Tech Tip: Muting Participants in Zoom

Lise Gazzillo

This month’s Tech Tip comes from a Library staff member that would like to know how to mute participants in Zoom. If you would like to suggest next month’s Tech Tip please contact Lise Gazzillo at Lise.Gazzillo@yale.edu.

How To Mute Participants in Zoom

In order to mute participants in Zoom you need to either be the host or cohost of a meeting. As the host or cohost of a meeting, you can mute one, or all participants. The benefit of muting participants allows the speaker to have center stage while also minimizing distraction from audio feedback. There are several methods to mute participants. The first is through the Participants Panel.

To begin, select the “Manage Participants” button found on the menu bar in Zoom. This will launch the Participants Panel.

Using the Zoom menubar to manage your participants
Figure 1: Using the Zoom menu bar to launch the Participants Panel.

The Participants Panel will allow you to select a specific participant to mute. To mute a specific participant, hover over the participant’s name and the “Mute” button will appear. Select the “Mute” button to turn off the participant’s audio. Once “Mute” has been selected, the button changes to “Unmute” next to the participant’s name, see Figure 2 for illustration.

Screenshot of using the Zoom Participants Panel to Mute/Unmute participants
Figure 2: Using the Zoom Participants Panel to Mute/Unmute participants. Screen shot illustrates several ways to mute participants.
Dialog Box for allowing participants to unmute themselves should they need to speak later in the meeting.
Figure 3: Dialog Box for allowing participants to unmute themselves should they need to speak later in the meeting.

Another option to choose from is to turn all participants mute by selecting “Mute All ” from the buttons at the bottom of the Participants Panel. Once you turn this option on you will be prompted by a dialog box with a checkbox for allowing participants to unmute themselves. It is important to enable this checkbox to allow the participant to turn their audio back on should they plan to talk or present, see Figure 3 for illustration.

Also from the Participants Panel, you have the option of muting participants upon entry of the meeting by selecting the “More” button menu at the bottom of the Participants Panel, see Figure 2 for illustration. Choosing this option will automatically mute participants as they enter the meeting relieving the host from monitoring participants as they enter. This option can be toggled on and off by using the same method.

The final way to set participants to mute is done outside the Participants Panel when you are setting up your Zoom Meeting. While logged into Zoom, scroll down the Meetings Setting’s page and toggle the button to the right to turn on the “Automatically mute participants as the enter the meeting” option, see Figure 4 for illustration. This will automatically mute participants as they enter the meeting.

Host's Meeting Options to allow participants to enter a meeting muted.
Figure 4: The “Mute participants automatically” option from the Meeting Settings screen.

We hope this will help you navigate the many useful features Zoom has to offer to meeting participants and hosts. If you have any ideas for a future Tech Tip, please send your requests or tips to Lise Gazzillo at Lise.Gazzillo@Yale.edu.

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