How to Join Zoom by Phone

Zoom is a cloud-based platform that has revolutionized the way companies organize meetings. There is a free version designed for personal use, but essentially Zoom operates by selling subscriptions to smaller or larger companies.

Its primary focus is to take video conferencing to the next level, making all the transitions in audio and video form effortless. In that respect, Zoom has thought of everything. From desktop apps, mobile apps, Zoom phone, and even joining in by traditional telephone. In this article, you’ll find full details of how to join a Zoom meeting by phone.

Joining a Zoom Meeting by Traditional Phone

You might wonder how Zoom supports connections with traditional phones or landlines. Well, Zoom is entirely cloud-based and very sophisticated software that can support large meetings. That’s precisely why it’s good to have all of the connection options on the table.

If you don’t have an internet connection, or for some reason you don’t have the option to use a smartphone or a computer, you can dial into a Zoom meeting from a landline phone. The process is actually quite simple.

How to Join a Zoom Meeting With a Landline

To join a Zoom meeting using a landline phone, follow these steps:

1. Open the invite link (usually sent to you by email).
2. Locate the phone number you need to dial (these vary based on your location). If you don’t see the phone number nearest you, visit this website to locate the one that best fits your geographical area. Call that number.
3. Input your meeting ID when prompted, then click pound (#).
   
4. When prompted input your Participant’s ID if one is available. Otherwise, click pound (#).
5. Type in the meeting passcode if one is required. Then click pound (#).
   

Depending on the host’s settings, you should automatically gain admission to the meeting. But if not, they will have to click ‘Admit’ when your phone number appears at the top of their screen in Zoom.

Zoom’s Meeting Controls

Now that you’re in the meeting, you’ll need to know your controls. When you join a Zoom meeting on the app, you’ll have a plethora of controls. These allow you to mute yourself, hide your video, and more. But, you won’t have all of those with a landline. Instead, you can use these:

• *6 – Mute or Unmute yourself.
• *9 – Alert the host that you’d like to speak (the raise your hand function).

If your phone has a ‘Mute’ option, you can use that instead of the numeric code.

What To Do If You Can’t Join

There are a number of reasons you may be unable to join a Zoom meeting via landline. While the process is normally very simple, there are a few things on the host’s end that can cause an issue.

Assuming you’re certain you’ve called the right phone number, entered the right Meeting ID, and password, the problem is likely in the meeting’s settings.

Check the Audio Settings

When the host first creates a meeting, there are a lot of options to sift through. One of those options allows users to join the meeting via phone. Here’s how to turn that on:

1. Go to the Zoom website on your web browser.
2. Click on ‘My Account’ in the upper right corner.
   
3. Click ‘Settings’ on the menu to the left.
   
4. Scroll down and check the bubble next to ‘Both.’ Then, click ‘Save’ at the bottom.
   

Now, the Participant can attempt to join the meeting again.

Allow Particpants to Join From the Right Country

Meeting hosts can select which countries particpants can join from. Following the steps above, select ‘Edit’ under the ‘Audio’ section. Then, select the country where your participant is located.

Try a Different Phone Number

If you’ve dialed in using one of the phone numbers near you and you can’t join, try to dial one of the other phone numbers. Use this list to find another one.

What Is the Meeting ID?

The meeting ID is the number that’s used when you have a scheduled Zoom meeting. It’s usually nine digits for instant meetings, but it can be 10 or 11 as well when you’re scheduling a Personal meeting. The instant meetings ID ceases to be valid the moment the meeting is over.

But there’s also the non-recurring ID, which expires after 30 days after the meeting took place if it’s not recorded. If you restart the meeting within those 30 days, it will be valid for another 30 days.

What Is the Host Key?

This is a PIN that the host of the meeting uses to control the Zoom meeting. It’s a 6-digit number, and you can edit or see your host key in your Zoom profile. You’ll also need this PIN when you want to start Cloud recording the meeting.

Zoom Mobile App

One of the simplest ways to join a Zoom meeting is by using your smartphone device. All you have to do is download the latest version of Zoom from Play Store or App Store to start using the app. You can expect the best possible video and audio quality, and it even has a safe driving mode that you can use in your car.

You can also share audio, audio and video, and you can share your screen. The mobile app and the desktop version are very similar, with only a few minor differences. For example, the mobile app doesn’t support launching polls or pausing your current sharing screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some more answers to your questions about Zoom.

How can I change my name if I join by phone?

Unfortunately, you’ll need to have access to the Zoom meeting via a computer or application to change your name from just your phone number. However, it is easy to do once in.

Click on ‘Particpants’ at the bottom of the Zoom meeting. Then, click on ‘More’ next to the users’ name on the right side. Next, click ‘Rename.’ Type the name you’d prefer and click ‘Save.’

Can I hide Participant’s phone numbers?

Absolutely! Hosts can change their settings to hide the full phone number of participants. Following the steps above to access the Meeting’s settings, toggle the switch on to partially hide phone numbers. Doing this ensures the privacy of everyone in the meeting.

Zoom Brings Old and New Technology Together

Traditional phones, however obsolete, are still available. Some consider them more reliable and refuse to use anything else. According to Zoom, they’re always welcome to participate in meetings.

With certain limitations, they can partake in webinars, lessons, or big corporate meetings. This feature comes in handy when you’re traveling or cut off from the internet due to bad weather. Just remember that the Zoom Phone is an all-encompassing tool, and the mobile app convenient too.

When was the last time you used a traditional phone for anything? Do you prefer the Zoom Phone or the Zoom app? Let us know in the comments section below.