Summary
There are many ways to connect to a Zoom meeting. Pick one that works for your technology and location.
Standard Zoom Invitation
On a standard email invitation to a Zoom meeting there will be a link under “Join Zoom Meeting.” On your device you can click the link (or highlight and paste into a browser) and your browser will kick off either a download of Zoom or ask you if you would like to open Zoom. Click Open Zoom Meetings to move to the next stage.
Join with Video
A webcam will allow others to see you in the meeting room. If you do not have a webcam, you are able to participate in the meeting room without, and your name will take the place of your video.
Audio options
Once you log into the Zoom meeting, a popup window gives you three options to connect with audio to the zoom meeting. These are listed below:
Computer Audio
Connecting with the microphone and speakers is the first option that Zoom gives you in the popup window. If you want to test your speakers and microphone before entering the Zoom room, click “Test speaker and microphone” underneath the “Join with Computer Audio.” Otherwise, just click the blue “Join with Computer Audio.”
Phone Call
You are able to call into the Zoom room and use your phone for audio. Zoom has two options for numbers you can call which are listed below:
- +1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
- +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
- +1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
- +1 253 215 8782 US
- +1 301 715 8592 US
- +1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Once you call in, you will be prompted to enter the Meeting ID for the Zoom room. This can be found in the invitation, or if you are only sent a link, it is the number that is present after the https://minnstate.zoom.us/j/. The number that follows the "/j/" is your Meeting ID, normally 10 digits long.
Zoom Calls You
You can also have the Zoom room call you. To use this option, click “Call Me” in the audio popup window and enter the phone number that you would like Zoom to call.
Switching audio
If you would like to switch your audio from the computer to a phone or vice versa, click on the arrow to the right of the Mute button in the bottom menu bar and select Switch to Phone, or Switch to Computer.
One Tap Mobile
If you have an invite generated by Zoom, and want to join a meeting, there will be a section in the invitation labeled “one tap mobile”. Clicking that link will dial into the Zoom room and include the Meeting ID #, allowing you to go directly into the meeting room.
Good Audio Etiquette
Here are some tips for good audio etiquette:
- Be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes it is easy to over look some of the sounds that a microphone can pick up, like a neighbor’s dog or your roommates’ noise in the kitchen.
- Use earbuds or a headset, if possible. Feedback occurs when your microphone picks up sound waves from the speakers, creating a positive feedback loop. Using earbuds or a headset is the easiest way to prevent feedback from occurring.
- With Zoom active, you can mute yourself and then when you wish to talk, press space bar to unmute, long enough to say what needs to be spoken, release the space bar and you are muted again.
Join meeting by using the Meeting ID
If you have Zoom installed on your device, you can open Zoom, click on “Join a Meeting,” and enter the ten-digit meeting id. This will take you directly to the Zoom room.