How to Use Zoom on Laptop and Desktop Computers, the Keyboard Way

In recent years, online meeting platforms have become extremely popular. They are used for personal communication as well as in businesses and schools. They provide the tools which allow us to come together, though being in different places across the world, and have meaningful discussions. Zoom is a fantastic example of one such platform. This lesson is dedicated to teaching one how to use Zoom on laptop and desktop computers using the keyboard, as well as give some Zoom keyboard shortcuts.

So are you ready to conquer Zoom like a pro? If you’re blind or visually impaired and rely on your keyboard and a screen reader to use your Windows computer, especially NVDA, you are in the right place. Let us dive into the world of Zoom together.

How to Join a Zoom Meeting Via a Link

Let us start with the basics. Imagine you’ve just received an email with a Zoom meeting link from your friend Sarah. Here are the steps to take to join the meeting:

1. Access your email. You can do so either by utilizing an email client, like Outlook, or using the internet via a web browser (for more information on how to navigate web pages with a screen reader, read our lesson on the topic).

2. Navigate to the email with the Zoom link and open it.

3. Find the link and click on it by pressing Enter. This will open your default web browser and take you to the Zoom Meeting page.

4. If you do not have the Zoom app installed, then a notification will come up prompting you to install it. Follow the prompts to do so.

5. If Zoom is already installed, then a Notification will come up prompting you to open the meeting in the app. Use the Tab key to get to the option which says “Always allow zoom to open links of this type in associated app.” Press Spacebar to activate this option. This way, clicking on Zoom links will always take you to the Zoom app in that browser on that computer.

6. Then Tab to “Open Zoom Meetings” and press Enter. The app will now open and try to access the meeting to which you were invited.

7. Inside the Zoom app, if you are not already signed in, you will have the option to sign in or just join the meeting. You can Tab to either option and press Enter. On the sign in page, you will have to input your credentials. However, if you choose to simply join the meeting, then you will be asked to input your name.

8. After that, press Enter once again on “Join meeting.”

How to Join a Zoom Meeting Through the Zoom App

Already have the app installed an would rather join Sarah’s meeting from there? Follow these steps instead:

1. 1. Launch Zoom from the Start Window (check out our lesson on Navigating Windows to learn how to do this).

2. If you are not signed in and want to join the meeting without doing so, Tab to join meeting and press Enter. Input the meeting ID and password (these should also be in the email from Sarah) and press Enter. You will then be brought to the meeting.

3. To sign in, Tab to sign in and press Enter. Input your credentials and press Enter. Input the meeting ID and password and again press Enter. You will then be in the meeting.

Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts

Now you are in the meeting with Sarah and others. You can use the Tab key to get to each of the controls and press Enter to activate or deactivate any of them. However, here are some handy Zoom keyboard shortcuts to enhance your experience:

1. Alt + A – Mute/unmute your audio. You can also press and hold the Spacebar to speak and release when done.

2. Alt + V: Start/stop your video.

3. Alt + U – Opens participants panel. Here you can see all the participants in the meeting. You can use Up and Down arrow keys to go through the participant list. For each participant name, you can Tab to hear some options. While on your own name, you can Tab to more options and press Enter. There you will see things like pin, edit picture and rename. To activate any of those, press Enter. When you are finished with the participants’ panel, just hit Escape.

4. Alt + Y – Raise your hand to get the host’s attention.

5. Alt + H – Show/hide the chat window. Here you will be able to type messages in the chat for either all participants to see or just one specific person. You can use the Tab or Shift + Tab to get to the chat listing to see all messages , use Up and Down arrows to go through these. To write a message, Shift + Tab until you hear “Type message here.” Then go ahead and type your message and hit Enter to send.

6. Alt + F – Enter or exit full-screen mode.

7. Alt + S – starts or stops screen share (may require host privileges or permission).

8. Alt + T – Pauses or resumes screen share.

9. Alt + R – Start local recording (may require host privileges or permission).

10. Alt + P – Pause or resume recording.

11. Alt + Q – Leave Zoom meeting.

12. Alt – Hide or show Zoom controls.

Other Zoom Controls

Learning how to use Zoom on laptop or desktop computers is a whole lot easier using the Zoom keyboard shortcuts above. However, there are some other settings you would encounter if you were to Tab through:

1. Audio Settings – Set up or change microphone or speaker. Press Enter on this option to get a list of actions to take. Use the Spacebar to check checkboxes to activate any of the actions. If you activate the “Leave computer audio“ option, you will not hear or be heard in the meeting.

2. Video Settings – Set up camera or virtual background.

3. Reactions – Use arrow keys and press Enter to select any reaction emoji.

4. More Options for Participants – Find the “Invite” and “Copy invite link” options here. Send the invite link to others so that they can join the meeting.

 

How to Share Screen on Zoom

1. Navigate through the controls using the Tab key until you locate the Share Screen button and press Enter, or press Alt + S.

2. Press Spacebar to choose the desired window for sharing. By default, the entire computer screen is shared. Press Enter to confirm sharing the whole screen.

3. For selecting a specific window or application (e.g., PowerPoint), navigate to the Sharing List Box using the tab keys and then use arrow keys to select the desired window.

4. To halt screen sharing, press Alt + S.

Additional Controls for Zoom Meeting Host

The options explored above are typical for the regular participant on Zoom. However, if you are the host of the meeting, you will have access to some other options. Some of them are:

1. Remaining Meeting Time – If it is a free Zoom meeting, then the host will be able to Tab around and hear the remaining time.

2. Security Menu – Through this menu, the host will be able to make certain changes, such as enable waiting room and alter participant permissions.

3. More Options with Participants – In the participants panel, the host will see additional items under more options for each participant including rename, remove, ask to unmute or make host.

4. End Meeting – The host is able to end the meeting for all.

 

How to Set Up a Zoom Meeting

So far we have been looking at how to join a Zoom meeting that was already created. However, how do we set up a meeting for ourselves? This too is easy, follow these steps:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Launch Zoom from Start (check out our lesson on Navigating Windows to learn how to do this(.

2. Tab to sign in and press Enter.

3. Input your Zoom account credentials and Enter on sign in.

4. Tab to “Schedule a meeting.”

5. You will now be on a page where you can input the details for the meeting you are trying to create. You will first be placed in the topic field. Type the topic for your meeting.

6. Then hit the Tab key. Use the Up and Down arrows to set the start and end times for your meeting.

7. You can use the Tab to get to other controls on this page, using the Enter key to activate toggle buttons or arrows to change options.

8. When done, Tab to Save and press Enter.

Voila, you have successfully scheduled a Zoom meeting. Now you need to send out your link to others. Here are the steps:

1. Press Ctrl + Tab until you get to the Meetings page.

2. Tab until you hear “Meetings list.”

3. Up or Down arrow through the list to find the meeting in question and press Enter.

4. Then tab to “Copy meeting invitation information” and press Enter.

5. Go and paste the invitation information into any medium that you are going to use to communicate with others, like in an email.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have covered all the bases for how to use Zoom on laptop or desktop computers; learning how to join a Zoom meeting, how to share screen on Zoom meeting, how to set up a Zoom meeting and utilizing Zoom keyboard shortcuts like a pro. With Zoom’s accessibility features and your screen reader, blind and visually impaired persons can participate fully in online meetings and enjoy connecting with others from the comfort of their homes. Now, go ahead and schedule your next Zoom meeting with confidence. Happy Zooming!