Direct answer: To raise your hand in Zoom, join the meeting, open Reactions or More, then choose Raise Hand. On desktop and web, it is usually in the bottom toolbar. On iPhone and Android, check More or Reactions. If you dial in by phone, press *9 to raise or lower your hand.
Updated: August 4, 2026. Tested guidance is based on current Zoom desktop, web, mobile, and phone dial-in behavior, with Zoom Support checked on August 4, 2026. Interface labels can move by version, screen size, account settings, and meeting type.
Knowing how to raise hand in Zoom is useful when you want to ask a question without interrupting the speaker. It is especially important in classes, webinars, all-hands meetings, town halls, customer calls, and training sessions where the host controls speaking order. The hand icon gives the host a visible signal that you want to speak, but it does not automatically unmute you or put you on camera.
The exact button can look slightly different depending on whether you are using the Zoom desktop app, the browser version, the mobile app, or phone audio only. In some meetings, the control appears under Reactions. In others, it may sit under More because the screen is small or the toolbar is crowded. This guide walks through each device and shows what to do when the button is missing.
Quick Steps
If you only need the fastest answer, use this checklist:
1. Join the Zoom meeting.
2. Move your mouse or tap the screen to show the meeting toolbar.
3. Select Reactions, More, or Participants, depending on your device.
4. Choose Raise Hand.
5. Wait for the host to call on you.
6. Unmute only when invited or when meeting rules allow.
7. Select Lower Hand after you speak, or let the host lower it for you.
| Device | Fastest path | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop app | Reactions > Raise Hand | Your hand icon appears beside your name. |
| Zoom Web App | Reactions or More > Raise Hand | The host sees your raised hand in the participant list. |
| iPhone or Android | More or Reactions > Raise Hand | Your status changes until you lower it or the host lowers it. |
| Phone dial-in | Press *9 | Zoom announces or signals the raised-hand status to the meeting system. |
A raised hand is a queue signal, not a microphone permission. If you are muted, you may still need to press Unmute or wait for the host to allow you to speak. If the meeting has strict rules, wait for your name to be called before talking.
Desktop and Web
On the Zoom desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux, the Raise Hand control is usually inside Reactions on the bottom toolbar. If you do not see the toolbar, move your mouse over the meeting window. If the window is narrow, some controls may collapse into More.
Desktop app steps:
1. Join the meeting from the Zoom desktop app.
2. Move your cursor over the meeting window.
3. Click Reactions in the bottom toolbar.
4. Click Raise Hand.
5. Look for the hand icon beside your name or video tile.
6. Click Lower Hand when you no longer need to speak.
On Zoom Web App, the path is similar, but browser layout can vary. You may see Reactions, More, or Participants depending on the meeting size and browser window width.
Web steps:
1. Join from the browser link.
2. Allow the browser permissions required by the meeting.
3. Show the bottom toolbar.
4. Open Reactions or More.
5. Select Raise Hand.
6. Keep the tab active if the meeting host is calling on people quickly.
If you are using a managed company computer, some Zoom settings may be controlled by your administrator. If Reactions or meeting controls are restricted, update the app, check the web version, or ask the host whether raised hands are being used for that session.
Mobile
On iPhone and Android, the Raise Hand button usually appears under More or Reactions. Because the mobile screen is smaller, Zoom hides some controls until you tap the screen.
iPhone and Android steps:
1. Join the Zoom meeting from the mobile app.
2. Tap the screen once to reveal the meeting controls.
3. Tap More if you do not immediately see Reactions.
4. Tap Raise Hand.
5. Wait for the host to call on you.
6. Tap More or Reactions again, then tap Lower Hand after speaking.
Mobile users often miss the button because they are in landscape mode, using a small device, or watching shared content full screen. If you cannot find it, rotate the phone, tap the screen to bring back controls, leave full-screen shared content, or open the More menu.
The same meeting etiquette applies on mobile: raising your hand does not mean your microphone is live. Check your mute status before speaking. If you are in a noisy place, stay muted until the host calls on you.
Phone Dial-In
If you join a Zoom meeting by dialing a phone number, you will not have the visual Reactions button. Use the phone keypad instead. Press *9 to raise or lower your hand. If you need to mute or unmute yourself while dialed in, Zoom commonly uses *6.
| Phone action | Keypad shortcut | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Raise hand | *9 | You want the host to know you have a question. |
| Lower hand | *9 again | You no longer need to speak or your question was answered. |
| Mute or unmute | *6 | The host calls on you and you need to speak by phone. |
Phone dial-in users should identify themselves clearly when the host calls on them because the participant list may show a phone number instead of a name. In formal meetings, say your name and organization before asking the question.
If *9 does not appear to work, confirm that you dialed into the correct meeting, that your phone keypad is sending tones, and that the meeting host is watching the participant list. Some phone systems, conference bridges, or international calling routes may make keypad commands less obvious to use.
Host Management
Hosts and co-hosts use raised hands to manage speaking order. In large meetings, the participant list is usually the cleanest place to see who raised a hand and in what order. The host can call on people, ask them to unmute, lower individual hands, or lower all hands when a Q&A period ends.
Host workflow:
1. Open Participants.
2. Look for the raised-hand icon beside attendee names.
3. Sort or scan the list for raised hands, depending on the interface.
4. Call on the next person by name.
5. Ask them to unmute or allow them to speak if the meeting is controlled.
6. Lower their hand after the question, or ask them to lower it.
7. Use Lower All Hands at the end of a segment if many hands remain.
| Meeting type | Best hand-raise rule | Host action |
|---|---|---|
| Small team meeting | Use raised hands for sensitive or orderly discussion. | Call on people verbally and lower hands after each turn. |
| Class or training | Ask learners to raise hands for questions and use chat for quick comments. | Pause at checkpoints and answer in queue order. |
| Town hall | Use raised hands only during dedicated Q&A windows. | Assign a moderator to watch the participant list. |
| Webinar-style session | Tell attendees whether raised hands, Q&A, or chat should be used. | Use a moderator so the speaker can stay focused. |
The host should explain the rule at the beginning of the meeting. For example: "Use Raise Hand if you want to speak live. Use chat for links and short comments. We will answer raised hands in order during the last 15 minutes." That one sentence prevents most confusion.
Missing Button Troubleshooting
If you cannot find the Raise Hand button, the most likely causes are interface layout, an old app version, a hidden toolbar, device differences, or host settings. Work through these checks before assuming the feature is unavailable.
| Problem | Likely reason | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| No Reactions button | The window is too narrow or controls are hidden. | Move your mouse, enlarge the window, or open More. |
| No Raise Hand on mobile | The control is inside More or hidden during screen share. | Tap the screen, exit full-screen shared content, then open More. |
| Host cannot see your hand | The host is not watching Participants or you joined by phone. | Ask in chat, or say your name when called if you dialed in. |
| Button looks different | Zoom version, web layout, or account settings differ. | Update Zoom, try the desktop app, or ask the host for meeting rules. |
| Phone shortcut fails | Keypad tones or meeting connection may not be registering. | Try *9 again slowly, check the dial-in number, or rejoin if needed. |
Also check whether the host has a different participation workflow. Some large sessions prefer Q&A, chat, or moderated questions instead of raised hands. If you are in a webinar or training session and do not see the same controls as other participants, the host may be using a format where audience interaction is managed differently.
For a fuller first-time walkthrough of Zoom controls, see how to use Zoom. If your team records meetings and needs summaries afterward, the related guide to AI note takers for meetings and knowledge explains the follow-up workflow. You can also explore AI meeting notes when meetings create decisions and action items that need to be reused later.
FAQ
How do I raise my hand in Zoom the fastest?
On desktop or web, open Reactions and choose Raise Hand. On mobile, tap the screen, open More or Reactions, then choose Raise Hand. If you joined by phone, press *9. After the host calls on you, unmute if needed and lower your hand when finished.
Why do I not see Raise Hand in Zoom?
The button may be hidden because your toolbar is collapsed, your window is small, you are on mobile, you are viewing shared content, your app is outdated, or the meeting format uses a different participation workflow. Try opening More, updating Zoom, resizing the window, or asking the host how questions are being managed.
Can the host lower my hand?
Yes. The host or co-host can lower an individual participant's hand. In some meeting views, they can also clear multiple raised hands when a Q&A segment ends. Participants can also lower their own hand from the same menu used to raise it.
Does raising my hand unmute me?
No. Raising your hand is only a visual signal. It does not automatically turn on your microphone or camera. You still need to unmute yourself, or the host may need to allow you to unmute depending on the meeting settings.
What is the phone shortcut to raise hand in Zoom?
Press *9 if you joined Zoom by phone. Pressing *9 again lowers your hand. If you need to mute or unmute by phone, *6 is commonly used. The host may see you as a phone number unless your audio is linked to your Zoom identity.
How should large meetings use raised hands?
Large meetings should set a clear rule before Q&A begins. The host or moderator should watch the participant list, call on people in order, lower hands after each turn, and tell attendees whether chat, Q&A, or Raise Hand is the preferred channel for questions.