Zoom offers several levels of meeting control: Host, Alternative Host, and Co-host. Understanding their differences helps you choose the right role for each participant.
Important Note: To receive Host, Alternative Host, or Co-Host privileges, you must sign in to Zoom using your JHED ID. Otherwise, these roles will not be assigned when you join the meeting.
| Feature/Action | Host | Alternative Host | Co-Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| When it's Assigned | When joining the meeting | When scheduling the meeting | During the meeting |
| How it's Assigned | Automatically when you join, if the meeting is scheduled in your account | Added in meeting settings | Promoted by Host |
| Can Start Meeting |
✅ Always |
✅ Can start if Host is absent |
🚫 Must wait for Host to start |
| Admit Participants from Waiting Room | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Manage Participants (mute, rename, remove) | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Share Screen/Manage Screen Sharing | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Manage Breakout Rooms | ✅ |
✅ (once meeting is started and acting as Host) |
✅ |
| Assign Additional Co-Hosts | ✅ | ✅ |
✅ (once meeting is started and promoted to Co-Host) |
Use Case Scenarios
| Scenario | Recommended Role | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| You want a co-instructor to start the meeting if you're running late. | Alternative Host | Allows them to start the meeting without you |
| You want help moderating the chat or managing breakout rooms. | Co-Host | Provides permissions to manage meeting without granting start privileges |
| You want live support of your event from support staff. | Alternative Host | Allows full meeting control, including starting the meeting early for audio/visual checks |
| You want to enable screen sharing only for presenters | Co-Hosts | Allows presenters to share screen while disabling screen sharing for participants |
Quick Summary
- Host: Primary meeting owner. Full control, can start/end meetings.
- Alternative Host: Designated backup. Can start and manage meeting if Host cannot.
- Co-Host: Support role during meeting. Helps manage participants but no start/end permissions.
Features Only Available to Host
Some features and settings can only be enabled or adjusted by the meeting Host. Examples include:
- Assigning Co-Hosts
- Assigning closed captioning
- Starting live streaming
- Ending meeting for all participants
- Changing certain meeting-level settings mid-meeting.
If you have questions about Zoom roles or would like help with your meeting or event, please reach out to our help desk: cmtshelp@jhu.edu.