How to Mute and Unmute Yourself on Zoom

The mute button on Zoom sits in the bottom-left corner of your screen and looks like a small microphone. When a red line crosses the microphone, nobody on the call can hear you. When the line is gone and the icon is plain, your voice goes through. That one icon is all you need to control whether the room hears you, and tapping it never disconnects you or ends the call.

Knowing exactly where that button is, and the one keyboard shortcut that works even when Zoom is hidden behind another window, removes most of the worry around video calls. Below are the steps for a computer, a phone or tablet, and the handy trick for unmuting quickly when someone asks you a question.

Where the mute button is on a computer

On a laptop or desktop, move your mouse so the pointer is anywhere over the Zoom window. A row of controls appears along the bottom edge of the screen. If you do not see it, the bar hides itself after a few seconds, so just wiggle the mouse and it returns.

The very first control on the left is the microphone. Under it the word reads either "Mute" or "Unmute". When it says "Mute", your microphone is currently on and clicking will switch it off. When it says "Unmute" with a red line through the microphone, you are silent and clicking will let people hear you. Click the microphone once to toggle between the two.

1. Move your mouse over the Zoom window.
2. Look at the bottom-left corner for the microphone icon.
3. Click it once to mute; the icon gains a red line.
4. Click it again to unmute; the red line disappears.

Where the mute button is on a phone or tablet

On an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, tap once anywhere on the screen during a call and the controls appear. On a phone the microphone icon usually sits in the bottom-left corner; on a tablet it may be along the top. The label "Mute" or "Unmute" sits right under the icon, just like on a computer.

Tap the microphone once to mute, and the icon shows a red line to confirm you are silent. Tap it again to unmute. The controls fade away after a moment so they do not cover the faces on screen, but a single tap anywhere brings them straight back whenever you need them.

The fastest way to unmute when asked

The most common video-call mishap is talking for several seconds while still muted, then having to start over. There are two quick cures. On a computer, the keyboard shortcut Alt and A together (or Command and Shift and A on a Mac) mutes and unmutes instantly, even if Zoom is behind another window.

The second cure is built for exactly this moment. Press and hold the space bar on your keyboard while you are muted, and Zoom unmutes you for as long as you hold it. Speak your piece, then let go, and you drop back to mute automatically. It works like the button on a walkie-talkie and means you cannot forget to re-mute afterwards.

Quick reference for muting

Start every call muted

You can tell Zoom to keep your microphone off the moment you join any meeting, which spares everyone the noise of your room while people settle in. This is a sensible default, especially on a busy call, and you simply unmute when you want to speak.

On a computer, click the small upward arrow next to the microphone icon, choose "Audio Settings", and tick the box that reads "Mute my microphone when joining a meeting". On a phone, open the Zoom app's settings, tap "Meetings", and switch on "Always Mute My Microphone". Once set, it applies to every call from then on until you change it back.

When people cannot hear you

If you are unmuted and still nobody can hear you, the usual culprit is that Zoom is listening to the wrong microphone, not a fault with your voice. Click the upward arrow next to the microphone icon and look under "Select a Microphone". Choose the one that matches what you are speaking into, such as your headset or your laptop's built-in mic.

A quick test settles it. In the same Audio Settings panel there is a "Test Mic" button. Speak a few words and watch the blue bar move; if it jumps as you talk, Zoom is hearing you correctly. If the bar stays flat, pick a different microphone from the list and test again until the bar responds.

Frequently asked questions

Does muting end or leave the call? No. Muting only turns off your microphone. You stay in the meeting, your camera keeps working, and you can hear everyone else the whole time.

How do I know if I am muted? Look at the microphone icon in the corner. A red line through it means you are muted and silent. A plain icon with no line means people can hear you.

Can other people unmute me without permission? No. A meeting host can mute you, but Zoom asks your permission before anyone can switch your microphone back on. You keep control of your own audio.

What is the space-bar trick again? On a computer, while you are muted, hold down the space bar to speak and let go to mute again. It is a quick way to say one thing without forgetting to re-mute.

Why can't people hear me even when unmuted? Zoom is probably set to the wrong microphone. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon, open Audio Settings, and choose the correct mic, then use Test Mic to confirm the bar moves when you talk.