With Zoom's rise in popularity lately, there's also been an increase in videos showing the often hilarious results of what happens when the app isn't muted. However, those who have experienced some of the gags might not find them as funny, especially during a class or a meeting.
There are many scenarios where your audio should not be available to other people in the chat. You might want to mute Zoom for a minute or two, or in other cases, mute the entire conversation – but how do you do that? In this article, we'll show you how to disable zoom on different devices and operating systems to ensure that all conference participants hear only what you want them to hear.
How to Disable Zoom on iPhone
If you want to mute yourself on Zoom using the iPhone app, the process is very simple. You'll need to tap your iPhone screen while you're in the app. This will show you different options at the bottom of the screen.
The Mute option is the first on the left – tap it and your sound will be muted. When you're ready to resume the conversation, you'll see an Unmute icon in the same spot. Tap it and everyone in the party will be able to hear you again.
How to Disable Zoom on Android
The Zoom app works pretty much the same whether you're using it on an iPhone or an Android device. This means that the process is the same as described for disabling Zoom on iPhone. In addition, let's explain how to mute others on Zoom. You can only do this if you are the host of the meeting. There are two methods to do this:
1. Mute Everyone on Zoom Call
In the menu that appears when you tap your screen during a call, you will see the Participants option. Tap it to enter the list of people included in the call. Below the list of participants, you will see the Mute option at the very bottom of the screen. When you tap on it, a pop-up window will appear where you can confirm the action. Also, in the pop-up window, you will see the option checked for Allow participants to wake up. If you uncheck this box, other participants will not be able to unmute their audio for the conversation.
2. Mute Individual Participants
If you want to mute only certain people on the call, you will need to access the Participants page again. Once there, tap on the name of the person you want to mute and choose the Audio Mute option. You can turn them back on whenever you want by choosing Unmute from the same menu.
How to Disable Zoom on a Windows Device
For Windows smartphones using Zoom, the process will be the same as for iPhone and Android users. However, if you are using a Windows PC, there are different options. Zoom is designed for computer users, so the app offers a range of keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys configured for these operating systems.
The default shortcut to disable zoom in Windows is Alt+A. You can customize the shortcuts by going to Settings in your Zoom client. From there, click Keyboard Shortcuts and you'll see the full list with the ability to edit each individual shortcut.
Other useful keyboard commands for Zoom in Windows include:
- Start or stop video: Alt + V
- Switch to active speaker: Alt + F1
- Mute and unmute audio for everyone except host: Alt+M
- Start or stop screen sharing: Alt + Shift + S
There are plenty of other options available through hotkeys, and any avid Zoom user can get familiar with the controls. Shortcuts are listed in this Zoom support article.
How to Disable Zoom on Mac
As was the case for a Windows PC, keyboard shortcuts can also be used to disable Zoom on a Mac. The same wide array of commands is available on the Mac, the only difference being the default keys.
To disable zoom on a Mac, you will need to press Command + Control + A. If you want to change the combination from the default setting, you can do so by following the same method described for Windows devices.
Some of the other keyboard shortcuts for Zoom on Mac are:
- Start or stop video: Command + Shift + V
- Switch view to active speaker: Command + Shift + W
- Mute and unmute audio for everyone except the call host: Command+Control+M
- Start or stop screen sharing: Command + Shift + S
How to Disable Zoom on iPad
How to mute your Zoom on an iPad depends on whether you're using the device alone or with a keyboard.
If there is no keyboard, you will have the same options as for an Android and an iPhone. The only difference will be that the first menu that appears when you tap the screen appears at the top rather than the bottom of the screen.
If you use a keyboard with your iPad, Mac shortcuts will also be available on your device.
Additional FAQ
How do I mute myself in Zoom?
The methods are very simple and you should have no problem muting your sound in Zoom if you follow the steps outlined for your preferred operating system or platform.
Can I mute a specific participant in Zoom?
Yes you can. If you want to mute a single person during the call, you will need to access the Participants page again. Once there, tap on the name of the person you want to mute and choose the Audio Mute option. You can turn them back on whenever you want, by choosing Unmute Audio from the same menu.
Zoom on
With the specific circumstances of the current year, group calling apps, such as Zoom, have become invaluable for personal, educational, and professional purposes. The convenient feature of conference calls can bring groups of friends, peers, and associates together, in an age when group meetings aren't exactly that easy to organize.
Since everyone has the ability to bring their work and social life right to their home, learning how to handle app calls effectively is essential. Now that you've learned how to turn off Zoom, whether you're on a desktop, tablet, laptop, or smartphone, you can join calls with confidence. There will be no chance of an accident, where others can hear anything unrelated to the call, and you won't miss anything important around you due to conference chatter. We've shown you how to mute the sound in Zoom – now it's up to you to put it to good use.
