbers.
After copy & pasting or typing the meeting ID into the space provided, click on the area for your name. You must provide a name to appear in the participants list for the meeting.
You can also choose to have your audio and video off upon entering the meeting by checking those boxes.
3. Once you have done this, click on the “join” button. You will now be asked to provide a meeting passcode. This passcode can be found right below the meeting ID on the invitation sent to you. You may not be able to copy and paste. As a security feature, the client may require you to type the passcode in.
From this point on, using the Zoom Client is the same as entering the meeting through the web browser. Please refer to steps 3 through 5 of the previous section.
Kati, Outreach