How to Use Zoom on iPhone and Android in the US

Zoom has become the default way to join work calls, classes, and family gatherings from a phone, and the mobile app handles almost everything the desktop version does. You can join a meeting in seconds without an account, or sign in to host your own. This guide covers installing Zoom, joining and hosting meetings, using the controls during a call, and fixing the audio and video problems that come up most often.

Step 1: Install the Zoom app

On iPhone, open the App Store and search for Zoom Workplace, which is the current name of the app in recent versions. On Android, open the Google Play Store and search for the same name. Tap Get or Install, and make sure the publisher is Zoom Communications, Inc., since copycat apps do appear in search results.

The app is free to download. You do not need a paid plan to join meetings, and a free account is enough to host your own, though free meetings with three or more people have a time limit in most cases.

Step 2: Sign in or join without an account

Open the app and you will see two options: Sign In and Join a Meeting. If you already have a Zoom account, tap Sign In and enter your email and password, or use the sign-in with Google, Apple, or Facebook option if your account was set up that way. If you use single sign-on through work or school, tap SSO and enter your company domain.

Step 3: Join a meeting from a link or invite

Most of the time you will join from a link. Tap the meeting link in your email, calendar invite, or text message, and your phone will offer to open it in the Zoom app. Tap Open or Join, and you will land in the waiting room or straight into the meeting, depending on the host's settings.

If the host requires a passcode, the link usually fills it in for you. If you entered the meeting ID by hand, type the passcode from the invite. Once you are in, you may be asked to allow Zoom to use your microphone and camera. Tap OK or Allow, or you will join with both switched off.

Step 4: Use the controls during a meeting

During a meeting, tap the screen to show the controls. On the bottom bar you will find the microphone button, the camera button, and the Participants list. Tap the microphone to mute or unmute yourself, and do the same with the camera to turn your video on or off. It is good practice to stay muted when you are not speaking, especially in larger meetings.

To leave, tap Leave in the top corner. If you are the host, you will be asked whether you want to end the meeting for everyone or leave and let someone else host.

Step 5: Host and schedule your own meeting

To start a meeting right away, tap New Meeting on the home screen, check that video is on if you want it, and tap Start a Meeting. Once you are in, tap Participants, then Invite, to share the link by text, email, or any messaging app. People who tap the link will join directly.

To plan ahead, tap Schedule instead. Pick a date and time, set a topic, and choose whether a passcode is required. The app can add the meeting to your phone calendar, which makes it easy to send invites from there.

Step 6: Share your screen and use a virtual background

Sharing your screen from a phone is useful for showing photos, documents, or a website. During a meeting, tap Share, then choose Screen. Your phone will ask for permission to record the screen, and you may need to start a broadcast from Control Center on iPhone or the notification shade on Android. When you are done, tap Stop Share to return to normal video.

A virtual background can hide a messy room. Before joining, tap the settings gear and look for Background and Effects or a similar option in recent versions, or tap More during a meeting and choose Virtual Background. Pick one of the built-in images or add your own photo. Virtual backgrounds work best with even lighting and a plain wall behind you.

Fixing common problems

If nobody can hear you, first check that you are unmuted and that Zoom has microphone permission. On iPhone, go to Settings, find Zoom, and make sure the microphone switch is on. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, then Zoom, then Permissions, and allow the microphone. If you joined by phone audio, check that you are not also connected to Bluetooth headphones that are sitting in another room.

If your video is frozen or black, check the camera permission in the same place, then try turning your video off and back on inside the meeting. Switching from Wi-Fi to mobile data, or the other way around, can also help if the connection is weak. Closing other apps that use the camera, such as a video call in another app, frees up the camera for Zoom.

If you keep getting kicked out of a meeting, the cause is usually a weak connection. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router, or switch to mobile data if your signal is strong. Turning off your video reduces the amount of data the call needs and can keep you connected on a poor network. If the app itself crashes, update it in the App Store or Play Store, since meeting fixes land in updates regularly.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a Zoom account to join a meeting?

No. You can tap Join a Meeting, enter the meeting ID and passcode, and join without signing in. You only need an account if you want to host meetings or keep your settings and history in one place.

How do I join a Zoom meeting from a link on my phone?

Tap the meeting link in your email, calendar invite, or text message. Your phone will offer to open it in the Zoom app. Tap Open or Join, enter the passcode if asked, and allow microphone and camera access when prompted.

Why can nobody hear me on Zoom?

Check that you are unmuted in the meeting and that Zoom has microphone permission in your phone settings. On iPhone, look in Settings under Zoom. On Android, check Settings, then Apps, then Zoom, then Permissions. Also check that you are not connected to Bluetooth headphones that are out of range.