How to Mute and Unmute Zoom Participants: A Step-by-Step Guide

Updated at: 16/06/2025

Zoom meetings can be disrupted by unwanted noise. This guide provides a simple, step-by-step solution to managing audio in your Zoom calls. Learn how to quickly and easily mute and unmute both individual participants and the entire group. Whether you're a host or a participant, mastering these essential controls will ensure smoother, more productive meetings. Let's dive in and conquer those audio distractions!

Step-by-Step Instructions

  1. Mute All Participants

    • Click on 'Participants' at the bottom of your Zoom screen.
    • Click on 'Mute All' in the participants box.
    • Uncheck the 'Allow participants to unmute themselves' box.
    • Click 'Yes' to confirm muting all participants.
    Click 'Yes' to confirm muting all participants. Click 'Yes' to confirm muting all participants. Click 'Yes' to confirm muting all participants. Click 'Yes' to confirm muting all participants.
    Mute All Participants

  2. Unmute All Participants

    • At the end of the meeting, click on 'Participants' again.
    • Click the three black dots in the bottom right corner of the participants box.
    • Check the 'Allow participants to unmute themselves' box.
    • Click anywhere outside the box to save changes.
    Click anywhere outside the box to save changes. Click anywhere outside the box to save changes. Click anywhere outside the box to save changes. Click anywhere outside the box to save changes.
    Unmute All Participants
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Tips

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Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Accidentally Muting All Participants Instead of a Single Participant

Reason: The mute all button is often prominently placed, leading to accidental clicks when intending to mute a single disruptive participant.
Solution: Carefully select the individual participant's name from the participant list before clicking the mute button.

2. Forgetting to Unmute Yourself After Muting

Reason: After muting to avoid background noise, users may forget to unmute themselves when they wish to speak, leading to communication breakdowns.
Solution: Create a mental reminder or use a visual cue (like highlighting the mute button) to remember to unmute yourself when it's your turn to speak.

FAQs

Can I mute someone without them knowing?
Yes, you can mute a participant silently. They won't receive a notification that they've been muted.
What if someone is muted and can't unmute themselves?
As the host or co-host, you can unmute them manually. Check their audio settings; they may have accidentally disabled their microphone.
How do I mute all participants at once?
Most Zoom versions allow you to mute all participants with a single button click. Look for a 'Mute All' option in your controls during the meeting.