Video conferencing has been gaining more and more popularity in recent months, with Zoom being the most popular online meeting tool. People use Zoom to host large or small meetings, share their screens, chat, and much more.
However, those who are true Zoom masters have a few tricks up their sleeves which
One of those tricks is using Zoom keyboard shortcuts or hotkeys. These shortcuts can be helpful in preventing confusion and (un)successful attempts to find the right button in the middle of the meeting.
Below are the most useful Zoom keyboard shortcuts sure to come in handy during your video calls.
The Most Used Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts
Instead of reaching for the mouse, try these popular keyboard shortcuts to promptly change the command. They can save you a few seconds each time. It may not seem like a lot, but over a month it accumulates into a decent number of minutes saved.
Learn as many combinations as possible – trust us, you will need them eventually.
Record a Meeting Zoom keyboard shortcut
Use this combination to start recording in an instant.
Windows:
Begin local recording: Alt-R
Begin cloud recording: Alt-C
Pause or resume recording: Alt-P
Mac OS:
Begin local recording: Command(⌘)-Shift-R
Begin cloud recording: Command(⌘)-Shift-C
Pause or resume recording: Command(⌘)-Shift-P
Quick Invite Zoom keyboard shortcuts
Do you want to invite more people to the meeting? To do so at speed, use the following Zoom keyboard shortcuts:
- Windows: Alt – i
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – i
Start and Stop Video hotkeys
It may be helpful to have the camera set by default to ‘off’ when joining a new meeting. If it is in use, switching it off during the meeting can increase the clarity of the call. Should the need arise to turn the camera off quickly, use the keyboard shortcut below:
- Windows: Alt – V
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – Shift – V
Share Screen Zoom keyboard shortcuts
This is one of the most important Zoom functions for both business meetings and virtual classes. Have this combination ready for instant screen sharing:
Windows:
Share a share screen: Alt – S
Pause or resume share screen: Alt – T
Mac OS:
Share a screen: Command(⌘) – Shift – S
Pause or resume share screen: Command(⌘) – Shift – T
Jump to Chat With Someone hotkeys
The Chat function is another very useful tool on Zoom. You can send a quick message to all participants, or to an individual. If joining a large meeting, the long list of names can be overwhelming. This shortcut will be handy for sending quick messages to colleagues or classmates:
- Windows: Ctrl – T
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – K
Join a Meeting Zoom keyboard shortcuts
Are you running late? With this shortcut quickly enter the details of the meeting you need to join:
- Windows: Alt – J
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – J
Mute and Unmute Everyone hotkeys
This function is useful for larger groups. It encourages everyone to wait for their turn to speak. It can also assist when participants are experiencing some background noise:
- Windows: Alt – M
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – Ctrl – M
Taking a Screenshot Zoom shortcut
Do you need to take a screenshot? Try the following Zoom hotkeys combo:
- Windows: Alt – Shift – T
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – T
Active Speaker/ Gallery View Zoom hotkeys
Both views have their advantages and disadvantages. Sometimes it’s necessary to focus on the speaker alone. At other times a gallery view of all the participants is best. To quickly switch from one view to another, use the following Zoom keyboard shortcuts:
Windows:
Switch to active speaker view in video meeting: Alt – F1
Switch to gallery view in video meeting: Alt – F2
Mac OS:
Toggle between active speaker view and gallery view: Command(⌘)+Shift+W
Enter or leave full-screen mode keyboard shortcut
To adjust the screen mode, this shortcut will come in handy:
- Windows: Alt – F
- Mac OS: Command(⌘) – Shift – F
Raise or lower hand Zoom keyboard shortcut
When participating a meeting, you usually have a limited amount of time to raise a hand and ask a question/share your viewpoint. That’s why you need a quick key combination:
- Windows: Alt – Y
- Mac OS: Option – Y
Other Useful Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts
You can view and edit keyboard shortcuts in the Zoom desktop app. Open the Zoom home screen and click on the “Settings” icon. This is located under your profile picture. In the left-hand menu go to “Keyboard Shortcuts” to view a full list of the shortcuts available.
It’s also possible to modify the shortcuts here. To edit, click in the “Shortcut” field and type in the combination you prefer. Enter any shortcut using just a single key, or modify it with Alt, Ctrl, or Shift (or on a Mac: Command(⌘), Ctrl, or Shift).
You can enable some of the combinations to become global shortcuts as well.
Here is a list of all the shortcuts for Zoom categorized by device:
Mac OS Zoom keyboard shortcuts
General hotkeys
Close the current window: Command(⌘) – W
Switch to portrait or landscape view: Command(⌘) – L
Switch from one tab to the next: Ctrl – T
Meeting shortcuts
Join meeting: Command(⌘) – J
Begin meeting: Command(⌘) – Control -V
Schedule meeting: Command(⌘) – J
Share screen: Command(⌘) – Control – S
Mute/unmute audio: Command(⌘) – Shift – A
Mute audio for everyone except the host (only available to the host): Command(⌘) – Control – M
Unmute audio for everyone except host (only available to the host): Command(⌘) – Control – U
Push to talk: Space
Begin/finish video: Command(⌘) – Shift – V
Switch camera: Command(⌘) – Shift – N
Begin/finish screen share: Command(⌘) – Shift – S
Pause or resume screen share: Command(⌘) – Shift – T
Begin local recording: Command(⌘) – Shift – R
Begin cloud recording: Command(⌘) – Shift – C
Pause or resume recording: Command(⌘) – Shift – P
Switch to active speaker view or gallery view: Command(⌘) – Shift -W
Show previous 25 participants in gallery view: Ctrl – P
Show next 25 participants in gallery view: Ctrl – N
Show/hide participants panel: Command(⌘) – U
Display/hide in-meeting chat panel: Command(⌘) – Shift – H
Open invite window: Command(⌘) – I
Raise hand/lower hand: Option – Y
Gain remote control: Ctrl – Shift – R
Finish remote control: Ctrl – Shift – G
Enter or leave fullscreen: Command(⌘) – Shift – F
Switch to minimal window: Command(⌘) – Shift – M
Display/hide meeting controls: Ctrl – Option – Command(⌘) – H
Toggle the Always Show meeting controls option in General settings: Ctrl – \
Prompt to End or Leave Meeting: Command(⌘) – W
Chat shortcuts
Jump to chat with someone: Command(⌘) – K
Screenshot: Command(⌘) – T
Phone hotkeys
Call highlighted phone number: Ctrl – Shift – C
Accept inbound call: Ctrl – Shift – A
Decline inbound call: Ctrl – Shift – D
Finish the current call: Ctrl – Shift – E
Mute/unmute mic: Ctrl – Shift – M
Hold/resume the call: Ctrl – Shift – H
Windows Zoom keyboard shortcuts
General shortcuts
Navigate among Zoom popup windows: F6
Move focus to Zoom’s meeting controls: Ctrl – Alt – Shift
Meeting hotkeys
Display previous 25 video stream in gallery view: PageUp
Display next 25 video stream in gallery view: PageDown
Turn on/off the option Always show meeting controls in General settings: Alt
Switch to active speaker view: Alt – F1
Switch to gallery video view: Alt – F2
Close the current window: Alt – F4
Begin/end video: Alt – V
Mute/unmute audio: Alt – A
Mute/unmute audio for everyone except the host: Alt – M
Launch share screen window and stop screen share (works only when meeting control toolbar is on-screen): Alt – S
Start/finish new screen share (works only when meeting control toolbar is on-screen): Alt – Shift – S
Pause or resume screen share (works only when meeting control toolbar is on-screen): Alt – T
Begin/finish local recording: Alt – R
Begin/finish cloud recording: Alt – C
Pause or resume recording: Alt – P
Switch camera: Alt – N
Enter or leave fullscreen: Alt – F
Show/hide in-meeting chat panel: Alt – H
Show/hide participants panel: Alt – U
Open invite window: Alt – I
Raise/lower hand: Alt – Y
Gain remote control: Alt – Shift – R
Finish remote control: Alt – Shift – G
Read active speaker name: Ctrl – 2
Display/hide floating meeting controls: Ctrl – Alt – Shift – H
Chat shortcuts
Screenshot: Alt – Shift – T
Switch to Portrait/Landscape View: Alt – L
Close current chat session: Ctrl – W
Go to previous chat: Ctrl – Up
Go to next chat: Ctrl – Down
Jump to chat with someone: Ctrl – T
Search: Ctrl – F
Move to the next tab (right): Ctl – Tab
Move to the previous tab (left): Ctrl – Shift – Tab
Phone shortcuts
Call highlighted phone number: Ctrl – Shift – P
Accept inbound call: Ctrl – Shift – A
Finish the current call: Ctrl – Shift – E
Decline inbound call: Ctrl – Shift – D
Mute/unmute mic: Ctrl – Shift – M
Hold/resume the call: Ctrl – Shift – H
Linux Zoom keyboard shortcuts
General keyboard shortcuts
Switch from one tab to the next: Ctrl – Tab
Meeting hotkeys
Toggle the Always show meeting controls option in General settings: Alt
Begin/finish the video: Alt – V
Mute/unmute my audio: Alt – A
Mute/unmute audio for everyone except the host (available only to the host): Alt – M
Begin/finish screen sharing: Alt – S
Pause/resume screen sharing: Alt – T
Begin/finish local recording: Alt – R
Start/stop cloud recording: Alt – C
Pause/resume recording: Alt – P
Switch camera: Alt – N
Enter/leave full-screen mode: Esc
Display/hide participants panel: Alt – U
Open the invite window: Alt – I
Raise/lower hand: Alt – Y
Begin remote control: Alt – Shift – R
Revoke remote control permission: Alt – Shift – G
Chat shortcuts
Screenshot: Alt – Shift – T
Close current chat session: Ctrl – W
Phone hotkeys
Accept inbound call: Ctrl – Shift – A
Finish the current call: Ctrl – Shift – E
Decline inbound call: Ctrl – Shift – D
Mute/unmute mic: Ctrl – Shift – M
Hold/resume the call: Ctrl – Shift – H
iPad OS Zoom keyboard shortcuts
Mute/unmute my audio: Command – Shift – A
Begin/finish my video: Command – Shift – V
Display/hide chat: Command – Shift – H
Minimize meeting: Command – Shift – M
Display/hide manage participants: Command – U
Close the front window, such as the participants or meeting settings window: Command – W
Ending Thoughts
Zoom is a great video conferencing tool. The keyboard shortcuts make it quicker and easier to access its features. Participating in or hosting a meeting is less stressful.
One of the shortcuts every participant appreciates is the ‘Push to Talk’ feature. It allows participants to mute and unmute their microphones. When it’s your turn to speak, just press and hold the spacebar. Or if unexpected background noise occurs, use this feature to block it out.
If you are new to Zoom, having a brief list of favorite shortcuts can be helpful. The more you use them, the quicker you will master them. They will make life much easier, especially if you attend multiple video meetings a day.
On a side note, the Zoom app can be used with Amelia. Amelia is an appointment booking software that can assist with arranging and managing online meetings through audio, chat, and/or video call. Your team can add Zoom links when arranging video call meetings, without leaving their Lever workflow. Good tools save time for other important tasks.
Setting up Zoom integration only takes a few steps. Create a Zoom account and complete the Basic Information. Following this, the App Credentials will open.
If you enjoyed reading this article on Zoom keyboard shortcuts, you should check out the following:
- How to Change Your Background on Zoom
- How to Record a Zoom Meeting
- How to Add Zoom to Google Calendar
- How to Schedule a Zoom Meeting
