How to Mute and Unmute on Zoom: Yourself, Others & Mute All

This is an independent guide. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Zoom Video Communications, Inc.

You're presenting quarterly numbers to the leadership team. Everything is going smoothly until a colleague's dog starts barking at full volume. Then someone else's kid asks for a snack. The meeting derails for 30 seconds while everyone scrambles to find their mute button.

Knowing how to mute and unmute on Zoom quickly is one of those small skills that saves every meeting. Whether you need to silence yourself, mute a noisy participant as a host, or mute everyone at once, this guide walks you through every method on desktop, mobile, and phone.

You'll also learn keyboard shortcuts, push-to-talk, troubleshooting fixes, and when to mute in the first place.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Muting on Zoom

Skip the mouse entirely. These shortcuts work even while you're sharing your screen:

• Windows: Press Alt + A to toggle mute on and off
• Mac: Press Command + Shift + A to toggle mute on and off

Push-to-Talk: Temporary Unmute

Need to say something quick without fumbling with the mute button? Hold down the spacebar while you're muted. Zoom temporarily unmutes you for as long as you hold the key. Release the spacebar and you're muted again.

This works like a walkie-talkie. It's perfect for short responses like "yes," "agreed," or "can you repeat that?" during a busy meeting.

To enable push-to-talk, go to Settings > Audio and check "Press and hold SPACE key to temporarily unmute."

Mute Before Joining

You can start every meeting on mute. Go to Settings > Audio and check "Mute my microphone when joining a meeting." This prevents that awkward moment when you join a call mid-conversation and everyone hears your background noise.

If you're also trying to change your display name in Zoom before joining, do that in Settings > Profile.

Unmuting a Zoom Call on Phone

If you're muted and someone asks you to speak, just tap the microphone icon in the bottom-left corner. If the toolbar disappeared, tap anywhere on the screen first to bring it back, then tap "Unmute."

On both iPhone and Android, you can also unmute from the notification bar while Zoom runs in the background. Swipe down, find the Zoom notification, and tap the microphone icon directly.

For more Zoom tricks on mobile, check out our guide on how to record on Zoom as a participant.

Mute Participants on Entry

Stop background noise before it starts. Schedule your meeting with "Mute participants upon entry" enabled:

1. Go to the Zoom web portal and open Settings > Meeting
2. Turn on "Mute all participants when they join a meeting"
3. Participants join silently and unmute when they're ready to speak

This is especially useful for large meetings (20+ people), webinars, or any meeting where most people are listening rather than presenting.

Can You Mute Someone on Zoom Without Being the Host?

No. Only hosts and co-hosts can mute other participants. If you're a regular participant and someone's mic is causing noise, your options are:

• Send a chat message asking them to mute
• Use the "Raise Hand" feature to signal the host. Learn how to raise your hand in Zoom if you're not sure how.
• Ask the host verbally to mute the person

The host can also promote you to co-host, which gives you the ability to mute others.

How to Mute and Unmute on Zoom Phone Calls

If you dialed into a Zoom meeting by phone instead of using the app, you don't have a visual mute button. Instead, use your phone's keypad:

• Press *6 to toggle your mute on and off
• You'll hear a prompt confirming "You are now muted" or "You are now unmuted"

This works on any phone, whether you're calling from a landline, cell phone, or VoIP system. The host can also mute phone participants from the Participants panel just like any other attendee.

For hosts running a meeting where multiple people joined by phone, the keypad command *9 lets phone participants raise their hand to signal they want to speak.

Zoom Mute Not Working? Common Issues and Fixes

You click the mute button, but people can still hear you. Or you click unmute and nothing happens. Here's what to check.

Imagine this: you're in a client call, you hit unmute to answer a question, and there's total silence on your end. The client says "We can't hear you." You start frantically clicking buttons. Don't panic. Work through these fixes.

1. Check your audio device. Click the small arrow next to the microphone icon and verify the correct microphone is selected. If you plugged in headphones after joining, Zoom may still be using your laptop mic.

2. Check OS permissions. On Mac, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and make sure Zoom has access. On Windows, go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone.

3. Close other apps using your mic. Apps like Discord, Teams, or voice recorders can grab exclusive access to your microphone. Close them and try again.

4. Restart Zoom audio. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon and select "Leave Computer Audio," then click "Join Audio" to reconnect. This resets the audio connection without leaving the meeting.

5. Update Zoom. Outdated versions can cause audio bugs. Click your profile picture in Zoom, then "Check for Updates." Install the latest version from the Zoom Download Center.

6. Test your microphone. Go to Settings > Audio > Test Mic in Zoom. Speak into your mic and check if the input level bar moves. If it doesn't move, the issue is with your hardware or OS settings, not Zoom.

If your camera is also giving you trouble, our guide on how to stop the camera following you in Zoom covers common video fixes.

Zoom Mute Etiquette: When to Mute and When to Unmute

You're working from a coffee shop, laptop open, headphones on. Your team's standup starts. You don't think twice about staying unmuted because your headphones have noise cancellation, right? Wrong. Your colleagues can still hear the espresso machine, the barista calling orders, and the person at the next table having a loud phone conversation.

Here's a simple rule: mute yourself whenever you're not speaking. It sounds obvious, but 3 out of 4 meetings have at least one moment where background noise interrupts a speaker.

Specific times to stay muted:

• Meetings with 5+ people. The more participants, the more ambient noise stacks up
• When you're eating, drinking, or typing. Mechanical keyboards are surprisingly loud
• In public spaces. Cafes, airports, coworking spaces with open floor plans
• During presentations. Let the presenter speak without accidental interruptions

When to unmute:

• Small team meetings (2-4 people). Staying unmuted makes the conversation feel more natural
• Brainstorming sessions. Quick back-and-forth is easier when everyone is unmuted
• When asked a direct question. Unmute before you answer so your first words aren't cut off

If you're a host, set expectations at the start: "Please stay muted unless you're speaking." It takes two seconds and saves every meeting from the "who has their mic on?" interruption.

For teams that want natural conversations without the mute toggle, spatial audio platforms let you hear only the people near you in a virtual space.

Other Guides & Useful Pages

• Muting and unmuting yourself in a Zoom meeting (Zoom Support)
• Muting participants in a meeting (Zoom Support)
• Zoom keyboard shortcuts and hotkeys (Zoom Support)

Mute and Unmute on Zoom: Quick Recap

Here's everything you need to remember about muting and unmuting on Zoom:

• Desktop: Click the mic icon or press Alt + A (Windows) / Command + Shift + A (Mac)
• Mobile: Tap the mic icon in the bottom-left corner
• Phone dial-in: Press *6 on your keypad
• Host mute all: Open Participants panel, click "Mute All"
• Push-to-talk: Hold spacebar for temporary unmute

The mute button is the single most used control in Zoom meetings. Master it and you'll run smoother, quieter calls. Set yourself to mute on entry, use push-to-talk for quick responses, and encourage your team to stay muted when they're not speaking.

If constant mute toggling feels like a chore, that's because traditional video calls weren't designed for natural conversation. Spatial audio tools let your team talk the way they would in a real office, without anyone needing to reach for a mute button.

Zoom is a trademark of Zoom Video Communications, Inc. This site is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Zoom Video Communications, Inc.