Turn Off Video on Zoom Before Joining a Meeting

Turn off your camera before joining a Zoom meeting to enter with video disabled, even if your webcam is available. You can do this on the meeting’s join screen, or set Zoom to start meetings with your video off; the exact screen can vary slightly by device and app version.

What You’ll Need

• A device with the Zoom Workplace app installed, or a supported web browser if you are joining through the web.
• The meeting link or meeting ID and passcode, if the host requires them.
• A moment to check the camera setting on the join screen before you select Join.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the meeting invitation. Select the Zoom meeting link, or open Zoom and choose Join to enter the meeting ID. If prompted, enter your name and the passcode. You do not need to enable the camera to join.
2. Find the video option before joining. On the preview or join screen, look for a checkbox or switch labeled Turn off my video, Stop my video, or similar. Its wording and placement depend on your device and version.
3. Turn the option on. Select the checkbox or switch so that it indicates your video will be off. A checked box beside “Turn off my video” means the camera will be disabled when you enter. If the control instead says “Start video,” leave it off and do not select it.
4. Check your preview. If Zoom shows a camera preview, confirm that it is hidden, replaced by your name, or otherwise marked as off. Do not rely only on the preview being dark: a dark image can also mean poor lighting while the camera is still transmitting.
5. Join the meeting. Select Join after checking the setting. Once inside, look for the video camera icon in the meeting controls. A crossed-out camera or a button labeled Start Video generally means your video is off.
6. Check again if you enter through a waiting room. A host may admit you after you have joined. Keep video off by leaving the camera control untouched, and verify the icon once you are in the meeting.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing “Turn off my video” with “Turn on video.” The wording changes between screens. Read the label and check whether the control is selected before joining.
• Assuming a black preview means the camera is off. A covered lens, dim room, or camera problem can make the preview black while video remains enabled. Check the camera icon or the explicit off setting.
• Looking for the setting after joining. If the pre-join screen has already closed, use the in-meeting camera control to stop video immediately. That is still useful, but people may briefly see your video before you turn it off.
• Expecting the setting to apply everywhere. A choice made for one meeting may not carry over to another device, browser, or future meeting. Check the join screen each time.
• Clicking “Start Video” to test the camera. This turns the camera on. If your aim is to remain off camera, do not select that button.

Tips

• Use Zoom’s default preference when appropriate. In the desktop app, open your profile picture or initials, choose Settings, then look under Video for an option such as Turn off my video when joining. Enable it if you want video off by default. Labels and locations can vary by app version.
• On a phone or tablet, inspect the join screen. After opening the invitation, look for a video toggle before tapping Join. If you do not see one, join and immediately use the camera control in the meeting toolbar.
• For browser-based joining, check the browser page. Zoom’s web join screen may show a video setting before entry. Browser camera permissions control whether a site can access the camera; they are not always the same as choosing to join with video off.
• Keep the microphone setting separate. Turning off video does not mute you. If you also want to join muted, look for a separate audio or microphone option.
• Use the meeting controls as a final check. After joining, the camera icon provides a quick way to confirm or change your video status. The host’s settings may affect what controls are available.

Troubleshooting

The join screen has no video option: Join with the camera off using the meeting control as soon as the meeting opens. On desktop, you can also set the default in Zoom’s Video settings, then leave and rejoin if you need to apply it before others see you. If joining in a browser, check for a camera option on the web page and try the Zoom app if the browser flow does not offer it.

Video turns on after joining: Select the camera icon or Stop Video immediately. Then check the default video preference in Zoom Settings and the pre-join checkbox on your next attempt. If a host or meeting configuration affects camera controls, ask the host whether participants are allowed to control their video.

The camera icon is missing or unavailable: The meeting toolbar may be hidden. Move the pointer over the meeting window or tap the screen to reveal controls. In a mobile app, tap the screen once and look along the bottom toolbar; on a computer, check the meeting window’s control bar. If video controls remain unavailable, the host may have restricted them.

The setting does not stick: Preferences can be device-specific, and an update or a different sign-in method may change what is shown. Confirm that you are using the expected Zoom account and device, revisit Settings > Video, and verify the choice on the next meeting’s join screen rather than assuming it carried over.

Zoom still shows a camera preview: A preview alone does not tell you whether video will be sent. Turn on the explicit join-with-video-off control, or leave the camera off in the meeting and verify that the control offers Start Video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off my video before I join a Zoom meeting?
Yes. On the join screen, select the option to turn off your video before choosing Join. If there is no such option, switch video off as soon as the meeting opens.

How do I make Zoom join meetings with video off by default?
In the desktop app, open Settings and look under Video for the option to turn off video when joining. Check the wording in your version and confirm the setting on a later join screen.

Does turning off video also mute my microphone?
No. Video and microphone controls are separate. Check the microphone icon or mute option if you also want to join without audio.

Can other participants see me before I join?
Typically, participants see you after you enter the meeting, not while you are on the join screen. To avoid transmitting video when you enter, make sure video is off before selecting Join.

How can I tell if my Zoom video is off?
Look for a crossed-out camera or a Start Video button in the meeting controls. A black preview by itself is not a reliable confirmation.

Can the host turn my video on?
A host may be able to request that you start video, but you generally control whether to enable your camera. If controls are restricted or behave differently, check with the host.

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