Requesting or giving remote control


The remote control feature allows you to take control of another participant's screen in a meeting when they've given you permission. You can either request remote control of another participant's screen or the other participant can give control to you. Once given permission, you can control their mouse and keyboard, and even copy text from their screen to yours.

If you need admin functionality, such as the ability to restart another participant's computer, please refer to the Remote Support feature.

Note: For Mac OSX, you will need to give Zoom access in the Accessibility tab in the Privacy and Security preferences of your Mac. Learn more about Zoom access permissions in Security and Privacy.

Prerequisites for using the remote control feature in a Zoom meeting

Note: Only one participant can remote control another participant's screen at a time. 

How to enable or disable remote control

Account

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an administrator with the privilege to edit account settings.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
  3. Click the Meeting tab.
  4. Under In Meeting (Basic), click the Remote control toggle to enable or disable it.
  5. If a verification dialog appears, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
  6. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in your account, click the lock icon, and then click Lock to confirm the setting.
  7. (Optional) Select the check box next to Allow remote controlling user to share clipboard to allowed copied information to be shared across Zoom during remote control. Click Save to confirm changes. 
  8. (Optional) Click Customize Request to adjust the content of the request that the end user will see. You can adjust the title and body of the request, and embed a link.

Group

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an administrator with the privilege to edit groups.
  2. In the navigation menu, click User Management then Groups.
  3. Click the applicable group name from the list.
  4. Click the Meeting tab.
  5. Under In Meeting (Basic), click the Remote control toggle to enable or disable it.
  6. If a verification dialog appears, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
    Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account level, and needs to be changed at that level by an account admin. 
  7. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in this group, click the lock icon, and then click Lock to confirm the setting.
  8. (Optional) Select the check box next to Allow remote controlling user to share clipboard to allowed copied information to be shared across Zoom during remote control. Click Save to confirm changes. 
  9. (Optional) Click Customize Request to adjust the content of the request that the end user will see. You can adjust the title and body of the request, and embed a link. 

User

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Settings.
  3. Click the Meeting tab.
  4. Under In Meeting (Basic), click the Remote control toggle to enable or disable it.
  5. If a verification dialog appears, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
    Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account or group level, and needs to be changed at that level by an account admin. 
  6. (Optional) Select the check box next to Allow remote controlling user to share clipboard to allowed copied information to be shared across Zoom during remote control. Click Save to confirm changes. 

How to use remote control on desktop

Request remote control

You can request remote control from the host or participant who is sharing their screen.

  1. While viewing another participant's screen share, click the View Options drop-down menu located at the top of your in-meeting window.
  2. Select Request Remote Control, then click Request to confirm.
    The host or participant will get a notification asking if they want to allow you to control their screen.
  3. Click inside the screen share to start controlling the participant's screen.
  4. To stop remote control, click the View Options drop-down menu again and select Give Up Remote Control.
    Note    : If another participant requests and is granted remote control of your screen, the remote control permission for the first participant will be revoked.

Give remote control to another participant

While screen sharing, you can give remote control to another participant who is in the meeting. If the participant is on iOS or Android, they can remote control your screen using their mobile device.

  1. While screen sharing, click Remote Control and select the participant you want to give control to.
    The participant will be notified they can control your screen and can click anywhere on the shared screen to start control.
  2. (Optional) Click Remote Control and select Share Clipboard to allow the participant with remote control to also copy text from your shared screen. 
  3. To regain control, click anywhere on your screen. The other user can still restart remote control by clicking on their screen.
  4. Tip: You can also click Remote Control again and select Stop Remote Control to regain control and not allow the other participant to start remote control again.

How to use remote control on a mobile device

Android | iOS

A participant who is screen sharing with the Zoom desktop client can only give you remote control. If you joined a meeting on an iPad or Android device, you cannot request remote control or give remote control, it must be given to you. 

  1. After a participant gives you control, tap the remote icon  to start remote control.
  2. Use these functions to control the participant's screen:
    • The mouse icon  shows where the mouse pointer is located. Tap and drag it to move the pointer.
    • Tap once to left-click the mouse.
    • Tap and hold to right-click the mouse.
    • Tap the keyboard icon  to enter text.
    • Pinch with two fingers to zoom in and out of the user's screen.

Tip: Use your mobile device in landscape to get a better view of the participant's screen share.