Use a Host Key and/or Alternative Hosts in Zoom

Host Key

Using a Host Key in Zoom is a way to make sure your Zoom meetings can proceed even if you aren’t there to start them. To find your 6-digit Host Key:

1. Sign in to the Colby Zoom portal using your Colby credentials.
2. Click on Profile in the left-hand menu.
3. Scroll down to the Meeting section.
4. Look for Host Key. You can click the "eye" icon to reveal it or click Edit to change it to a number that is easy for you to remember.

How your colleagues can use it: When they join with your meeting link, they should click on the Participants button at the bottom of the Zoom window, then click Claim Host. Zoom will then ask for the 6-digit key.

Alternative Hosts

If you have specific colleagues who will be stepping in for you, add them as Alternative Hosts. This allows them to start the meeting automatically without needing a key.

1. Go to your Meetings list in the Zoom portal and click Edit on this specific meeting.
2. Scroll to the very bottom and click Show next to Options.
3. In the Alternative Hosts box, just type in their Colby email addresses.

Now the Zoom meeting "recognizes" them as hosts the moment they sign in.