👥 Roles & Permissions

Complete breakdown of every role in Zoom Meetings and Webinars, with detailed permission mappings.

💬 Meeting Roles

👨‍💼 Host (Meeting)

Host Capabilities

Host-Only Permissions (Cannot Delegate)

Permission	Description
End meeting for all	Terminate the entire meeting
Make another host	Transfer host role
Assign alternative host	Done before meeting starts
Enable/disable features	Core meeting settings

👥 Co-Host (Meeting)

Co-Host Capabilities

How to Make Someone Co-Host

👤 Alternative Host (Meeting)

What Alternative Hosts Can Do

Alternative Host Requirements

Requirement	Details
Must be licensed	Pro, Business, or Enterprise
Same account	Must be in your Zoom account
Scheduling privilege	Can also be granted this way
Added by email	Enter their Zoom email

Alternative Host vs Co-Host

Feature	Alternative Host	Co-Host
Can start meeting	✅	❌
Set before meeting	✅	❌
Set during meeting	❌	✅
Becomes host if starts	✅	❌
Multiple allowed	✅	✅

👤 Participant (Meeting)

Default Participant Permissions

Host-Controlled Participant Permissions

Permission	Host Can Control
Screen sharing	Allow none, host only, or all
Chat	Everyone, host only, or disabled
Unmute self	Allow or require host approval
Rename self	Allow or prevent
Start video	Allow or prevent
Annotation	Allow or prevent

🎪 Webinar Roles

🎤 Panelist (Webinar)

Panelist Capabilities

Panelist Join Flow

👁️ Attendee (Webinar)

Attendee Capabilities

Attendee Privacy

What Attendees See	What Attendees Don't See
✅ Host & panelists	❌ Other attendees
✅ Shared content	❌ Attendee list
✅ Q&A (if public)	❌ Attendee count
✅ Chat (if enabled)	❌ Private chats

📊 Complete Permission Matrix

Meeting Permissions

Action	Host	Co-Host	Alt Host	Participant
Start meeting	✅	❌	✅	❌
End meeting	✅	❌	✅*	❌
Mute/unmute all	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Stop participant video	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Remove participant	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Lock meeting	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Enable waiting room	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Manage breakout rooms	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Start recording	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Launch polls	✅	✅	✅*	❌
Make co-host	✅	❌	✅*	❌
Make host	✅	❌	❌	❌
Share screen	✅	✅	✅	✅**
Unmute self	✅	✅	✅	✅**

*If alternative host started the meeting (becomes host) **If host allows

Webinar Permissions

Action	Host	Co-Host	Panelist	Attendee
Start webinar	✅	❌	❌	❌
End webinar	✅	❌	❌	❌
Broadcast (start)	✅	✅	❌	❌
Mute panelists	✅	✅	❌	❌
Remove attendees	✅	✅	❌	❌
Start recording	✅	✅	❌	❌
Launch polls	✅	✅	❌	❌
Manage Q&A	✅	✅	❌	❌
Answer Q&A	✅	✅	✅	❌
Promote to panelist	✅	✅	❌	❌
Demote panelist	✅	✅	❌	❌
Talk (unmute self)	✅	✅	✅	❌
Turn on video	✅	✅	✅	❌
Share screen	✅	✅	✅	❌
Submit Q&A	✅	✅	✅	✅
Raise hand	✅	✅	✅	✅
React	✅	✅	✅	✅

🔄 Role Transitions

Meeting Role Changes

Webinar Role Changes

⚙️ Setting Up Roles

Before Meeting/Webinar

Role	How to Assign
Alternative Host	Add email when scheduling
Panelist	Add in webinar settings, sends invite
Co-Host	Cannot pre-assign, only during meeting

During Meeting/Webinar

Role	How to Assign
Co-Host	Participants panel → More → Make Co-Host
Host	Participants panel → More → Make Host
Panelist	Attendees panel → More → Promote to Panelist

💡 Best Practices

For Meetings

For Webinars