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How to Raise Hand in Zoom and Actually Get Heard
Learn how to raise your hand in Zoom on any device, avoid interruptions, and keep meetings organized from start to finish.
✅ Free meeting recording & transcription
💬 Automated sharing of insights to other tools.
If you have ever been in a crowded Zoom meeting where everyone wants to speak at once, you already know why the raise hand feature exists. It is one of those small Zoom tools that quietly keeps meetings from turning into noise.
Knowing how to raise a hand in Zoom helps you participate without interrupting, keeps discussions structured, and makes it easier for hosts to manage who speaks next. Whether you are joining from the Zoom desktop app, the Zoom mobile app, or a browser, the experience is slightly different, but the idea stays the same.
This guide walks through how the raise hand feature works and how to use it on every device.
What the raise hand feature does in a Zoom meeting
The raise hand feature lets you signal that you want to speak without using your voice. When you raise your hand, a small hand icon appears next to your name in the participants list. The host or co-host can see it immediately and decide when to invite you into the conversation.
This is especially helpful in larger meetings, structured discussions, training sessions, and webinars. Instead of talking over someone or jumping in at the wrong moment, you can raise your hand and wait to be heard.
It is a simple feature, but it plays a big role in keeping meetings respectful and focused.
How to raise your hand in Zoom on desktop (Windows and Mac)
When you’re using the Zoom app on a computer, raising your hand only takes a few clicks:
- Join the meeting through the Zoom desktop application
- Move your cursor to reveal the meeting controls at the bottom of the screen
- Open Reactions
- Choose Raise Hand
After that, a small hand symbol appears next to your name in the participants list. Your hand will remain raised until you lower it or the meeting host clears it.
To lower your hand on the desktop:
- Open Reactions again
- Select Lower Hand
If you prefer shortcuts, you can raise or lower your hand instantly:
- Windows: Press Alt + Y
- Mac: Press Option + Y
How to raise your hand in Zoom on mobile (iOS and Android)
On phones and tablets, the process to raise your hand on Zoom is slightly different but just as simple:
- Join the Zoom meeting from the mobile app
- Tap the screen to display the meeting menu
- Tap More
- Select Raise Hand
You’ll see the hand icon next to your name, just like in the desktop version.
To put your hand down:
- Tap More again
- Choose Lower Hand
This works the same way on both iOS and Android, as long as the app is up to date.
How to raise your hand when joining Zoom from a browser
If you’re attending a Zoom meeting through a web browser, the steps are nearly identical to the desktop app:
- Join the meeting using your browser
- Look for the control bar at the bottom of the meeting window
- Click Reactions
- Select Raise Hand
Zoom will show the raised hand icon next to your name in the participant list.
To lower it:
- Click Reactions once more
- Choose Lower Hand
Raising your hand on a Zoom call using a phone
If you joined the meeting by dialing in without video, you can raise your hand using your keypad:
- Press *9 on your phone to raise your hand
- Press *9 again to lower your hand
This option is helpful for audio-only participants who still want to take part in the discussion.
Using hand gestures and gesture recognition in Zoom
Zoom also supports hand gestures, where the app recognizes a physical movement and turns it into a reaction.
If gesture recognition is enabled, Zoom can detect when you raise your hand or give a thumbs-up and automatically trigger the matching reaction on screen.
To enable gesture recognition, open Zoom settings, go to the reactions or in-meeting section, and turn on gesture recognition. If Zoom seems to raise your hand without you clicking anything, this setting is usually the reason.
Turn participation into action with MeetGeek
Raising your hand helps you take part in the discussion. Making sure nothing important is forgotten afterward is where things usually fall apart.
MeetGeek is an AI notetaker made to attend your virtual meetings with you and make sure every important detail is captured. Once connected to your calendar, MeetGeek can automatically join selected Zoom meetings with permission and record the conversation in the background.
With MeetGeek, you get:
- Automatic recording and transcription for Zoom meetings
- Clear summaries with key points and decisions
- Action items extracted and organized after each meeting
- Searchable transcripts you can revisit at any time
- Easy sharing of notes with attendees who joined late or could not attend
- AI voice agents that can talk during meetings and help you run them
Instead of juggling notes while trying to follow the conversation, you can focus on when to raise your hand and what to say.
How hosts and co-hosts manage raised hands
For the host, raised hands appear by the name of the participant in the participants' list in the form of a raised hand icon by their name.
The host or co-host can then invite someone to speak, unmute them, or lower their hand once the question or comment has been addressed. In larger meetings, this helps maintain order and gives everyone an equal opportunity to speak.
Pair Zoom with MeetGeek
Knowing how to raise your hand in Zoom helps you take part in meetings without interrupting the flow. Whether you are joining from a desktop, mobile, or a browser, the feature gives everyone a fair chance to speak and keeps discussions organized.
Once the meeting ends, what really matters is what happens next. That is where MeetGeek helps. By capturing the conversation, summarizing key points, and pulling out action items automatically, MeetGeek makes sure your input does not get lost after the call.
Try MeetGeek for free and turn your Zoom meetings into clear outcomes, not just conversations.
Frequently asked questions
Why can't I raise my hand on Zoom?
This usually means the host has disabled reactions or you are using an outdated app. Check Zoom settings, update to the latest version, or look under the Reactions menu, where the feature is sometimes grouped.
What is the shortcut key for raising a hand in Zoom?
On Windows, press Alt + Y. On Mac, press Option + Y. The shortcut toggles between raise hand and lower hand.
Where do raised hands appear in Zoom?
When a participant raises their hand, a hand icon appears next to their name in the participants list, visible to the host and co-hosts.
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