Get started with Zoom
- Jacqueline Kort Mascort (Deactivated)
To get started with Zoom, download the desktop software from Zoom’s Download Center.
In this article:
Sign in with Zoom
You can sign in to Zoom via the web portal or the desktop software.
Web Portal: the portal contains your Zoom profile and allows access to advanced settings for Zoom meetings. You can also schedule multiple meetings in advance via the interface.
Desktop software: the software allows you to run Zoom meeting and access configuration settings.
Sign in with the web portal
In a web browser, go to https://mcgill.zoom.us.
Select the Sign In button. This will open the McGill sign in window.
Enter your McGill username and select Next.
Enter your password. If prompted, confirm your sign in using two-factor authentication.
Two-factor identification is a security system that requires two forms of identification to access your McGill account:
your password and a numeric code sent to your smartphone or other device. When prompted, select the device to which you want the code sent.Enter the code and select Verify to sign in.
Your Zoom profile page will load.
Sign in to Zoom from the desktop application
If you have previously accessed Zoom with a non-McGill e-mail and password, you will now be required to sign in with your McGill credentials.
Launch the Zoom application. At the login screen, select Sign in with SSO.
Enter McGill in the Company Domain field. Select Continue.
Sign in with your McGill credentials and select Open Zoom Meetings. The Zoom interface will load. You will now be able to create or schedule new meetings or join meetings that are in progress.
Zoom licenses
McGill provides the following types of licenses:
Group | Type of license | Max number of Session participants | How to obtain License | Max meeting length | Recording capabilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
All academic and non-academic staff (including TAs using mcgill.ca email accounts and Course Lecturers) | Licensed | 300* | Automatic (logout and login in again to refresh the account) | 24h | Local recording and Cloud recording |
All students | Licensed | 300 | Automatic (logout and login in again to refresh the account) | 24h | Local recording only |
Other accounts for teaching purposes (e.g., resource accounts) | Licensed | 300 | 24h | Local recording and Cloud recording |
* Instructors teaching classes larger than 300 students will have their Zoom licenses automatically increased to exceed the 300-person cap on meeting invitations.
Teach with Zoom
TL KB articles:
Zoom meetings for education (YouTube)
Assign an alternative host in Zoom
An alternative host can start a Zoom meeting, admit participants, and access Zoom recordings.
If you are an instructor setting up Zoom meetings for your course from within myCourses, you will notice that the Alternative Hosts field is grayed out and disabled. This is because co-instructors with the "instructor" role, and TAs with "full permissions," are automatically given the Alternative Host role for Zoom meetings.
If you want to add someone else as an Alternative Host, you can do so by editing the meeting options from the Zoom website (https://mcgill.zoom.us).
Sign in to the McGill Zoom portal https://mcgill.zoom.us with your McGill Username and Password.
Open Meetings to view your scheduled meetings.
Hover over the meeting you want to edit and click Edit
In the Alternative Hosts field, enter the e-mail addresses of those you want to act as alternative hosts.
Alternative hosts for Zoom meetings will see the Start button next to the meeting(s) they are hosting when they go to the Zoom tab on myCourses.
Read more:
Zoom help center:
Join meeting test (launches the Zoom software)