Joining a Zoom meeting anonymously

Participants in Zoom meetings may wish to join anonymously when they join a Zoom meeting. In this way, they limit the amount of information that other participants can access. There might be instances when someone wants to be private when attending a public event, or it might be that they want to be private when attending a meeting based on mental health for alcoholics and addicts (addictions).

How to hide your video

Whenever you are joining a Zoom meeting, you should disable your video as a way to ensure your privacy during the meeting as this is the best way to ensure your privacy.

Disable video before joining a meeting

It is possible for participants to set their video state as default when they join a meeting from within their Zoom client’s settings whenever they join the meeting. It is possible to disable your camera within the Zoom client’s video settings if you do not wish to have your camera visible when joining a meeting.

Disable video when joining a meeting

Windows | macOS | Linux

1. Click on the Zoom desktop client to open it.

2. To join a meeting, click the Join a Meeting button.

3. If you would like to join a meeting, enter the meeting ID number.

4. In the meeting, you will be able to enter the name you wish to display.

5. I would like my video to be turned off.

6. Please click the Join button.

Android | iOS

1. Open the Zoom mobile app on your smartphone.

2. Then tap the Join a Meeting button.

3. If you would like to join a meeting, enter the meeting ID number.

4. In the meeting, you will be able to enter the name you wish to display.

5. I would like my video to be turned off.

6. Click on the Join button.

Web client

1. Your meeting invitation link can be found in the email you received or in the calendar invitation you received.

2. You can join the meeting by clicking the join link at the bottom of this page.
   You will be prompted by a pop-up window on your web browser to download the application or open it for use.

3. Click Cancel in the pop-up window that appears.

4. At the bottom of the page, you will find a link that will allow you to join.
   In the next few seconds, a new page will be displayed for you.

5. Please click on the Allow Zoom permissions button in order to give Zoom access to your microphone and camera.

6. To join the meeting, you need to enter the name that you would like to use.

7. (Optional) You can select the box stating that I would like my name to be remembered for future meetings.

8. You can stop the video by clicking the Stop Video button in the video preview window.

9. Please click the Join button.

Using Virtual Backgrounds for added privacy

If you are joining the meeting from a location that contains sensitive information, or if you simply want to minimize the view of the surrounding area in general, then virtual backgrounds are a great way to hide your surroundings.

How to join with a guest name

Set your name before joining a meeting

Having not yet joined a meeting, either you will need to attend a test meeting and apply your name when you join the meeting, or you will need to create a Zoom account and apply your display name in your Profile if you haven’t already. In the event that you wish to attend a Zoom meeting under a different name, this can be very useful.

Set your name when joining

Windows | macOS | Linux

1. Click on the Zoom desktop client to open it.

2. To join a meeting, click the Join a Meeting button.

3. If you would like to join a meeting, enter the meeting ID number.

4. If you would like to have your name displayed at the meeting, please enter it here.

5. If I want to be remembered for future meetings, I can enable the option to remember my name.

6. Please click the Join button.

Android | iOS

1. Zoom is a mobile application that can be accessed from your mobile device.

2. Join a meeting by tapping the Join a Meeting button.

3. If you would like to join a meeting, enter the meeting ID number.

4. If you would like to have your name displayed at the meeting, please enter it here.

5. Click on the Join button.

Web client

1. Your meeting invitation link can be found in the email you received or in the calendar invitation you received.

2. You can join the meeting by clicking the join link at the bottom of this page.
   You will be prompted by a pop-up window on your web browser to download the application or open it for use.

3. Click the Cancel button at the bottom of the pop-up window.

4. Click the join button in your browser at the bottom of the page and follow the instructions.
   The page you are currently on will be redirected to a new one.

5. Please click on the Allow Zoom permissions button in order to give Zoom access to your microphone and camera.

6. To join the meeting, you need to enter the name that you would like to use.

7. You can choose whether or not to enable Remember me for future meetings (optional).

8. Please click the Join button.

Rename yourself during a meeting

The display name of you can be changed while in a meeting, so you can use a different display name than the one you had when you joined the meeting.

 If you wish to change the name displayed on your profile:

1. Click on the Participants button in the meeting control panel.

2. Click the More button to the right of your name after hovering over it.

3. Rename the file by clicking the Rename button.

4. If you want to change your display name, you will need to enter it in the dialog box.

5. To rename a file, click the Rename button.

FAQ?

All images and contents credit goes to help.support.zoom.us.com