With increasing demand for reliable online meeting platforms, Cisco WebEx has become a popular choice for many organizations and individuals. If you're new to WebEx or have received an invitation to join a meeting, this guide will walk you through the different ways to join a WebEx meeting using the desktop app or your web browser.
Join WebEx meeting from app
The WebEx Meetings application is available for both Windows and Mac computers. To download it, open webex.com/downloads in your browser and click on the 'Download for Windows' button under the WebEx Meetings section.
Once the download is complete, locate the installer file, typically named webexapp.msi, in your downloads folder. Double-click on it to initiate the installation process.
After the installation finishes, the app might launch automatically. If it doesn't, you can open it manually by searching for Cisco WebEx Meetings app on your computer.
When the WebEx app opens, you'll see the sign-in screen. If you have a WebEx account, enter your credentials to sign in. If you don't, and need to join a meeting promptly, click on the 'Use as guest' link to proceed without an account.
Next, enter your Name and Email address in the required fields, and then click on the 'Continue as guest' button.
Once the WebEx app dashboard opens, navigate to the 'Join a meeting' section. In the 'Enter meeting information' field, input the meeting code or the meeting link that you've received.
Using meeting link
If you have the full meeting link, paste it into the meeting information field and click on the 'Join' button to enter the meeting.
Using meeting number
If you have the meeting number or access code, enter it into the meeting information box and click on the 'Join' button to proceed.
At this stage, the WebEx meeting window will open, enabling you to configure your microphone and camera settings before joining. To mute your microphone, click on the 'Mic' icon; to disable your video, click on the 'Video' icon, especially if the host prefers participants to join without video.
Once you're ready, click on the 'Join Meeting' button to enter the meeting room.
WebEx meetings are secure by design and may require the host's approval before you can join, even if you have an invitation. Until the host admits you, you'll see the message: 'You can join the meeting after the host admits you.'
Once the host admits you, you'll be able to see and communicate with all the participants in the meeting. A participants list will appear on the right side of the window, displaying the names of everyone present.
When you're ready to exit the meeting, click on the red cross icon found in the meeting controls at the bottom of your screen.
A confirmation dialog will appear. Click on the 'Leave meeting' option to confirm and exit the meeting room.
You can also join a WebEx meeting from your iPad, iPhone, or any Android device. To do this, download the WebEx Meetings app on your mobile device from the respective app store links below.
Join WebEx meeting from a browser
The quickest and simplest method to join a WebEx meeting is by using your web browser through the WebEx web app. All you need is the meeting link or the meeting number/access code.
If you've received an invitation to join a WebEx meeting by email, click on the 'Join meeting' button in the email to open the WebEx website with the meeting details pre-filled.
When you click the link, the Cisco WebEx website will open and may automatically start downloading a webex.exe installer for the desktop app, even without prompting. Since you're planning to join via the browser, you can ignore the downloaded file and any prompts to run the installer.
Wait for up to 10 seconds until the 'Join from your browser' link appears on the page. Once it becomes visible, click on it to continue.
If you have a WebEx account, you can use the 'Sign in' link or one of the SSO sign-in options to log in. If you don't, simply enter your 'Full name' and 'Email address' in the respective fields, and then click on the 'Next' button to join the meeting as a guest.
The WebEx meeting preview screen will appear, prompting you for permission to use your 'Microphone' and 'Camera'. Make sure to click on the 'Allow' button to enable these features for the meeting.
Before joining, you can adjust your microphone and camera settings. Click on the 'Mic' icon to mute yourself or the 'Video' icon to turn off your camera, if necessary.
When you're ready, click on the 'Join Meeting' button to enter the meeting room.
Join from web using meeting number
If you've received a WebEx meeting number as your invitation, open meetingsapac.webex.com in your web browser and enter the meeting number into the input field.
A meeting information screen will appear, displaying the name of the meeting room, as well as the meeting link and meeting number you're about to join. Click on the 'Join Meeting' button to proceed.
After that, follow the same steps mentioned earlier to join the meeting from your web browser.
Joining a WebEx meeting is quite similar to joining one on Zoom, and you'll find many of the interface options are comparable. However, one significant feature missing from the WebEx Desktop app and website is support for virtual background images to hide your background in video meetings.
WebEx does support custom backgrounds on its app for iPhone and iPad, but unfortunately, the desktop app doesn't have this feature yet. Microsoft recently added support for custom background images in Teams, and it would be great if the WebEx development team could introduce this feature soon.
In the meantime, you can use virtual camera applications on your computer, such as ChromaCam to change background image in WebEx or Snap Camera to turn yourself into a potato.
With these methods, you can effortlessly join a WebEx meeting using either the desktop app or your web browser, ensuring you stay connected wherever you are.
Member discussion