Joining and participating in a Zoom Webinar

In the event you registered for the Zoom Webinar and haven’t received an email confirmation that’s for a panelist or an alternate host, it means that you are an attendee in the webinar. It is possible for webinar attendees to virtually raise their hands, ask questions in a Q&A session, and send messages to other attendees.
Note:
If the host has disabled some of the attendee controls, attendees will not be able to use them. If you have other controls that are not shown here, it may be that you are a co-host or panelist in a webinar or a meeting attendee.
This article covers:
• How to join a webinar by clicking on an invitation link
• How to manually join a webinar
• Waiting for the host to start the webinar
• Webinar controls
Prerequisites for attending a Zoom Webinar
• Zoom desktop client
• Zoom mobile app
• Web client
How to join a webinar via an invitation link
When you register for the webinar, you will receive a confirmation email with a link that you can click in order to join. In addition, the link can also be found in the confirmation email sent by the host.
How to manually join a webinar
1. Your registration email contains the meeting/webinar ID. In the phone dial-in information, or in the link following https://zoom.us/w, you will find this information.
2. Open Zoom on your computer or mobile device.
Note:
3. To join, you do not need to be logged into the Zoom client, but if you aren’t, you must provide your name and email address. For webinars that require registration, you will need to register and use the link to join.
4. Just click or tap Join.
5. Click or tap Join Meeting, and enter the webinar ID.
6. Click Join Webinar or tap Join to join the webinar if you are prompted.
Waiting for the host to start the webinar
Depending on the type of device you have, you may receive one of the following messages if the host has not yet started broadcasting the webinar or is preparing using a practice session. Please wait for the host to start the webinar or Waiting for the host to start this meeting.
It is important that you check the date and start time of the webinar within the time zone if you receive a message indicating the date and time of the webinar. You should consider joining the webinar at the time it begins.
Webinar controls
Windows | macOS

Audio Settings (only visible if the host hasn’t granted you permission to talk):
Please change the audio settings of your computer. In addition, you can also change the speaker by clicking the upward arrow (*) next to the speaker name.
Unmute / Mute:
During a webinar, if you are given permission by the host, you can unmute and speak during it.
It will be possible for all participants to hear you if you speak loudly. In the event that the host allows you to talk, you will receive a notification telling you whether to remain mute or unmute.
Note:
The audio settings can still be accessed by clicking on the ^ arrow next to the Unmute/Mute button.
Chat :
This is an open webinar chat, which allows you to send chat messages to the host, panelists, and attendees (if allowed).
Raise Hand:
If you need assistance from the webinar host, raise your hand during the webinar. The webinar host may explain how you can help. It is common for webinar hosts to use this feature to determine if an attendee has a question or would like to speak out loud.
Question & Answer:
In the Q&A window, you will be able to ask questions to the moderators and panelists. If you have a question, they will either respond back to you via text in the Q&A window or answer it live.
Here are the steps to ask a question:
1. Click Send after entering your question in the Q&A box.
Note:
2. If you don’t want your name associated with your question in the Q&A, select Send Anonymously.
3. You will see a reply in the Q&A window if the host replies via Q&A. Your question can also be answered live. If the host plans to do this, you will be informed in the Q&A window.
You can also like or comment on questions posted by other attendees. Especially in a webinar with many attendees, the host or participant can identify popular questions this way.
1. By clicking the thumbs up icon, you can like a comment.
Tip:
2. By clicking the icon, you can see how many likes the question has received so far.
3. To dislike a comment, click the red thumbs up icon.
4. To reply to an existing question, click Comment.
5. Click Send to submit your comment. Your comment will appear below the question.
Leave meeting:
You can leave the webinar at any time by clicking Leave meeting. As long as the host has not locked the webinar, you can join if you leave during a webinar in progress.
Linux

The Audio Settings (visible only if the host hasn’t granted you permission to talk):
You need to adjust your audio settings. Additionally, you can change your speaker by clicking the upward arrow (*).
You can unmute and talk during the webinar if you have permission from the host. Your voice will be heard by all participants. The host will let you know whether you should remain on mute or unmute if you are allowed to talk.
You will still be able to access the audio settings if you click on the ^ arrow next to the Unmute/Mute button.
Chat:
You will be able to send chat messages to the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted) when the webinar chat is open.
Raise Hand:
If you need assistance from the webinar host, raise your hand during the webinar. The webinar host may explain how you can help. It is common for webinar hosts to use this feature to determine if an attendee has a question or would like to speak out loud.
Question & Answer:
You can ask the host and panelists questions by opening the Q&A window. Your question can either be answered live or via text in the Q&A window.
To ask a question:
1. Click Send after entering your question in the Q&A box.
Note:
2. If you don’t want your name associated with your question, select Send Anonymously.
3. You will see a reply in the Q&A window if the host replies via the Q&A. Your question can also be answered live (by the host). Your Q&A window will display a notification if the host intends to do this.
Leave meeting:
You can leave the webinar at any time by clicking Leave meeting. As long as the host has not locked the webinar, you can join if you leave during a webinar in progress.
Android
Icon of the speaker:
To turn off your device’s speaker, tap the speaker icon in the top-left corner.
Unmute / Mute:
During the webinar, you can unmute if the host gives you permission. You will be heard by all participants. Select the Audio tab.
Chats:
Chat with the host, panelists, and attendees (if permitted) during a webinar.
Raise Hand:
You can raise your hand in the webinar if you need anything from the host. If necessary, they will explain how this will be used. It is often used by webinar hosts to determine if an attendee has a question and wishes to speak out loud.
Q&A:
You can ask questions to the panelists and the host via the Question & Answer window. You can either get a text reply back or live answer via the Q&A window.
Here are the steps to ask a question:
1. The Q&A box is where you can enter your question. When you are finished, tap Send.
Note:
2. If you do not want your name to appear next to your question in the Q&A, check the box called Send Anonymously.
3. A response from the host will be displayed in the Q&A window if the host replies through the Q&A.
4. Your question can also be answered live (by speaking) by the host. In the event that the host plans to do this, you will receive a notification in the Q&A window to inform you of their plans.
More:
These options can be tapped.
• Disconnect Audio:
• In order to disconnect your device’s audio from the webinar, you will need to turn it off. To reconnect your audio, click the Join Audio button.
• View Full Transcript:
• This is a live transcript of the webinar audio.
Leave:
You can leave the webinar at any time by tapping the Leave button. Whenever you leave a webinar, you will be able to rejoin it if it is still in progress, provided that the host has not locked the webinar.
iOS
Turn your device’s speaker on or off by tapping the speaker icon in the top-left corner.
Unmute / Mute:
You can unmute and talk during the webinar with the host’s permission. It will be audible to all participants.
Raise your hand if you need anything from the host during the webinar.
If you need assistance from the webinar host, raise your hand during the webinar. During this time, you may receive instructions from the host. In many webinars, webinar hosts use this feature to find out if attendees have any questions or if they would like to speak out loud.
Chat :
Chat open for webinar attendees, the host, and panelists (if allowed).
Q&A:
You can ask questions to the panelists and the host via the Question & Answer window. In the Q&A window, they can reply back to you via text or live answer your question.
To ask a question:
1. You can ask a question by tapping Ask a Question.
2. Type your question into the Q&A box.
Note:
3. Choosing Send Anonymously will prevent your name from being attached to your question.
4. To submit your question, touch the Send button.
5. You’ll see a reply to your Q&A in the Q&A window if the host replies via Q&A.
6. Your question can also be answered live (out loud). The host will notify you if they plan to do this in the Q&A window.
More:
These options can be tapped.
• Minimize Webinar:
• Go to the home screen of the Zoom app and switch the webinar view to a floating thumbnail.
Note:
• The webinar cannot be minimized to a floating thumbnail outside of the Zoom app. Viewing the webinar requires the Zoom app to be open.
• View Full Transcript:
• You can listen to the webinar audio transcript.
• Disconnect Audio:
• Unplug your audio device from the webinar. To reconnect your audio, click Join Audio.
Leave:
You can leave the webinar at any time by tapping Leave. If you leave a webinar, you can rejoin if the host hasn’t already locked it.