Getting started guide for new users


This quick start guide walks you through getting started with your new Zoom account, including essential steps like scheduling your first meeting, downloading the Zoom client, and updating your Zoom profile. Whether you just signed up for your own Zoom account or you have been invited to an existing account, read this quick start guide for a summary of your next steps and click the embedded links to learn more.

This article covers:

How to sign up and activate your Zoom account

Join an existing account

If you are being invited to an existing account, you will receive an email from Zoom (no-reply@zoom.us). Once you receive this email, click Accept the Request.

Accepting the invite to the other account will transfer your profile details (name, profile picture, time zone, etc), scheduled meetings and webinars, cloud recordings, IM history, contacts, and settings, but will not transfer any reports. It is advised that you access and download any reports you may need before accepting the invite. You have 30 days to accept the invite before it expires. 

Create your own account

To sign up for your own free account, visit the Zoom sign-up page and enter your email address. You will receive an email from Zoom (no-reply@zoom.us). In this email, click Activate Account. 

How to sign in to your Zoom account on the web

You can sign in to your Zoom account on the web at any time, at zoom.us/signin. Once you're logged in, use the panel on the left side to navigate the Zoom web portal. You can update your profile, schedule a meeting, edit your settings, and more. 

How to update your profile

You can update your profile by adding a profile picture, set your time zone, update your password and more. To access your Zoom profile, sign in to the Zoom web portal and click Profile. 

How to schedule your first meeting

There are many ways to schedule a meeting, including the Zoom web portal, through the Zoom client, or with one of our extensions or plugins. Here are some basic instructions for scheduling your first meeting. 

  1. Sign in to your Zoom web portal.
  2. Click Meetings.
  3. Click Schedule a Meeting.
  4. Choose the date and time for your meeting. 
  5. (Optional) Select any other settings you would like to use. 
  6. Click Save.

How to download the Zoom client

You can download the Zoom Desktop Client for macOS, Windows, Linux, and ChromeOS, as well as the Zoom Mobile App for iOS and Android, from our Downloads page. 

How to start a test meeting

You can join a test Zoom meeting to familiarize yourself with the Zoom and test your microphone/speakers before joining a Zoom meeting. Visit zoom.us/test and click Join. 

How to start your first meeting as the host

As the meeting host, there are several ways you can start your meeting. Your upcoming meetings will be listed in the Meetings tab of your Zoom desktop client or mobile app. You can click Start by the meeting name. You can also start your meetings from the Zoom web portal. 

  1. Sign in to your Zoom web portal.
  2. Click Meetings.
  3. Under Upcoming, click Start next to the meeting you want to start.
  4. The Zoom client should launch automatically to start the meeting.

How to invite others to join your meeting

Inviting others to join your meeting is as simple as sharing the invitation or join link. You can do this after scheduling your meeting by clicking Copy the Invitation.

How to join another user's meeting

There are many ways to join a meeting, but the easiest way is to click the join link that the meeting host provided. You can also click Join in your Zoom client and enter the meeting ID. You may also be prompted for a meeting passcode, so keep the meeting invite information available.