How to Mute Zoom

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Edited by Ben Jacklin
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Virtual meetings already belong to our everyday working routine, and Zoom is one of the apps that is most commonly associated with such meetings and calls. Mastering its mute functions is essential for smooth, uninterrupted sessions. Learn how to mute on Zoom in order to ensure that you're heard when needed and silent when necessary.

How to mute a Zoom meeting on a PC

How to mute yourself before the meeting (Zoom desktop client for Windows or macOS)

  1. Begin by launching the Zoom desktop client on your Windows or macOS computer.
  2. If prompted, sign in to your Zoom account to access the full range of features.
  3. Once the client is open, you have the option to either start a new meeting or join an existing one. Click on New Meeting to initiate a new session or select Join to enter a scheduled meeting.
  4. Prior to joining the meeting, it's important to configure your audio settings. Locate the microphone icon within the meeting settings panel. This icon is typically labeled Mute.
  5. Click on the Mute icon to activate the mute function, effectively silencing your mic.
  6. With the option "mute myself" empowered, you are now prepared to join the meeting without causing any unintended disturbances.

How to mute yourself during the meeting (Zoom desktop client for Windows or macOS)

  1. As you engage in an ongoing Zoom meeting, navigate your cursor over the Zoom window to reveal the toolbar located at the bottom of the screen.
  2. Within this toolbar, locate the microphone icon labeled Mute.
  3. Click the Mute icon once to silence your audio, effectively suppressing any background noise or unintended interruptions.
  4. To unmute yourself and resume speaking, simply click the same Mute icon again.

How to mute yourself using keyboard shortcuts

  1. Alternatively, you can utilize convenient keyboard shortcuts to mute yourself during the meeting.
  2. For Windows users, simply press Alt + A on your keyboard to mute your microphone.
  3. macOS users can achieve the same effect by pressing Command(⌘) + Shift + A, seamlessly muting their audio input.
  4. By employing these keyboard shortcuts, you can swiftly mute yourself in a meeting without the need to navigate through multiple menus.

How to mute yourself by default for all Zoom meetings

  1. To establish a default setting for muting yourself in all Zoom meetings, initiate the Zoom client application on your personal computer.
  2. Within the Zoom interface, direct your attention to the upper right corner, where you'll discern a gear icon symbolizing settings. Click on this icon to access a comprehensive menu of configurable options.
  3. As the settings menu unfolds before you, navigate your cursor to the Audio section, which offers a range of controls to manage your audio input and output preferences.
  4. Within the Audio section, you'll encounter a specific option titled Mute my microphone when joining a meeting. To enact this default mute setting, simply check the corresponding box adjacent to this option.
  5. By selecting this checkbox, you effectively ensure that your microphone is muted by default each time you initiate or join a Zoom meeting, preemptively mitigating any potential disruptions arising from unintended background noise or unwarranted audio interjections. This streamlined approach enhances the efficiency and professionalism of your Zoom interactions, allowing you to seamlessly engage in productive discussions without the need for manual intervention to silence your audio input.

Note! Using push-to-talk

  1. If you want to keep quiet most of the time and only speak when needed, you can use the push-to-talk feature. With this feature on, you'll stay muted by default, which helps prevent accidental noise during Zoom meetings. 
  2. When you need to say something, just hold down the space bar to unmute yourself temporarily. 
  3. Let go of the space bar when you're done talking to mute yourself again. Using push-to-talk helps keep conversations clear and avoids unnecessary interruptions.

How to mute others

Although lacking the role of a host or co-host restricts your ability to mute other speaker or speakers in the Zoom meeting, you still retain the autonomy to control your own audio experience by following these steps:

  1. Begin by clicking on your profile icon located in the upper right corner of the Zoom interface, which will prompt a dropdown menu to appear. From this menu, select the option to access Settings, thus initiating the configuration process.
  2. Within the Settings menu, direct your attention to the section dedicated to Audio settings, where you'll encounter an adjustable slider labeled Output Volume. Proceed to move this slider all the way to the leftmost position, effectively reducing the volume output to zero.
  3. By implementing this adjustment, you effectively turn off the sound coming from the Zoom meeting, thereby creating a quiet environment conducive to your personal activities while allowing other participants to continue their conversations uninterrupted.

You can also achieve a similar outcome through the following methods:

  • Connect headphones to your system, albeit without actually wearing them. In this scenario, it's imperative to ensure that your microphone remains muted to avoid unintended audio disruptions. This method offers a convenient solution for muting the meeting sound while retaining the capability to engage with other participants when necessary.
  • Another viable approach involves adjusting the system volume of your computer device, reducing it to the lowest possible level. This action accomplishes the same goal of muting the audio output from the Zoom meeting, providing you with the desired level of auditory tranquility.

How to mute a Zoom meeting on a mobile

How to mute yourself using the Zoom mobile app (Android or iOS)

  1. Begin by initiating the Zoom app on your mobile device and joining the desired Zoom meeting.
  2. Once you're successfully within the meeting, tap anywhere on the screen to unveil the toolbar located at the bottom.
  3. Within this toolbar, you'll find the microphone icon, typically positioned at the bottom-left corner of the screen, denoted by its characteristic appearance resembling a small microphone.
  4. To mute your own microphone and silence your audio output, simply tap on the Mute icon. This action effectively mutes your microphone, ensuring that any potential background noise or unintended audio disturbances are minimized.
  5. Should the need arise to unmute yourself and contribute to the conversation, tap on the same Mute icon once more. This action reverses the muted status, allowing your voice to be heard by other meeting participants once again.

How to mute yourself using keyboard shortcuts (iOS only)

If you happen to be utilizing an iOS device in conjunction with a keyboard, you have the option to employ the convenient keyboard shortcut Command + Shift + A to swiftly toggle between muting and unmuting your audio during your Zoom meeting.

How to mute others

Also, using a mobile phone, you will not have the option to mute others unless you are the meeting host or have been granted permission by the host. But you can use the steps described earlier for the desktop to completely mute or reduce the sound of the meeting.

How to mute a meeting as a host

Using the Zoom desktop client (Windows or macOS)

  1. In your capacity as the host or co-host, initiate the Zoom desktop client on your Windows or macOS device.

  2. Locate and click on the Participants option situated on the bottom toolbar of the Zoom interface.

  3. Subsequently, you have two options for muting participants: either scroll through the participant list, select a specific participant's name, and then click on Mute to silence their audio individually, or opt to mute all participants simultaneously by clicking on Mute all located at the bottom of the Participants sidebar.

  4. To reverse the mute action and allow participants to speak again, simply revisit the same options and click on them again.

Using keyboard shortcuts

Employ convenient keyboard shortcuts to manage participant muting. Press Alt + M on Windows or Linux during the meeting to mute or unmute all participants or Command(⌘) + Control + M to mute and Command(⌘) + Control + U to unmute all participants on macOS.

Muting others (Android or iOS)

  1. Launch the Zoom app on your Android or iOS device and enter the meeting as the host or co-host.

  2. Navigate to the bottom toolbar and select the Participants option.

  3. Similar to the desktop client, you can individually mute participants by selecting their name from the participant list and choosing the Mute option, or opt for a blanket muting of all participants by clicking the three dots icon at the bottom right corner and selecting Mute all.

  4. To restore participants' ability to speak, repeat the same steps and select the appropriate options again.

Mute others on entry (available on zoom.us only)

  1. As the meeting host, you have the capability to set all participants to be muted upon entry, providing a streamlined approach to managing audio disruptions.

  2. Access the Zoom web portal by signing in, then navigate to the Settings section followed by the Meeting tab.

  3. Within the Schedule Meeting options, activate the Mute all participants when they join a meeting feature to automatically mute all participants upon their entry into the meeting.

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Summary

Zoom's mute functions are integral to managing online interactions effectively. With these steps, you can navigate through any virtual meeting with ease. Pairing Zoom with tools like Movavi Screen Recorder further enhances your control over digital communication, ensuring you never miss a beat. Whether you're a participant or host, these tips on how to mute Zoom will help you maintain the perfect balance of silence and speech in the virtual world.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I mute myself on Zoom?

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How to mute a Zoom meeting?

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