Setting up a Zoom meeting right now via the Desktop Application:

1. Open the Zoom application 
2. Click on the "New Meeting" icon.
3. A window with your computer's camera view should appear (usually looking at yourself). 
4. A smaller window should also appear that asks how you would like your audio to be connected to the meeting. Click "join with computer audio." Note that it is also possible for you or any other participants to join via phone. If you have difficulty with the audio, there is also an option to "test speaker and microphone." 
5. You can include participants in a few different ways:
   1. Invite via Zoom invitation: by hovering over the screen, the bottom menu has the option to "invite+". A small window appears and allows you to type names (or emails, either one) into the search box under "contacts." All members of the Harvard community should appear here when you search. If you cannot find someone, search via only first name or only last name (whichever is more distinct) and see if the person appears as one of the options listed. Select the participant's name and click "invite" at the bottom. If their Zoom application is open, they will receive a desktop message. In addtion, any "invited" participants will also be sent an automatic Zoom invitation via email (N.B. there is sometimes a slight delay before the message is delivered).
   2. Send a weblink / URL: Hover over the Zoom meeting screen (most likely the one showing your own image), the bottom menu has the option to "invite+". When you select this, a small window appears. At the bottom of the window, there is an option to "copy URL"-- this feature automatically adds a weblink to your clipboard. You can send this link to anyone that you would like to join the meeting by pasting the link (paste by right-clicking and selecting "paste" or by using ctrl+V on a PC. For a Mac, use command (⌘)+V) into an email, text, etc. 
   3. Invite via personalized email: Hover over the Zoom meeting screen (most likely the one showing your own image), the bottom menu has the option to "invite+". When you select this, a small window appears. At the bottom of the window, there is an option to "copy invitation"-- this feature automatically adds detailed instructions for joining the meeting to your clipboard. You can send this information plus a personalized email to anyone that you would like to join the meeting by pasting it into an email (paste by right-clicking and selecting "paste" or by using ctrl+V on a PC. For a Mac, use command (⌘)+V on).
6. Once someone accepts your invitation by either clicking on the URL you have sent them or "accepting" a Zoom meeting via the desktop application, they should appear in the same viewing window you had open. You should be able to hear the participant unless a little red microphone with a slash through it appears in their window. In this case, ask them to turn their microphone on. 
7. When you are ready to close the meeting, simply close the Zoom window and you should receive a message asking if you would like to "end meeting for all" or "leaving meeting." Leaving the meeting will allow the remaining participants to continue without you. 

For more information about adding multiple participants or troubleshooting the microphone, please return to the main FAQs.

Setting up a Zoom meeting right now on the online platform (in your browser at zoom.harvard.us:

1. Open your web browser (Chrome is likely to be best) and navigate to: https://harvard.zoom.us/
2. Click "host" a meeting if you are initiating it. 
3. If you have previously set up Zoom for the desktop, the computer may try to open it, but you can bypass this feature and join in the web browser. Ignore or "cancel" the pop-up that asks "Open in Zoom?" At the bottom right of the page, there is text with a link that says "If you cannot download or run the application, start from your browser." Click the link.
4. In the same window, your computer's camera view should appear (usually looking at yourself). 
5. A smaller window should also appear that asks how you would like your audio to be connected to the meeting. Click "join with computer audio." 
6. You can include participants in a few different ways
   1. Invite via Zoom invitation: by hovering over the screen, the bottom menu has the option to "invite+". A small window appears and allows you to type names (or emails, either one) into the search box under "contacts." All members of the Harvard community should appear here when you search. If you cannot find someone, search via only first name or only last name (whichever is more distinct) and see if the person appears as one of the options listed. Select the participant's name and click "invite" at the bottom. If their Zoom application is open, they will receive a desktop message. In addtion, any "invited" participants will also be sent an automatic Zoom invitation via email (N.B. there is sometimes a slight delay before the message is delivered).
   2. Send a weblink / URL: Hover over the Zoom meeting screen (most likely the one showing your own image), the bottom menu has the option to "invite+". When you select this, a small window appears. At the bottom of the window, there is an option to "copy URL"-- this feature automatically adds a weblink to your clipboard. You can send this link to anyone that you would like to join the meeting by pasting the link (paste by right-clicking and selecting "paste" or by using ctrl+V on a PC. For a Mac, use command (⌘)+V) into an email, text, etc. 
   3. Invite via personalized email: Hover over the Zoom meeting screen (most likely the one showing your own image), the bottom menu has the option to "invite+". When you select this, a small window appears. At the bottom of the window, there is an option to "copy invitation"-- this feature automatically adds detailed instructions for joining the meeting to your clipboard. You can send this information plus a personalized email to anyone that you would like to join the meeting by pasting it into an email (paste by right-clicking and selecting "paste" or by using ctrl+V on a PC. For a Mac, use command (⌘)+V on).
7. Once someone accepts your invitation by either clicking on the URL you have sent them or "accepting" a Zoom meeting via the desktop application, they should appear in the same viewing window you had open. You should be able to hear the participant unless a little red microphone with a slash through it appears in their window. In this case, ask them to turn their microphone on. 
8. When you are ready to close the meeting, simply close the Zoom window and you should receive a message asking if you would like to "end meeting for all" or "leaving meeting." Leaving the meeting will allow the remaining participants to continue without you. 

For more information about adding multiple participants, troubleshooting the microphone, or scheduling a future meeting, please return to the main FAQs.