The fastest way to get a shareable link
To create a Zoom meeting link, sign into your Zoom account on the web, click Meetings in the left sidebar, then click the blue Schedule a Meeting button. Fill in the meeting topic, date, time, and duration. Scroll down and make sure Generate join URL is toggled on — it is by default. Click Save, and Zoom creates a unique link you can copy and send to anyone.
That link stays the same every time you use it for a scheduled meeting, so people can bookmark it. The link format looks like https://zoom.us/j/[meeting ID]. You can share it by email, text, Slack, or any other way you normally send links. People do not need a Zoom account to join — they can click the link and join as guests.
If you want to start a meeting right now without scheduling it first, you can also create an instant meeting. Sign in to Zoom, click New Meeting on the home screen, and Zoom launches a meeting immediately. You can then copy the meeting link from the meeting controls at the bottom of your screen and send it to others.
Key Takeaways
- Scheduled meetings get a permanent link you can reuse; instant meetings create a temporary link that works only while the meeting is active.
- The link appears after you click Save on the scheduling form, and you copy it from the Meetings page in your account.
- People joining via link do not need a Zoom account and can join as guests with just a click.
- You can set a password, waiting room, and other security settings on the same scheduling page before you save.
- Zoom sends a calendar invite to participants if you add their email addresses during scheduling, but the link works whether they receive the invite or not.
Where to find and copy your link after scheduling
Once you have saved a scheduled meeting, the link appears in two places. The first is on your Meetings page — sign in to zoom.us, click Meetings, and you see a list of all your scheduled meetings. Hover over the meeting you just created and click Copy join URL. Zoom copies the link to your clipboard so you can paste it anywhere.
The second place is in the calendar invite. If you added participant email addresses during scheduling, Zoom automatically sends them an invite that includes the meeting link, date, and time. They can click the link in the email to join, or you can copy the link from the email and share it separately with people who were not on the original invite list.
Instant meetings versus scheduled meetings
An instant meeting starts immediately when you click New Meeting. The link works only while that meeting is running. Once you end the meeting, the link stops working. This is useful if you need to jump on a call with someone right now and do not want to set up a formal scheduled event.
A scheduled meeting is set for a specific date and time in the future. The link remains active and reusable for that meeting every time it occurs. If you schedule a recurring meeting — say, every Monday at 10 a.m. — the same link works for every instance. Scheduled meetings are better for regular check-ins, classes, or any meeting you plan to run more than once.
Adding security settings before you share the link
Before you send a meeting link to others, you can add a password and other protections on the scheduling page. Scroll down to the Security section and toggle on Passcode. Zoom generates a random passcode that participants must enter after clicking the link. This prevents random people from joining if they somehow get the link.
You can also enable Waiting Room, which holds participants in a virtual lobby until you admit them one by one. This gives you a chance to check who is joining before they enter the meeting. Both settings are optional, but they are worth turning on if you are meeting with people outside your organization or if the meeting contains sensitive information.
If you are a paid Zoom account holder, you can also set a meeting ID instead of letting Zoom generate one, restrict who can share their screen, and disable participant video or audio before the meeting starts. All of these options are on the scheduling page under Meeting Options.
Sharing the link in different ways
Once you have the link, you can send it however works best for your situation. Email is the most common — paste the link into an email with the meeting time and any other details. Slack and Microsoft Teams both let you paste the link directly into a channel or direct message, and the link shows up as a clickable preview. You can also text the link to someone, post it in a shared document, or add it to a calendar event.
If you are sending the link to a large group, consider putting it somewhere central like a shared Google Doc, a team wiki, or a pinned message in a Slack channel. That way people can find it without digging through email, and you only have to update it in one place if the meeting details change.
What happens when someone clicks the link
When a participant clicks your meeting link, they see a Zoom page that asks them to enter their name. If you set a passcode, they enter it next. Then they have the option to join with video and audio on or off. They can also choose to use the Zoom app or join in a web browser — no download required for the browser option.
Once they click Join, they enter the meeting. If you turned on the waiting room, they wait there until you admit them. If the waiting room is off, they join immediately. Participants can see you, hear you, and share their screen if you have given them permission to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the meeting link after I schedule it?
No, the link is permanent once Zoom generates it. If you need a different link, you have to create a new meeting. However, you can change almost everything else — the date, time, topic, password, and security settings — by editing the meeting on your Meetings page.
What if I want a custom meeting ID instead of a random one?
Paid Zoom accounts can set a custom meeting ID during scheduling. Look for the Meeting ID field and choose Generate Automatically or Personal Meeting ID. A personal meeting ID is the same every time you schedule a meeting, so the link never changes. This is useful if you run recurring meetings and want people to remember the same link.
Do people need to download Zoom to join my meeting?
No. When someone clicks your link, they can join through a web browser without downloading anything. Zoom prompts them to download the app if they want, but it is optional. Browser-based joining works on phones, tablets, and computers.
Can I send the same link to different people at different times?
Yes, if the meeting is scheduled for a specific date and time. Everyone who clicks the link before that time sees a message saying the meeting has not started yet. Once the meeting time arrives, anyone with the link can join. After the meeting ends, the link stops working until the next scheduled instance.
What if someone shares my meeting link with people I did not invite?
If you set a passcode, uninvited people still need the code to join. If you did not set a passcode, anyone with the link can join. You can end the meeting at any time, and you can remove participants from the meeting controls. For sensitive meetings, use both a passcode and the waiting room so you can approve each person who joins.