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: An alternative host must be a licensed user on the same Zoom account and must join while signed in to the account designated by the meeting host. The host assigns co-hosts during the meeting; a co-host cannot be designated in advance.
| Feature/Action | Host | Alternative Host | Co-Host |
|---|---|---|---|
| When Assigned | When the meeting is scheduled in their account | By the host before the meeting; must be licensed on the same Zoom account | By the host during the meeting |
| Main Controls | Full meeting controls, including assigning co-hosts and ending the meeting for everyone | Can start and manage the meeting; controls may change if the original host joins | Can manage participants and breakout rooms, but cannot assign co-hosts or end the meeting for everyone |
| Can Start the Meeting | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
| Admit Participants from the Waiting Room | ✅ |
✅ While acting as host or co-host |
✅ |
| Manage Participants (Mute, Rename, Remove) | ✅ |
✅ While acting as host or co-host |
✅ |
| Share Screen / Manage Screen Sharing | ✅ |
✅ While acting as host or co-host |
✅ |
| Manage Breakout Rooms | ✅ |
✅ While acting as host or co-host |
✅ |
| Assign Additional Co-Hosts | ✅ |
✅ Only while acting as 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 presenters to share while limiting screen sharing for other participants. | Host or co-host | Either can set Who can share to Host only; hosts and co-hosts can still share. |
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.
Controls Reserved for the Current Host
Only the current meeting host can promote a participant to host or co-host, designate someone to enter closed captions, start a live stream, or end the meeting for everyone. An alternative host who starts the meeting has host controls. A co-host can manage participants and breakout rooms but cannot use these host-only controls.
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.