Last Updated on May 8, 2025 by Micheal W S

Ever needed to gather friends for a virtual meeting, host a quick team brainstorm, or connect with family across the miles? Zoom has become our go-to virtual meeting room, and getting started is easier than you might think!

This guide will walk you through, step-by-step, how to create a Zoom meeting, generate that all-important Zoom meeting link, and invite others to join your virtual space. We’ll break down the process using simple language and relate it to everyday scenarios, so you’ll be a Zoom pro in no time.

First Things First: Getting Ready to Zoom

Before you can start creating meetings and sharing links, you’ll need to have Zoom installed on your device (computer, tablet, or smartphone) and have a Zoom account. Don’t worry, signing up is usually quick and free for basic use!

Scenario: Imagine you’re planning a surprise birthday video call for your best friend who lives in another country. The first thing you’d do is make sure you have Zoom ready on your phone or laptop.

Here’s how to get started:

1. Download Zoom:
   • On your computer: Go to the Zoom website (https://zoom.us/download) and download the “Zoom Client for Meetings.” Follow the installation instructions.
   • On your smartphone or tablet: Head to your device’s app store (Apple App Store for iOS or Google Play Store for Android) and search for “Zoom Cloud Meetings.” Download and install the app.
2. Create a Zoom Account:
   • Open the Zoom application (on your computer or mobile device).
   • Click on “Sign Up Free.”
   • You’ll be asked to enter your date of birth for verification.
   • Follow the prompts to enter your email address and create a password. You can also sign up using your Google or Facebook account for even quicker access.
   • Zoom will likely send a confirmation email to your provided address. Click the link in the email to activate your account.

Tip: Keep your Zoom app updated to ensure you have the latest features and security enhancements.

ALSO READ : How to Repost on TikTok

Method 1: Creating an Instant Zoom Meeting and Getting the Link

Sometimes, you need to start a meeting right away – like a quick huddle with your team to address an urgent issue or an impromptu video chat with a family member. Zoom’s “Instant Meeting” feature is perfect for this.

Scenario: Your study group needs to discuss a last-minute change to your project. You need to get everyone together online, fast!

Here’s how to create an instant meeting and get the Zoom meeting link:

1. Open the Zoom Application: Launch the Zoom app on your computer or mobile device and sign in to your account.
2. Start a New Meeting:
   • On your computer: You’ll usually see a prominent “New Meeting” button (often with an orange video camera icon). Click it.
   • On your mobile app: Look for a “New Meeting” button, often located with a “+” icon or a video camera icon. Tap it.
3. Your Meeting Starts: Zoom will immediately open a new meeting window. You’ll likely be asked if you want to join with computer audio. Click “Join with Computer Audio” (or the equivalent on your mobile device) so others can hear you.
4. Finding the Zoom Meeting Link (The Invitation URL): Now, how do you share this meeting with others?
   • On your computer:
     • Look for an “Invite” button in the meeting controls at the bottom of the window. Click it.
     • A pop-up window will appear. You’ll see several options. Look for a section that says “Invite Link” or similar.
     • Click the “Copy Link” button. This copies the unique URL for your meeting to your computer’s clipboard.
   • On your mobile app:
     • Tap the “Participants” button at the bottom of the screen.
     • On the Participants screen, you’ll usually see an “Invite” button. Tap it.
     • You’ll be presented with several ways to invite people, including “Copy Invite Link.” Tap this option to copy the link to your device’s clipboard.
5. Sharing the Link: Once you’ve copied the link, you can paste it into an email, a messaging app (like WhatsApp, Slack, or Facebook Messenger), or any other way you communicate with the people you want to join your meeting.

What the Zoom Meeting Link Looks Like: A typical Zoom meeting link will look something like this: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/1234567890 (the numbers will be unique to your meeting).

Method 2: Scheduling a Zoom Meeting for Later and Generating the Link

Often, you’ll want to plan your meetings in advance – for a scheduled online class, a weekly team meeting, or that planned birthday surprise. Zoom’s scheduling feature allows you to do just that and generate a meeting link ahead of time.

Scenario: You’re organizing a virtual book club meeting for next week. You want to send out the invitation with the Zoom link well in advance.

Here’s how to schedule a Zoom meeting and get the Zoom link:

1. Open the Zoom Application: Launch the Zoom app and sign in.
2. Go to the “Schedule” Option:
   • On your computer: Look for a “Schedule” button (often with a calendar icon). Click it.
   • On your mobile app: Tap the “Schedule” button, usually located with a calendar icon.
3. Set Up Your Meeting Details: A “Schedule Meeting” window will appear. Here, you’ll need to fill in the details of your meeting:
   • Topic: Give your meeting a clear and descriptive name (e.g., “Book Club Meeting – July,” “Team Project Update”).
   • Start: Choose the date and time you want your meeting to begin.
   • Duration: Select the estimated length of your meeting. Keep in mind that free Zoom accounts have a 40-minute limit for meetings with three or more participants.
   • Time Zone: Ensure the correct time zone is selected so everyone joins at the right time.
   • Recurring Meeting (Optional): If this is a meeting that will happen regularly (e.g., every Monday at 10 AM), check the “Recurring meeting” box and set the recurrence schedule.
   • Meeting ID: You have two options here:
     • Generate Automatically: Zoom will create a unique meeting ID for each scheduled meeting (recommended for security).
     • Personal Meeting ID (PMI): This is a static meeting ID that stays the same. It’s like your personal virtual meeting room. While convenient, it’s generally less secure for public meetings.
   • Passcode: For added security, Zoom usually requires a passcode for scheduled meetings. You can customize this or use the automatically generated one. Share this passcode along with the meeting link.
   • Waiting Room: Enabling the waiting room allows you to control who enters your meeting. Participants will wait in a virtual waiting area until you admit them. This is a good security practice.
   • Video: Choose whether you want the host and participants’ video to be on or off when they join the meeting. They can always change this later.
   • Audio: Select “Computer Audio” (or “Telephone and Computer Audio” if you want to allow participants to join via phone).
   • Calendar: Choose which calendar you want to add this meeting to (e.g., Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar). This will create a calendar event with the Zoom link.
   • Advanced Options (Click “Show” if available):
     • Enable join before host: Allows participants to join the meeting even if you haven’t started it yet. Use with caution for security reasons.
     • Mute participants upon entry: Useful for larger meetings to prevent initial noise.
     • Automatically record meeting on the local computer/in the cloud: If you need a recording of the meeting, you can enable this. Be sure to inform participants if you’re recording.
     • Approve or block entry for users from specific regions/countries: An advanced security feature.
4. Click “Save”: Once you’ve configured all the settings, click the “Save” button.
5. Getting the Zoom Meeting Link (The Invitation URL): After saving, you’ll usually see a summary of your scheduled meeting.
   • On your computer: You’ll often see an option to “Copy Invitation” or similar. Clicking this will copy the entire meeting invitation (including the link and passcode) to your clipboard. You can then paste this into an email or message. Alternatively, if you linked your calendar, the Zoom link will be included in the calendar event.
   • On your mobile app: After saving, you might see options to “Add to Calendar” or “Share.” Choose “Share” and then look for an option to copy the link or share via a specific app.

Understanding the Invitation: A typical Zoom meeting invitation will contain:

• The Zoom Meeting Link (Join URL): This is the clickable link participants will use to join the meeting.
• Meeting ID: A unique numerical identifier for the meeting.
• Passcode (if enabled): Participants will need to enter this if prompted.
• Dial-in numbers (if enabled): Phone numbers participants can call if they can’t join via the internet.
• Meeting Topic, Date, and Time.

Sharing Your Zoom Meeting Link Effectively

Now that you know how to create a Zoom meeting link, let’s talk about the best ways to share it with your intended audience.

Scenario: You’ve scheduled your book club meeting and now need to let everyone know how to join.

Here are some practical ways to share your Zoom meeting link:

• Email: This is a common and reliable method, especially for more formal meetings or when sending to a larger group. Include the meeting topic, date, time, and the Zoom link clearly in the email body. If there’s a passcode, make sure to include that as well.
• Messaging Apps (WhatsApp, Slack, etc.): For more informal gatherings or teams that use these platforms regularly, sharing the link directly in a group chat or private message is quick and easy.
• Calendar Invitations: If you scheduled the meeting through your calendar, the Zoom link is usually automatically included in the event details. Invite participants to the calendar event, and they’ll have all the necessary information.
• Social Media (with caution): If you’re hosting a public event, you can share the link on social media. However, be mindful of potential security risks and consider using a waiting room.
• Website or Online Forum: For webinars or online events, you can embed the Zoom link on your website or share it in relevant online forums.

Important Tips for Sharing:

• Double-check the link: Before sending, make sure you’ve copied the correct link.
• Include the passcode: If your meeting has a passcode, always share it along with the link.
• Provide clear instructions: Briefly explain what the meeting is about and what participants need to do (e.g., “Click the link at the scheduled time”).
• Consider the audience: Choose the sharing method that is most convenient for your participants.

Managing Your Zoom Meetings

Once your meeting is underway, here are a few basic controls you’ll want to be familiar with:

• Mute/Unmute: Control your microphone.
• Start/Stop Video: Turn your camera on or off.
• Participants: See who is in the meeting and manage them (e.g., mute/unmute others, remove participants, admit from the waiting room).
• Share Screen: Share your computer screen to present documents, websites, or applications.
• Chat: Send text messages to everyone or individual participants.
• Record: Start or stop recording the meeting (if you have recording permissions).
• End Meeting: As the host, you can end the meeting for everyone or leave the meeting and allow others to continue.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go exactly as planned. Here are a few common issues and how to address them:

• Participants can’t join: Double-check that they are using the correct link and have entered the passcode (if required) correctly. Ensure the meeting has started if you haven’t enabled “join before host.”
• Audio or video problems: Ask participants to check their microphone and camera settings within Zoom. Ensure their device’s audio and video are turned on.
• Meeting ID is invalid: Make sure participants are using the complete and correct meeting ID. It’s usually a 10 or 11-digit number.

Conclusion: Connecting Made Easy

Creating a Zoom meeting and sharing the link is a straightforward process that opens up a world of virtual connection. Whether it’s an instant get-together or a pre-planned event, Zoom provides the tools you need to bring people together online. By following these simple steps and understanding the different ways to create a Zoom meeting, create a Zoom meeting link, and invite others, you’ll be well-equipped to host successful and engaging virtual meetings for any occasion. So go ahead, schedule that call, share that link, and start connecting!