If you browse with Mozilla Firefox, you can now set a default zoom level for all websites. And you can still set custom zoom levels for individual websites, too. This feature was added in Firefox 73, which was released Feb. 11, 2020.
How to Set a Default Zoom Level for All Websites
It’s easy to tell Firefox to zoom in or out automatically on all websites you visit. To get started, click the menu button in the top-right corner of the Firefox window, and then select “Options” (on a Mac, select “Preferences”).
Scroll down to the “Language and Appearance” section on the General pane. Click the “Default Zoom” box in the “Zoom” section and select the zoom level you want. You can choose a zoom level between 30 and 300 percent.
If you like, you can also check the “Zoom Text Only” option. This will enlarge or shrink the text on a web page, but it won’t zoom the other content, like images.
If you don’t see the “Default Zoom” option, you’ll need to update Firefox. Click Menu > Help > About Firefox to check for updates.
How to Set a Zoom Level for One Website
To quickly set a different zoom level for a particular website, click the menu button at the top right, and then click the plus (+) or minus sign (-) to zoom in or out, respectively. You can see the current zoom level in the address bar.
Firefox will remember the zoom level you set for each website.
If you want to change the size of text only, click “View” in the menu bar, hover your mouse over “Zoom,” and then click “Zoom Text Only.”
There are also some handy shortcuts you can use to quickly zoom in or out. Press Ctrl on Windows or Cmd on Mac while performing any of the following:
Scroll in or out with your mouse to zoom in or out.
Press the plus sign (+) to zoom in or the minus sign (-) to zoom out.
Press zero to restore the zoom level to 100 percent.
These features, new and old, can help you reduce eye strain and make reading much easier on the web.
If you work from home but still need to attend video conferences, you can use a virtual background in Zoom to hide your real background environment. It can add a personal touch to the video chat and hide messes behind you. Here’s how it’s done.
Download, install, and then open Zoom. Once the application is open, select the Gear icon in the top-right corner of the window. This opens the “Settings” window.
In the left pane of the Settings window, select “Virtual Background.”
Once selected, you’ll see a video preview of your current environment along with a “Rotate 90°” option in the top-right corner of the preview.
Below the preview, you’ll find a small selection of backgrounds to choose from. You can also select the box next to “I Have A Green Screen” and/or “Mirror My Video.” The latter option will do as it says—mirror your video. If you have a green screen in your background, be sure to check that option because it will significantly improve the quality of your virtual background.
Select one of the virtual backgrounds from the library.
The background instantly appears behind you.
The background of your actual environment will now be completely hidden.
If you’re not satisfied with any of the background options in the library, you can use your own. Select the “Add Image or Video” button (represented by the “+” icon) in the top-right corner of the virtual background selection. From there, choose “Add Image” or “Add Video.”
Zoom will open the File Explorer (Finder for Mac). Navigate to the location of the image or video you’d like to use, select it, and then click the “Open” button.
The selected background will now be applied. Ensure the image you choose is high-resolution so that it doesn’t diminish in quality during your video meeting.
Chrome’s standard zoom setting is easy to change, allowing you to quickly tell your browser how to shrink or enlarge different websites. You can also set a default font size to help create a more pleasant browsing experience.
How to Set a Default Zoom Level for All Websites in Chrome
Click the three vertical dots in the top right of your Chrome browser. In this drop-down menu, click “Settings.”
Scroll down to the “Appearance” section. Open the “Page Zoom” drop-down menu and select the zoom setting that’s best for you. You can also adjust Chrome’s default font size in the drop-down menu just above Page Zoom. This will apply across all websites you visit in Chrome unless you’ve already set a specific zoom level for that site using the steps below.
How to Set a Default Zoom Level for One Website in Chrome
Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of Chrome. In this drop-down menu, click the Minus (-) or Plus (+) icons to zoom out or in, respectively.
You can also use these handy keyboard shortcuts to quickly set a default zoom for a website. Press Ctrl on Windows and Cmd on Mac while performing any of the following:
Scroll in or out with your mouse.
Press the Minus (-) or Plus (+) key.
Press zero to reset the zoom level to 100 percent.
How to Manage Zoom Settings in Chrome
Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of Chrome and then select “Settings.” Click “Advanced” and then select the “Privacy and Security” option.
Scroll down and click “Site Settings.”
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Now, locate the “Zoom Levels” option. In this menu, you can view the custom zoom levels you’ve set for any given website. Click the “X” icon to delete this setting. Currently, Chrome doesn’t allow you to set the zoom levels here.
Whether you have a hard time reading small text, want to avoid eye strain, or need to fit a wide website into a small screen, these tips should help you achieve a healthier and more efficient browsing experience.
Zoom is one of the top video conferencing applications currently on the market. If you’re working from home or need to have a meeting with a remote client, you’ll need to know how to set up a Zoom meeting. Let’s get started.
How to Download Zoom
If you’re just joining a Zoom meeting, you don’t need to have Zoom installed on your computer. However, if you’re the host, you’ll need to download and install the software package. To do so, go to Zoom’s Download Center and select the “Download” button under “Zoom Client for Meetings.”
Choose the location on your computer where you’d like to save the download. Once the download is finished, “ZoomInstaller” will appear.
Run the software, and Zoom will begin installing.
Once the installation is complete, Zoom will open automatically.
How to Set Up a Zoom Meeting
When you start Zoom, you’ll be offered a few different options. Select the orange “New Meeting” icon to start a new meeting.
Once selected, you’ll now be in a virtual video conference room. At the bottom of the window, select “Invite.”
A new window will appear, presenting various methods for inviting people to the call. You’ll be in the “Contacts” tab by default.
If you already have a list of contacts, you can simply select the person you want to contact and then click the “Invite” bottom in the bottom-right corner of the window.
Alternatively, you can select the “Email” tab and choose an email service to send the invitation.
When you select the service you’d like to use, an email will appear with the different methods for the user to join your meeting. Enter the recipients in the “To” address bar and then select the “Send” button.
Finally, if you want to invite someone via Slack or some other communication app, you can (1) copy the video conference invitation URL, or (2) copy the invitation email to your clipboard and share it with them directly.
All that’s left to do is wait for the recipients of the invitation to join the call.
Once you’re ready to end the conference call, you can do so by selecting the “End Meeting” button in the bottom-right corner of the window.
Amidst the global pandemic that is COVID-19 (which isn’t caused by 5G), more people are working remotely and using Zoom for video-conferencing. However, they’re facing a security issue called “Zoombombing.” What is this, and how can you stop it?
What Is Zoombombing?
“Zoombombing” is when an uninvited person joins a Zoom meeting. This is usually done in an attempt to gain a few cheap laughs at the expense of the participants. Zoombombers often hurl racial slurs or profanity or share pornography and other offensive imagery.
This issue isn’t necessarily a security flaw. The problem is how people handle public Zoom meeting links. These links are shared thousands of times between clients, friends, colleagues, classmates, and so on. Careless handling of them can result in a Zoom meeting being open to public access. Then, anyone who finds the link can join an in-progress meeting.
Public Zoom meeting links have even reportedly shown up in the results when people search for “zoom.us” on Google. Anyone who finds such a link can join that meeting.
It didn’t take Zoom long to react to Zoombombing. On April 5, 2020, the company announced some features that could improve security would be enabled by default. Still, it’s best to be proactive and take the necessary steps to protect yourself.
Zoom has a settings menu you should visit before you start a meeting. After you log in to Zoom’s website, click the “Settings” tab in the pane on the left.
You’re now in the “Meeting” tab of the settings menu.
Features You Should Disable
There are many useful features here, but we recommend you disable the following to protect your meeting:
“Embed Password in Meeting Link for One-Click Join”: This encrypts the password in the “join meeting” link. To join a meeting, all anyone has to do is click the link, which completely defeats the purpose of requiring a password. Turn off this feature for security.
“Screen Sharing”: This allows the host and participants to share their screens during the meeting. You can either completely disable this or allow only the host of the meeting to share his screen. Disabling this prevents people from sharing inappropriate content during the meeting. They’d have to actually hold an image up to the webcam, rather than simply pull it up on their desktop.
“Remote Control”: This allows someone who is sharing her screen to let other participants take remote control of her system. Disable this feature if you don’t need it.
“File Transfer”: Allows meeting participants to share files in the meeting chatroom. Disable this if you don’t want files to be shared. Alternatively, you can select the “Only Allow Specified File Types” option to ensure that people can only share certain types of files.
“Allow Participants to Rename Themselves”: If a Zoombomber doesn’t have access to the chatroom, they can get their message across by typing it as their name. Disable this to remove that option.
“Join Before Host”: This allows people to join a meeting before the host arrives. Don’t let Zoombombers beat you to your meeting. It’s disabled by default.
“Allow Removed Participants to Rejoin”: If this is enabled, participants you kick out of a meeting can rejoin. Disabled so that once a Zoombomber is gone, he’s gone for good. It’s disabled by default.
Features You Should Enable
The following are some features we recommend you enable to improve your security:
“Mute Participants Upon Entry”: If someone does Zoombomb your meeting, you can shut them up before they even have a chance to speak. You can decide later who gets to talk.
“Always Show Meeting Control Toolbar”: Turning this on means you’ll have quick access to the controls during a meeting.
“Identify Guest Participants in the Meeting/Webinar”: This identifies who belongs in your group, as well as any attendees who join as guests.
“Waiting Room”: Force all attendees to experience Zoom purgatory by placing them in a waiting room before they’re able to join the meeting. The host can then decide if they can join or not. As of April 5, 2020, this feature is enabled by default.
“Require a Password When Scheduling New Meetings”: Force people to type a password before they can join a meeting. This way, even if someone finds the link, they can’t join without the password. This is also now enabled by default.
It’s up to you to protect yourself and your meetings. While these options aren’t necessarily bulletproof—if someone shares a link and password publicly, you might still get a Zoombomber in the waiting room—they provide a lot of protection.
Always be proactive, and make security and privacy your top priority whenever you use Zoom
The cool thing about Jackbox digital party games is only one person has to own and run them. To play with your friends and family, you can just share your screen with them on Zoom. They can then play the game via any browser on any smartphone, tablet, or computer.
The Ideal Online Party Game
Jackbox games were designed for in-person parties. A few people gather around a screen, open a website on their smartphones, and then everyone can play. Only the person hosting the game has to own it.
With Zoom (or any other screen-sharing app), you can stream the screen so everyone can see it and play Jackbox games online.
Whether you’re writing family-friendly jokes, competing with rude drawings, or trying to figure out who’s lying about being a secret alien, Jackbox games are an excellent platform for social gaming. They’re especially helpful now because they offer a fun way to connect with family and friends.
How to Start Playing
Jackbox games usually come in “Party Packs” of half a dozen or so digital games. Each one is designed for four to 10 players. The packs are the most cost-effective way to get your Jackbox party started. Most of the Party Packs are also on sale from time to time. You can also always buy certain games individually, wherever they’re available.
These games are multi-platform, so they run on everything from Windows PCs and Macs to game consoles and set-top boxes. You can find official Jackbox products on Steam, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV and iPad, Amazon Fire TV, the Humble Store, Fanatical, Epic Games, Comcast Xfinity, the Mac App Store, and Android TV.
To get started with Jackbox through Zoom, purchase the Jackbox games or packs you want from any digital storefront on your PC or Mac. For example, you can buy them from Steam, or Epic Games, or App Stores. Again, you only have to buy the game once—your friends and family can play for free, even if they don’t own a copy.
Install the game on your computer (no one else will have to do so to play). When it’s up and running, you’re ready to stream it to your friends and family through Zoom. You can also use any other screen-sharing software you prefer, including Steam Remote Play Together.
How to Play Jackbox Games on Zoom
When your Jackbox game is running on your PC or Mac, your friends will need to see your screen to play the game. This is easy to do on Zoom; just click “Download” under “Zoom Client for Meetings” on the website, and then install it.
Sign in to your Zoom account in the app, and then click “New Meeting.”
When the meeting is open, click “Invite” to send invitations to anyone you want to join. After everyone is in the Zoom meeting, click “Share Screen.”
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In the pop-up window, select the Jackbox game you’re running on your computer. Make sure you enable the “Share Computer Sound” option so your friends can hear the game, and then click “Share.”
After you share your Jackbox game window, everyone else will need to open their browsers, go to Jackbox. tv, and type the four-letter code displayed on your screen. After everyone is in the game and can see your screen, you’re ready to play Jackbox!
Almost every video conferencing program available has some sort of vulnerability, and Zoom is undoubtedly no exception. However, Zoom users can do a few things to make their next conference call a bit more secure.
Take Proactive Measures
None of us are entirely immune to cybercrime—even to petty offenses like Zoombombing. But being aware of security risks and taking proactive measures to protect yourself can significantly lower your chances of becoming a victim.
While Zoom has recently taken action to make its software more secure by adding new security features and enabling some settings by default, it’s still up to you to ensure these features are enabled and that your video conference is as secure as it can be.
Requiring a password to join your conference call is your first layer of defense. Without it, nearly anyone can join—and we mean nearly anyone. If your meeting does get indexed, having it password protected will stop uninvited people from jumping in.
It’s also worth mentioning that Zoom provides a feature for embedding a password in the invitation link. We don’t recommend this, as anyone with the link can join. If it ends up in the wrong hands, then you may have an unexpected guest appear.
Here are the password settings Zoom offers:
Require a password when scheduling new meetings
Require a password for instant meetings
Require a password for Personal Meeting ID (PMI)
Embed passwords in the meeting link for one-click join (not recommended)
Require password for participants joining by phone
To access these settings, go to your profile settings page in your web browser and make the changes to your account.
Enable a Waiting Room
Zoom’s waiting room is your second layer of defense. If someone happens to get their hands on your conference link, and that conference isn’t password-protected, they’ll still be placed in a virtual waiting room and need permission to enter.
Your Meeting ID is the meeting that is launched by default. This meeting is, in theory, perpetually running. That means if someone gets your PMI, they can join your session whenever they want. You should only use your PMI for private meetings and refrain from sending it out to the public. The fewer people that have it, the better.
Ensure that the settings that use your PMI as the default when scheduling a meeting or starting one instantly are disabled from your settings page.
Rule with an Iron Fist
Don’t let anyone start the meeting before you, the host arrives. Period. This keeps uninvited people from having the jump on you. But do keep in mind that if you disable the “Join Before Host” setting, it’s always best practice to be prompt. Keep uninvited people out, but don’t leave important clients or colleagues waiting.
Know Who’s Joining
Zoom has a setting you can enable that prevents unauthenticated users from joining a meeting via the web client. This means that users will need to register their name and email to be able to participate, allowing you to know precisely who joins the meeting.
Lock Your Meeting
If all expected attendees have made it to the meeting room, go ahead and lock the meeting so nobody else can enter. During the meeting, you’ll see a “Security” button at the bottom of the screen. Select the button and then click the “Lock Room” option from the pop-up menu.
Kick Someone From Your Meeting
If someone happens to make it to your conference room, you can remove them by hovering over their name in the right-hand pane and then selecting the “More” button.
From the menu that appears, select the “Remove” option.
Next, you should disable the setting from your profile Settings page that allows removed participants to rejoin. Once you get rid of the intruder once, you get rid of them for good.
Disable Communication Features
One of the beautiful things about Zoom is that it provides several options for participants to communicate with each other. However, if an uninvited person joins your conference call, they may use these features to harass the participants. If you, the host, will be the only member required to communicate, disable these features:
Private Chat
Screen Sharing
Attendee Speaking (mute everyone’s mic)
Annotations
File Sharing
Virtual Backgrounds
All of these features can, again, be found in your profile settings using the web browser.
A determined cybercriminal is hard to deter, but don’t just sit idly by while people take advantage of you. Good cybersecurity starts with you—always be prepared.
A total of 500 million Zoom accounts are for sale on the dark web thanks to “credential stuffing.” It’s a common way for criminals to break into accounts online. Here’s what that term actually means and how you can protect yourself.
It Starts With Leaked Password Databases
Attacks against online services are common. Criminals often exploit security flaws in systems to acquire databases of usernames and passwords. Databases of stolen login credentials are often sold online on the dark web, with criminals paying in Bitcoin for the privilege of accessing the database.
Let’s say you had an account on the Avast forum, which was breached back in 2014. That account was breached, and criminals may have your username and password on the Avast forum. Avast contacted you and had you change your forum password, so what’s the problem?
Unfortunately, the problem is that many people reuse the same passwords on different websites. Let’s say your Avast forum login details were “you@example.com” and “AmazingPassword.” If you logged into other websites with the same username (your email address) and password, any criminal who acquires your leaked passwords can gain access to those other accounts.
Credential Stuffing in Action
“Credential stuffing” involves using these databases of leaked login details and trying to log in with them on other online services
Criminals take large databases of leaked username and password combinations—often millions of login credentials—and try to sign in with them on other websites. Some people reuse the same password on multiple websites, so some will match. This can generally be automated with software, quickly trying many login combinations.
For something so dangerous that sounds so technical, that’s all it is—trying already leaked credentials on other services and seeing what works. In other words, “hackers” stuff all those login credentials into the login form and see what happens. Some of them are sure to work.
This is one of the most common ways that attackers “hack” online accounts these days. In 2018 alone, the content delivery network Akamai logged nearly 30 billion credential-stuffing attacks.
Protecting yourself from credential stuffing is pretty simple and involves following the same password security practices security experts have been recommending for years. There’s no magic solution—just good password hygiene. Here’s the advice:
Avoid Reusing Passwords: Use a unique password for each account you use online. That way, even if your password leaks, it can’t be used to sign in to other websites. Attackers can try to stuff your credentials into other login forms, but they won’t work.
Use a Password Manager: Remembering strong unique passwords is a nearly impossible task if you have accounts on quite a few websites, and almost everyone does. We recommend using a password manager like 1Password (paid) or Bitwarden (free and open-source) to remember your passwords for you. It can even generate those strong passwords from scratch.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: With two-step authentication, you have to provide something else—like a code generated by an app or sent to you via SMS—each time you log in to a website. Even if an attacker has your username and password, they won’t be able to sign in to your account if they don’t have that code.
Get Leaked Password Notifications: With a service like Have I Been Pwned?, you can get a notification when your credentials appear in a leak.
How Services Can Protect Against Credential Stuffing
While individuals need to take responsibility for securing their accounts, there are many ways for online services to protect against credential-stuffing attacks.
Scan Leaked Databases for User Passwords: Facebook and Netflix have scanned leaked databases for passwords, cross-referencing them against login credentials on their own services. If there’s a match, Facebook or Netflix can prompt their own user to change their password. This is a way of beating credential-stuffers to the punch.
Offer Two-Factor Authentication: Users should be able to enable two-factor authentication to secure their online accounts. Particularly sensitive services can make this mandatory. They can also have a user click a login verification link in an email to confirm the login request.
Require a CAPTCHA: If a login attempt looks strange, a service can require entering a CAPTCHA code displayed in an image or clicking through another form to verify a human—and not a bot—is attempting to sign in.
Limit Repeated Login Attempts: Services should attempt to block bots from attempting a large number of sign-in attempts in a short period of time. Modern sophisticated bots may attempt to sign in from multiple IP addresses at once to disguise their credential-stuffing attempts.
Poor password practices—and, to be fair, poorly secured online systems that are often too easy to compromise—make credential stuffing a serious danger to online account security. It’s no wonder many companies in the tech industry want to build a more secure world without passwords.
People often use Zoom for work and conference calls, but it doesn’t have to be all work and no play. You can use an interesting photo or video virtual background during the call to liven things up!
How to Change Your Background on Zoom
You can hide your background during video calls on Zoom. This setting replaces your actual background with a video or photo.
To do this when you’re on a Zoom call, click the up arrow next to “Stop Video.” In the menu that appears, click “Choose Virtual Background.”
This takes you to the “Virtual Background” tab in the “Settings” menu. Here, you’ll see a few background videos (those with a Video Camera icon at the bottom left) and photos you can use.
You can also use your own photo or video. Just click the plus sign (+) above the provided images and videos.
File Explorer (or Finder on a Mac) will open. Navigate to and select the image or video you want to use as your background. It will then appear as an option in the “Choose Virtual Background” window with the default Zoom backgrounds.
Which Videos or Images Can You Use?
The types of virtual backgrounds you can use on your computer depends on a few factors. The first of these is the specs on your PC or Mac. Zoom lists these on its website, but for easier access, we’ve included them below.
PC requirements
Mac requirements
Image without green screen
Option 1 Zoom Desktop Client for PC, version 4.4.53582.0519 or higherWindows 7, 8, or 10 64-bit4th generation i7 quad-core or higher processorOption 2Zoom Desktop Client for PC, version 4.5.4 (5422.0930) or higherWindows 10 64-bit6th generation Intel i5 dual-core or higher processorIf CPU is not i7 quadcore or higher, integrated GPU enabled and integrated GPU’s graphics driver version 23.20.xx.xxxx or higher
Zoom Desktop Client for Mac, 4.6.0 (13614.1202) or higher4th generation i7 quad-core or higher processor6th generation i5 dual-core or higher processor
Image with green screen
Zoom Desktop Client for PC, version 3.5.53922.0613 or higherDual-core 2 GHz or higher (i5/i7 or AMD equivalent) processor
Zoom Desktop Client for Mac, version 3.5.53922.0613 or higherDual-core 2 GHz or Higher (i5/i7 or AMD equivalent) processor
Video/Image without green screen
Zoom Desktop Client for PC, version 4.6.4 (17383.0119) or higherWindows 7, 8, or 10 64-bitSupported processor6th generation i5 quad-core or higher (except u-series)4th generation i7 quad-core or higherAny processor with a logical core of 8 or higher and frequency of 3.0 GHz or higher
Zoom Desktop Client for Mac, version 4.6.4 (17383.0119) or highermacOS 10.9 or laterSupported processori5 quad-core or higher6th generation i7 dual-core or higher, with macOS 10.14 or laterAny processor with a physical core of 8 or higher
Video/image with green screen
Zoom Desktop Client for PC, version 4.6.4 (17383.0119) or higherWindows 7, 8, or 10 64-bitSupported processor6th generation i5 dual-core or higher processor (except atom and y-series)i5 quad-core or higher processorAny processor with a logical core of 6 or higher and a frequency of 3.0 GHz or higher
Zoom Desktop Client for Mac, version 4.6.4 (17383.0119) or highermacOS 10.9 or laterSupported processor6th generation i5 dual-core or higher processor (except atom and y-series)i5 quad-core or higher processorAny processor with a physical core of 8 or higher
You also want to use an image that’s equal to, or higher than, your webcam’s resolution.
If you’re not sure what your webcam’s resolution is, there are many places online where you can find out. On most of these websites, you just give them access to your camera, and then click a button to see the results.
Choosing the best image isn’t all that technical, though. Next, we’ll share some of our favorite sites for snagging fun background images, as well as a few things to consider when deciding which background to use.
Choosing an Image or Video
There’s certainly no shortage of online resources when it comes to finding interesting backgrounds for your Zoom calls. One company has turned the bedrooms from your favorite cartoons (from Sailor Moon to Rick and Morty) into real-life backgrounds.
Finn’s bedroom from Adventure Time.Budget Direct’s version of Finn’s bedroom. Budget Direct
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There are also several places you can snag some nice GIFs, like Canva.
Canva
Again, though, you’ll need a computer with higher processing power to use a video or GIF as your background. If your machine can handle it, though, they’re a lot of fun!
Regardless of the format, make sure your background suits the call. For example, if you’re having an important meeting with a client, you might not want to use that cat drinking a beer image you found.
Color also plays an important role in which background you should choose. If you’re wearing black, for example, a brighter background would probably be a good idea. If you choose a black background, you’ll look like a floating head.
Always choose a background that complements what you’re wearing and suits the type of video conference you’ll be attending.
Zoom doesn’t hold back when it comes to allowing you to join a meeting. The company provides several ways to jump on a video call—even if you haven’t downloaded Zoom’s software. Here’s every way you can join a Zoom meeting.
How to Join a Zoom Meeting
For you to join a meeting in Zoom, the host will first have to set up the meeting. Once the host starts the session, the participants can then join. Alternatively, the host can enable an option that allows users to join before the host arrives, but the meeting will still have to be set up in advance.
Use the Zoom Application
If you already have Zoom installed on your device, you can join a meeting directly from the app using a meeting ID or personal link name sent to you by the host.
Open Zoom, and you’ll be prompted to sign in. You can enter your email and password and then select “Sign In,” or sign in with SSO, Google, or Facebook. Selecting Google or Facebook will bring you to its respective sign-in page. If you decide to sign in using SSO, you’ll need to know the company URL, which is usually <companyname>.zoom.us.
Regardless of the sign-in method you choose, once that process is complete, you’ll be on the home page of the Zoom app. Here, select “Join.”
A new window will appear. In the first box, enter the meeting ID that was sent to you when you received the invitation via email. Alternatively, you can enter the personal link name if you happen to know it.
Below that, enter your display name, select if you would like to join the meeting with audio and video enabled, and then select the “Join” button.
You’ll now be in the meeting.
Use the Zoom Website
If you’re joining a meeting with another company, they will need to have registered a company URL with Zoom. This is generally <companyname>.zoom.us, but check with the host to make sure.
Once you have the company URL, go to it in your browser of choice. The landing page will look different between companies, but the options available will mostly be the same.
Select the “Join” button.
You’ll now need to enter the meeting ID or personal link name you should have received from the host of the meeting. Do that, and then select “Join.”
You will now have joined the meeting.
Use the Email Link
When a host sends you an invitation, you’ll receive that invitation via email. The first link in the message is the “Join Zoom Meeting” link. Click that link.
Once selected, you’ll be brought to the Zoom meeting.
Call the Meeting
If you’d rather just use your phone to call the meeting, that’s an option, too. In the email invitation you received, you’ll see the teleconferencing number.
Call that number. When prompted, enter the meeting ID number (also available in the email invitation) using your dial pad. That’s all there is to it!
If you’re hosting a meeting on Zoom, you might want to record it for future reference. If you’re a participant in the meeting, you will need permission from the host before you’re able to record. Here’s how to do both.
Before jumping into the guide, it should be noted that every account level can record Zoom meetings, even the Basic free tier. Free accounts can record a video meeting locally to their computer, Pro and Business plans include 1GB of cloud storage in addition to the local option, and the Enterprise tier includes unlimited cloud.
How to Record a Zoom Meeting
By default, only the host of the video call is allowed to record the meeting in Zoom. When you’re ready, open Zoom and set up a meeting. You can do this by selecting the “New Meeting” button on the home page and then inviting the relevant participants to join the meeting.
Once the meeting is set up and the participants are present, you can start recording the meeting by selecting the “Record” button at the bottom of the window. Alternatively, you can use the Alt+R shortcut key.
The recording will now begin. You can pause the recording by (1) selecting the Pause button (or use Alt+P) or end the recording by (2) selecting the Stop button (or use Alt+R).
When the meeting is over, stop recording and select the “End Meeting” button in the bottom-right corner of the window.
How to Provide Recording Permission to Participants
If you’re the host and would like to allow one of the participants to record the meeting, provide the necessary permissions to do so.
During the video conference, select the “Manage Participants” option at the bottom of the window.
A list of participants will appear in the right pane. Hover over the name of the participant you want to give recording permissions to, and a “More” button will appear. Select the “More” button.
A drop-down menu will appear. Here, select “Allow Record.”
The guest will now be able to record the meeting.
How to View Recorded Meetings
If you’ve recorded a meeting you’d like to watch, open the Zoom app and select the “Meetings” tab.
In the left pane, select the “Recorded” option. You’ll now see a list of recorded meetings. Select the meeting you’d like to view from this list.
In the right pane, you now have the option to play the recording (with or without video), delete it, or open the file location in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).
If you’re hosting a meeting in Zoom but need to leave early due to unforeseen circumstances, you can pass off the host privileges to another member instead of ending the meeting. Here’s how.
Before we get started, there’s an important limitation you’ll need to be aware of. Zoom has a free version for all to use, but it also offers a couple of packages for businesses.
In the case of passing host controls to another user, if the original host is a licensed user, then the meeting can continue for an unlimited amount of time once the controls are handed off, even if the user who received the host controls is a free user. However, if the original host is a free user, the meeting will be limited to 40 minutes after the controls are passed—even if the new host is a licensed user.
Now that we’ve cleared that up, here’s how the host can pass the torch.
First, you (as the host) need to set up the Zoom meeting. You can do this by opening the Zoom app and selecting the “New Meeting” button from the home screen. Next, invite the participants to join the
meeting. You can do this by selecting “Invite” at the bottom of the window.
Once the meeting is set up and all participants have joined, select the “Manage Participants” option at the bottom of the window where the video conference is being held.
Alternatively, press Alt+U (Windows) or Command+U (Mac).
The list of participants will appear in the right pane. Hover over the name of the participant you’re passing host controls to and then select the “More” button.
In the menu that appears, click the “Make Host” option.
A message will appear asking if you’re sure you’d like to change the host to <participant’s name>. Select “Yes.”
In the pane showing the participants, you can now see the host controls have been passed to that user. The original host can now safely leave the meeting without interrupting the video conference.
Finn’s bedroom from Adventure Time.
Budget Direct’s version of Finn’s bedroom. Budget Direct
