Fixes / Zoom · Checked

Zoom "The host has another meeting in progress": how to fix it

Short answer

Zoom shows "The host has another meeting in progress" when the host's account already has a meeting running. Most accounts can run only one at a time, even if the host isn't in it. The usual fix: the host ends the other meeting with End > End meeting for all, then starts the right one. Often the running meeting is an old link someone joined early.

What this message means

Zoom limits how many meetings one host account can run at once. On free (Basic) and Pro accounts the limit is one. Licensed users on Business, Education and Enterprise accounts can run two. A meeting counts as running as soon as it starts, even if the host never joined, for example when participants enter a meeting that has "join before host" turned on. Participants who try to join a second meeting from the same host get this message instead of a waiting screen. The host's account is busy, but the host may not know. The problem sits with the host's account, not with the participant's app or connection.

Common causes

CauseHow to tell
The host started an instant meeting (New Meeting) while invitees were sent the Personal Meeting ID (PMI) linkThe host is in a meeting, but the meeting ID in the host's window doesn't match the one in the invitation. Participants using the invitation link see the error.
Someone joined an older or different meeting from the same host that allows participants to join before the hostThe host never started that meeting, but it is running. The host sees it under Meetings in the web portal, or participants say they are sitting in a meeting with no host.
An earlier meeting was left instead of ended, so it is still runningThe host clicked Leave, or closed the window, instead of End meeting for all. Other people or a Zoom Room may still be in it.
The host's account is signed in on another device that is holding a meeting openA phone, tablet, second computer or Zoom Room signed in to the same account is still in a call or was never closed properly.
Two meetings from the same host are scheduled back to back or overlapping, and the account allows only one at a timeThe error shows up right when one meeting runs long and the next one should start. The host's plan (Basic or Pro) allows only one meeting at a time.

How to fix it

1. If you are a participant: tell the host and wait

  1. Check that the link or meeting ID you used matches the latest invitation. An old link may point to a different meeting.
  2. Message the host (email, chat or phone) with the exact error text and the meeting ID you tried to join.
  3. Ask them to end any other meeting running under their account (see the next fix).
  4. Try the link again once the host confirms. You don't need to reinstall or change anything on your side.

2. Host: end the other meeting that is running

  1. Sign in at zoom.us and open Meetings to find the meeting that is running, or ask participants which link they used.
  2. Join that meeting from its link while signed in as the host.
  3. Click End in the meeting controls, then choose End meeting for all. Clicking Leave or closing the window does not end it.
  4. Start the correct meeting again and ask participants to rejoin.

3. Host: make New Meeting use your Personal Meeting ID

Zoom Workplace desktop app (Windows and macOS). Only relevant if your invitations use your PMI.

  1. Open the Zoom Workplace desktop app and go to the Home tab.
  2. Click the small dropdown arrow next to New Meeting.
  3. Tick Use my Personal Meeting ID (PMI).
  4. From now on New Meeting opens your PMI room, so people using your PMI invitation join you instead of a separate meeting.

4. Host: turn off join before host on old or recurring meetings

Zoom web portal (zoom.us)

  1. Sign in at zoom.us and click Meetings.
  2. Open the old or recurring meeting and click Edit this meeting.
  3. Next to Options, click Show, then untick Allow participants to join (join before host). Click Save.
  4. To change the default for new meetings, go to Settings > Meeting tab > Schedule Meeting and turn off Allow participants to join before host. If the toggle is grayed out, your admin has locked it.
  5. Optionally, turn on the Waiting Room so that nobody can start the meeting before the host does.

5. Host: sign out of every device and session

Zoom web portal (zoom.us)

  1. Sign in at zoom.us and click Profile in the navigation menu.
  2. Find the Where you're logged in section.
  3. Click Sign me out of all sessions, then confirm with Sign out.
  4. Sign in again on only the device you will host from. Note: signing out does not end meetings that are running, so end those first (see the second fix).

6. Host: get enough capacity for overlapping meetings

Basic and Pro accounts allow 1 meeting at a time. Business, Education and Enterprise licensed users allow 2.

  1. Check your plan at zoom.us: Account Management > Billing > Current Plans.
  2. If two meetings really need to run at the same time, upgrade to Business or higher. Each licensed user can then host 2 at once (from the desktop or mobile app, usually on separate devices).
  3. Or give the second meeting to another licensed user as host, or make them the alternative host.
  4. If you need more than 2 at once, contact Zoom Sales about a concurrent meetings add-on, or use breakout rooms inside one meeting.

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Still not fixed?

If no meeting shows as running but participants still get the message, the host should sign out of all sessions from the Profile page, fully quit Zoom on every device (on Windows, right-click the Zoom icon in the system tray and choose Exit. On Mac, press Cmd+Q), restart the computer and start the meeting again. On an organization account, ask the Zoom admin to check the Dashboard for meetings running under that user and end them. If a meeting still can't be ended, contact Zoom Support through support.zoom.com with the meeting ID and the time of the error.

Questions people ask

Why does Zoom say the host has another meeting in progress when I'm not in a meeting?

A meeting can run under your account without you in it. Usually someone joined a meeting that allows join before host, or an earlier meeting was left instead of ended. Join it and click End meeting for all, or turn off join before host.

Can I host two Zoom meetings at the same time?

Not on a free (Basic) or Pro account, which allow one meeting at a time. Licensed users on Business, Education and Enterprise accounts can host two at once, but not two webinars, or a meeting and a webinar together.

I'm a participant. Can I fix this myself?

No. The limit applies to the host's account, so only the host (or their Zoom admin) can end the other meeting. Tell the host which link you used and try again once they confirm.

Does signing out of all devices end the stuck meeting?

No. Zoom says signing out of devices or sessions does not end meetings that are running. Join the meeting and choose End meeting for all to end it.

Why did this start when I clicked New Meeting?

New Meeting creates a new instant meeting with its own ID unless it is set to use your Personal Meeting ID. If your invitees used your PMI link, they started a second meeting. Click the arrow next to New Meeting and tick Use my Personal Meeting ID (PMI).

Sources

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