Knowing how to block someone on Zoom is essential for keeping your meetings safe from disruptive guests, uninvited attendees, or anyone who breaks the rules. When you remove a participant, Zoom ejects them immediately, and by default they cannot rejoin the same meeting. Combined with tools like the waiting room, meeting locks, and reporting, removal gives hosts strong control over who stays in the room.
This guide covers how to remove someone during a meeting on desktop and mobile, how to make sure they cannot come back, and the broader security features that prevent trouble before it starts. Removing and blocking participants are host-level actions, so you must be the host or a co-host to use them. We will also explain how to report bad actors to Zoom’s Trust and Safety team.
Remove vs. Block: What Actually Happens
Zoom does not have a permanent account-wide “block” button for other users, but removing someone from a meeting functions as a block for that session. When “Allow removed participants to rejoin” is disabled (the default), a removed person is locked out of that specific meeting ID. For recurring meetings, that block applies to future sessions with the same ID as well, which is exactly what most people mean when they ask how to block someone.
How to Remove Someone on Desktop
On Windows and macOS, removing a disruptive participant takes just a few clicks.
- As the host or co-host, click Participants in the meeting toolbar.
- Find the person you want to remove and hover over their name.
- Click the More button that appears next to them.
- Select Remove from the menu.
- Confirm the action in the pop-up dialog.
- Optionally, use the Security icon and choose Report to flag them to Zoom.
How to Remove Someone on Mobile
You can also eject a participant from the iPhone, iPad, or Android app.
- Tap Participants at the bottom of the meeting screen.
- Tap the name of the person you want to remove.
- Choose Remove from the menu.
- Confirm to eject them from the meeting.
Making Sure They Cannot Rejoin
By default, removed participants are blocked from rejoining, but it is worth confirming the setting so there are no surprises during a live event.
- Sign in at zoom.us and go to Settings.
- Open the Meeting tab and find Allow removed participants to rejoin.
- Keep this toggle off so ejected users stay out.
- During the meeting, click the Security icon and choose Lock Meeting once everyone has arrived.
Security Tools That Prevent Problems
- Require a passcode to join.
- Enable the waiting room to screen guests.
- Only allow registered or signed-in users.
- Lock the meeting after everyone arrives.
- Use “Suspend Participant Activities” in an emergency.
- Mute all and disable screen sharing for attendees.
| Action | Effect | Who can do it |
|---|---|---|
| Remove | Ejects and blocks re-entry | Host, co-host |
| Lock Meeting | Blocks all new joins | Host, co-host |
| Put in Waiting Room | Removes from view temporarily | Host, co-host |
| Suspend Activities | Stops all video, audio, sharing | Host, co-host |
| Report to Zoom | Sends details to Trust and Safety | Host, co-host |
Troubleshooting: Removed User Keeps Coming Back
If someone you removed manages to rejoin, the setting “Allow removed participants to rejoin” is probably turned on, so switch it off in your web settings. For persistent intruders, lock the meeting entirely with the Security icon, or enable a waiting room so you approve each entry. Changing the meeting passcode or generating a brand-new meeting link also shuts out anyone who has the old details. Note that only the host and co-host can remove people, so promote a trusted helper if you need backup. For more safety walkthroughs, browse our how-to guides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a removed person rejoin the meeting?
Not by default. As long as “Allow removed participants to rejoin” is turned off, the person cannot return to that meeting ID. Turning it on would let them back in.
Can I permanently block a user across all my meetings?
Zoom does not offer an account-wide personal block list for individual users. Removal blocks them from a specific meeting ID, and for recurring meetings that carries over to future sessions.
Do I have to be the host to remove someone?
Yes. Only the host or a co-host can remove participants. If you are a regular attendee, ask the host to take action.
What does reporting a participant do?
Reporting sends the person’s details and optional screenshots to Zoom’s Trust and Safety team for review, which can lead to account-level action by Zoom.
How do I stop uninvited guests before they join?
Use a passcode, enable the waiting room, restrict the meeting to signed-in users, and lock the meeting once all expected participants have arrived.
