Zoom Meeting Roles: Host, Co-Host, Alternative Host, and Participant

Questions

  • What is the difference between a Zoom host and a co-host?
  • What can a co-host do in a Zoom meeting?
  • What is an alternative host in Zoom?
  • Can a co-host start a Zoom meeting without the host?
  • Can participants share their screen in a Zoom meeting?
  • Who can remove someone from a Zoom meeting?
  • Who can start or stop a cloud recording?
  • How do I assign a co-host during a Zoom meeting?

Environment

This article applies to all Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students participating in Zoom meetings. Role permissions apply in the Zoom desktop app and mobile app. Some features marked with an asterisk (*) can be disabled by the host.

Resolution

Jump to a section:

Participating Managing Participants Recording Role Notes

Features marked * can be restricted by the host — participants may or may not have access depending on host settings.

Participating in the Meeting

Feature Host Co-Host / Alt. Host Participant
Start the meeting ✓ See notes below  
Mute / unmute themselves* ✓ ✓ ✓
Start / stop their own video* ✓ ✓ ✓
View the participants list ✓ ✓ ✓
Share screen ✓ ✓ ✓*
Allow entry from waiting room ✓ ✓  
Request or give remote control ✓ ✓ ✓
In-meeting chat ✓ ✓ ✓
Save in-meeting chat ✓ ✓  
Create or edit polls ✓    
Launch polls ✓ ✓  
Answer polls     ✓
Assign a participant to type closed captions ✓    
Enter closed captions ✓* ✓* ✓*
Use call-out to join audio by phone ✓ ✓ ✓
End the meeting for all ✓    
Reactions and non-verbal feedback ✓ ✓ ✓

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Managing Participants

Feature Host Co-Host / Alt. Host Participant
Mute or unmute participants ✓ ✓  
Stop a participant's video ✓ ✓  
Ask a participant to start video ✓ ✓  
Spotlight a video ✓ ✓  
Promote a participant to host or co-host ✓    
Change who attendees can chat with ✓ ✓  
Remove attendees from the meeting ✓ ✓  
Put participants on hold ✓ ✓  
Rename participants ✓ ✓  
Invite others to join ✓ ✓ ✓
Mute all / mute on entry controls ✓ ✓  
Assign participants to breakout rooms ✓    

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Recording

Feature Host Co-Host / Alt. Host Participant
Start cloud recording ✓ ✓  
Start local recording (saves to computer) ✓ ✓ ✓*
Allow or prevent a participant from starting local recording ✓ ✓  

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Role Notes

Alternative Hosts

An alternative host can start the meeting using the meeting ID or the link from the invitation email if the primary host has not yet joined. The meeting will not appear in the alternative host's upcoming meetings list in the desktop app or mobile app — they must use the direct link.

Co-Hosts

Co-hosts cannot start a meeting scheduled by the host — they can only join after the host has started it. Co-hosts cannot be assigned before a meeting; the host must promote a participant to co-host once the meeting is underway. If you need someone to start the meeting independently, assign them as an alternative host when scheduling instead.

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Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

  • Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
  • Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
  • In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
  • Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

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