The "raise hand" feature in Zoom is a straightforward but effective way to signal the host that you wish to speak, without interrupting the meeting flow. Whether you are a participant in a Zoom meeting or attending a webinar, knowing how to raise your hand can make it that little bit easier to get yourself involved. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to raise your hand on different devices including Windows, macOS, Android, iPhone, and the Zoom web client. Let’s get started!

How to Raise Hand in Zoom on Windows and macOS

On the Zoom Desktop App:

1. Join a Zoom Meeting: Open the Zoom desktop client and enter your Zoom meeting.
2. Open the Reactions Menu: At the bottom of your meeting window, click on the “Reactions” button in the toolbar.
3. Click "Raise Hand": From the pop-up menu, select the “Raise Hand” option. You will see a hand icon appear next to your name, notifying the host and other participants that you want to speak.
4. Lowering Your Hand: Once you’ve been given permission to speak, you can lower your hand by going back to the Reactions menu and clicking "Lower Hand."

Keyboard Shortcut:

• On Windows, press Alt+Y to raise or lower your hand.
• On macOS, press Option+Y to do the same.

This shortcut is a faster way to raise your hand without navigating through the toolbar.

Technology to Use During a Zoom Meeting - Quick Tip!

You want to learn how to raise your hand in Zoom, and that tells me one thing - you want to get involved with the discussion. While you are speaking and getting involved, you should be letting an AI note taker handle your meeting notes. Our suggestion? Bubbles Notetaker.

I, for one, know how hard it can be to multitask mid-meeting, so having a fully integrated tool like Bubbles Notetaker can really elevate your meeting experience and let you focus on the important stuff. Bubbles is a highly accurate AI notetaker that integrates with Zoom to automatically record, transcribe, and generate meeting minutes. With the Bubbles Chrome/Edge extension, you can invite Bubbles to your Zoom meeting by simply pasting the Zoom link, and it will join to capture all key details like action items, summaries, and much more. Alternatively, use the Bubbles app, where you can connect your work calendar and have your Notetaker join Zoom automatically.

Not only does Bubbles streamline note-taking and record + transcribe Zoom meetings, but it also sends a personalized follow-up email to all attendees after the meeting, ensuring everyone stays in the loop without the need for manual updates. Whether you’re on desktop or mobile, integrating tools like Bubbles can make managing meetings smoother and more efficient.

How to Raise Hand in Zoom on Mobile (Android and iPhone)

On the Zoom Mobile App:

1. Join a Zoom Call: Open the Zoom mobile app and join your meeting or webinar.
2. Access Reactions: In the bottom-right corner of the screen, tap the “Reactions” button.
3. Tap "Raise Hand": From the list of reaction emojis, select the hand icon labeled “Raise Hand.” The host will now see that your hand is raised.
4. Lowering Your Hand: To lower your hand, tap the “Reactions” button again, and select “Lower Hand.”

This works on both Android and iPhone devices.

Raising Hand in Zoom on the Web Client

For those joining meetings via a web browser, here’s how to raise your hand in the Zoom web client:

1. Join via Browser: Log into Zoom through your web browser and join the meeting.
2. Use Reactions: In the meeting controls at the bottom of your screen, click the “Reactions” button.
3. Select "Raise Hand": Click “Raise Hand” from the menu, and a hand icon will appear next to your name in the participants' list.
4. Lower Your Hand: Simply click the Reactions button again and select “Lower Hand” to remove the raised hand.

How Hosts and Co-Hosts Manage Raised Hands

As a Zoom host or co-host, you have the ability to manage participants with raised hands. You’ll be notified when someone raises their hand via an icon next to their name in the participants list. You can unmute them or give them permission to speak by clicking their name and selecting the “Allow to Talk” option.

Using the Raised Hand Feature in Webinars

In Zoom webinars, attendees can raise their hands in a similar way. The host or panelist will be notified, and they can choose to unmute you if they wish to allow you to speak.

Steps for webinars:

1. Click "Reactions": Just like in regular meetings, use the Reactions button to raise your hand.
2. Wait for Permission: The host will see your hand raised and can unmute you for speaking.
3. Lower Your Hand: Once you’ve spoken, you can click the Reactions button again to lower your hand.

Raising Hand via Dial-In (Audio Only)

If you’re calling into a Zoom meeting or webinar using a phone, you can raise your hand through the dial pad:

• Dial *9 to raise your hand.
• To lower your hand, dial *9 again.

Although less used, this method is handy for audio-only attendees who want to participate without video.