We also talk about “precautions” such as the time limit when holding or participating earlier than the scheduled time. Please use it as a reference.

Hold a Zoom meeting earlier than the scheduled time (setting)

First, let’s talk about starting a meeting earlier than the scheduled time of the host.

You can start the meeting earlier than the scheduled time.

However, if the host is using Zoom with a free plan instead of a paid account, a time limit of 40 minutes will be applied from the time the meeting actually starts regardless of the scheduled time , so be careful not to start the meeting too early. need.

However, there are times when you want to prepare in advance, such as an important meeting or a business meeting with a client.

In such a case,

• Enter the room 5 minutes before
• Prepare for a test meeting
• Get unlimited time paid account

is recommended.

Please refer to the separate article “Method for a test meeting” where you can test the audio in advance, and “Paid account” where you don’t have to worry about time.

In addition, after this, we will introduce the functions you should know and the setting procedure to make Zoom meetings smoother.

If you can master these functions, there will be no problem even if the guest joins earlier than the host or if the guest joins earlier than the scheduled time.

This is a function that we especially want people who use Zoom for business, such as online meetings, business negotiations with clients, and online recruitment interviews, to know.

Features you should know ① Enable Waiting Room

As the name suggests, the waiting room function allows the host to control the timing of entering the meeting by temporarily entering the waiting room when a guest joins.

For example, when conducting business negotiations with a client, you can use the waiting room to let only employees enter the room first, and then let the client enter the room after confirming that everything is ready.

This function is especially convenient for business use.

When the Waiting Room is enabled, “Waiting for the host to start this meeting” is displayed if a guest tries to join before the host.

When the host starts the meeting, check the waiting guests from “Participant Management” in the menu, and click the “Allow” button of the person you want to enter to allow them to participate.

Setting Procedure for Enable Waiting Room

1. Access the Zoom website (https://zoom.us/)
2. Sign in to your account
3. Click “Settings”
4. Scroll down to Security > Waiting Room in the Meeting tab
5. Turn on Waiting Room

If you want to change the settings for each group or user, you can set them by clicking “Edit options”.

Need-to-know feature 2: Allow participants to join before the host

This is a function that allows guests who try to join earlier than the host or participants who try to join earlier than the scheduled time to enter the room as they are.

If you enable “Allow participants to join before the host”, if the host is late or the participants gather earlier than the scheduled time, only the guests who gathered earlier can join the Zoom meeting. can start.

However, in this case, guests are automatically admitted to the room, so it cannot be used in conjunction with the waiting room.

In the unlikely event that both “Waiting room” and “Enable join before host” are turned on, the waiting room will take precedence and the “Allow participants to join before host” function will be disabled. Note that it will automatically turn off.

How to set <Allow participants to join before host>

1. Access the Zoom website (https://zoom.us/)
2. Sign in to your account
3. Click “Account Settings”
4. Select “Schedule Meeting” and scroll to “Allow participants to join before host”
5. Enable “Allow participants to join before host”

Can I join a Zoom meeting before the host?

Now let’s talk about when participants join the meeting before the host.

When you use Zoom, you probably first enter the meeting ID and password, or get the meeting URL from the host.

But, for example, if you are planning a meeting to start at 14:00, is it okay to access Zoom earlier than 14:00?

That’s an interesting point.

Is it okay to access (enter) the meeting earlier than the scheduled time? → No problem.

However, the situation at the destination will differ depending on the host settings described above.

If the host has enabled the waiting room, even if you access earlier than the scheduled time, “Waiting for the host to start this meeting” will be displayed, so wait until the host allows it.

Precautions when starting earlier than the scheduled time

The point to keep in mind when starting Zoom earlier than the scheduled time is the time limit .

There is no problem if you have a paid license, but you need to be careful if you are using Zoom on the free plan.

Zoom has a free plan and a paid plan, but the big difference is that the free version has a time limit of 40 minutes.

This time limit only applies if the host is on a free plan and does not affect whether the participant has a paid or free account.

If you use the waiting room I mentioned so far or if the participants join the meeting earlier than the host, the Zoom meeting will be forcibly ended 40 minutes after two or more people enter the meeting, regardless of the scheduled time. Let’s watch out.

A paid account with no time limit is recommended for web conferencing

Zoom is becoming more established as a business tool for internal meetings and business negotiations with clients.

Zoom is a convenient tool even with a free account for short-term use or private use such as online drinking parties.

However, for business use, the 40-minute time limit requires attention.

I don’t want to be forced to leave during an important business negotiation or meeting because the time runs out, and reconnecting every 40 minutes can damage the image.

In addition, in the case of a meeting with three or more people, it is possible that time loss will occur before the reunion.

To prevent this from happening, a paid license with no time limit is recommended for business use.

The detailed benefits of paid accounts and the fees you are concerned about are explained in detail in a separate article.

summary

In this article, we have summarized “when the Zoom meeting starts earlier than the scheduled time” and “when the participant joins the Zoom meeting earlier than the host”.

• 5 minutes before the meeting
• If you want to prepare in advance, have a test meeting
• Get unlimited time paid account

The point to be aware of when holding or participating in a meeting earlier than the scheduled time is still the “40 minute time limit”.

When using Zoom for business purposes, a paid license is recommended.

Please keep the points in mind and have a smooth Zoom meeting.