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How to Make and Assign Meeting Co-Hosts on Zoom

Introduction

Co-hosts play an important role in Zoom meetings by assisting the main host with managing participants and handling other meeting controls. Assigning co-hosts helps distribute responsibilities so the meeting host is not overwhelmed with managing everything themselves. This article provides a step-by-step guide on how meeting hosts can enable the co-host feature and add co-hosts to their Zoom meetings.

Prerequisites for Co-Hosting

Before you can assign co-hosts to your Zoom meetings, there are a few prerequisites:

  • Have a paid Zoom account: The co-host feature is only available for paid Zoom Pro, Business, Education, or API accounts. Free Zoom accounts do not have access to co-host controls.
  • Enable co-host settings: Co-hosting capabilities need to be enabled at the Zoom account, group, or user level before you can make someone a co-host. Account administrators can enable this in the web portal.
  • Update Zoom client: To access the full range of co-host controls, make sure you’re running the latest version of the Zoom desktop or mobile app.

Once the above prerequisites are met, you’ll be ready to add co-hosts to your meetings.

Making Someone a Co-Host

There are two ways to make another participant a co-host in an active Zoom meeting:

Method 1: During a Meeting

  1. Start the Zoom meeting as host and have your desired co-host join as a participant.
  2. Click Participants at the bottom of the meeting window.
  3. Hover over the participant you want to make co-host and click More.
  4. Select Make Co-Host from the menu.

The participant will now have co-host controls in the meeting.

Method 2: When Scheduling a Meeting

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal and schedule a new meeting.
  2. Under Meeting Options, click Edit next to Alternative Hosts.
  3. Enter the email address or username of the co-host.
  4. Save your changes.

The participant will be able to start the scheduled meeting as a co-host if you are late or absent.

Co-Host Privileges

Once designated as a meeting co-host, participants will have access to features like:

  • Starting meetings and breakout rooms
  • Managing participants (mute, remove, etc.)
  • Starting/stopping recording
  • Polling and annotation
  • Screen sharing

Co-hosts can assist with almost all host controls except changing other participants’ host/co-host status and a few other high-level account settings.

Tips for Using Co-Hosts Effectively

  • Assign roles ahead of time: Make sure your co-hosts know what tasks they are responsible for so they come prepared.
  • Use Waiting Room: The Waiting Room feature lets co-hosts screen participants before admitting them to reduce chances of disruption.
  • Limit screen sharing: Control whether co-hosts and participants can share their screens. Disable if not needed.
  • Lock meeting when full: Lock your Zoom meeting when the expected participants have joined to prevent uninvited guests.
  • Designate a lead co-host: Have one “lead” co-host who oversees the other co-hosts so there is clear leadership hierarchy.

Conclusion

Adding Zoom meeting co-hosts enables meeting hosts to share management responsibilities. Follow the steps in this guide to enable co-host controls and assign co-host status to trusted participants. Wise use of co-hosts helps ensure Zoom meetings run smoothly from start to finish.

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