How to Set up a Zoom Webinar | Full Step-by-Step Guide

How to Set up a Zoom Webinar | Full Step-by-Step Guide

Wondering how to set up a Zoom webinar? We’ll show you how to schedule your webinar, set up registration, and more!

Last Updated:

May 14, 2026

Key takeaways

Zoom webinar requirements

Before you do anything else, make sure you have everything you need to host a smooth Zoom webinar.

You’ll need:

Zoom Webinars add-on

To host a webinar, you’ll need a Zoom Webinar license even if you already have a Zoom account.

Zoom desktop client OR up-to-date browser

Next, you need to download and install the latest version of the Zoom desktop client on your device. If you prefer to use your browser, make sure you have the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or Safari.

Adequate processor and RAM

A smooth webinar experience requires a reasonably powerful computer. Zoom recommends at least a dual-core 2GHz processor with 4 GB RAM.

A stable internet connection

For 1080p video streaming, you’ll need a reliable connection with at least 2 Mbps upload and download speeds.

How to set up a Zoom webinar: 4 Steps

Ready to set up your first Zoom webinar? Follow these steps to begin.

1. Schedule your webinar

It’s best to schedule your webinar ahead of time to promote it properly and maximize attendance. We recommend setting the date at least two weeks ahead.

How to schedule a webinar in Zoom:

Step 1: Sign in to the Zoom web portal, and choose “Webinars” from the navigation menu on the left side of your screen.

Step 2: Select “Schedule A Webinar,” and enter your event’s topic and description in the relevant fields.

Step 3: Use the fields on your screen to fill in the date, time, time zone, and duration of your webinar event, along with any other webinar settings.

How to set up registration for a Zoom webinar

You can require your attendees to fill out a registration form before joining your event. Here’s how:

Step 1: In your webinar scheduling settings, scroll down to the registration section and select the “Require registration” checkbox.

Step 2: Scroll down to confirm video, audio, and other options, then click “Schedule” to finalize.

2. Inviting attendees and panelists

What’s a webinar without guests and attendees? Here’s how to invite them to your event.

How to invite attendees to a Zoom webinar

Attendees are view-only participants. However, they can be unmuted by the host and interact via Zoom’s Q&A and chat functions.

Step 1: Go to the “Invitations” tab.

Step 2: Copy the registration URL and share it on your website, social media, or via email.

How to invite panelists to a Zoom webinar

Panelists are full participants in the webinar. They can screen share, annotate, and interact freely.

Step 1: While scheduling your webinar, scroll down to the Invite Panelists section.

3. Host your webinar on Zoom!

You’ve got everything set up - now it’s time to run the show.

How to start your webinar

To start your webinar:

Step 1: From the web portal, sign in to Zoom and click “Webinars.” From the desktop client, click the “Meetings” tab.

Step 2: Find your event, click it, then hit “Start.”

4. Assess analytics and performance

Zoom provides built-in analytics to measure your webinar’s success - and you should definitely use them! You can get information like:

5 best practices for setting up Zoom webinars

Plan ahead of time

A well-planned webinar is a successful webinar. Give yourself time to think carefully about your topic, line up guests, and ensure that your content provides real value to your audience.

Try a test run (or three)

A test run will ensure that your event will go off without a hitch.

Market your event

It’s no use hosting a webinar if no one ever knows about it!

Learn from feedback

After your webinar is over, attendees may be willing to share their thoughts and ideas.