Most Zoom meetings will require attendees to be logged in to the Zoom app with their NetID and password.

Common issues with accessing restricted meetings include: not being logged in to the Zoom app, entering Northwestern email and password credentials to sign in instead of selecting the "Sign in with SSO" option, or being logged in to the Zoom app with a personal, non-Northwestern account.

This page walks through how to sign in to the Zoom app through SSO (single sign-on), as well as common issues that occur when trying to join a Zoom meeting:

Signing in to the Zoom App

1. Select “Sign in with SSO”

Screenshot of Zoom's log in interface

2. Enter “northwestern” into the company domain so that it reads: northwestern.zoom.us and click Continue.

Zoom's Single Sign On page with "northwestern" entered in the box

3. Log in with your NetID and password.

Northwestern's log in portal

4. Click “Open Zoom Meetings” to open the app and/or join the meeting in the app.

Zoom's pop up asking whether you want to open the Zoom meeting

Common Issues

Student is told the meeting is for authorized attendees only

When accessing the meeting, Zoom says: “This meeting is for authorized attendees only”

Pop up alerting that the meeting is for authorized attendees only

This message indicates that the instructor has required attendees to log in to the Zoom app with their NetID and password before they can join the meeting. Select "Sign in to Join" and follow the above steps to sign in to your Northwestern Zoom account through the "Sign in with SSO" option.

NOTE: Entering an NU email address and password will not complete the authentication process or allow the attendee into the meeting.

Student is sent to the Waiting Room

In some cases, the instructor has set up a Waiting Room for non-Northwestern guests. If you are supposed to enter the meeting automatically but are placed in the waiting room, make sure you are signed in to the Zoom app through the "Sign in with SSO" option (see above for instructions).

Zoom waiting room

Student is logged in to a non-Northwestern Zoom account

If you have a personal Zoom account, click on your profile box in the upper right-hand corner of the Zoom app, select Switch Account, and follow the steps to sign in to your Northwestern Zoom account with SSO.

Zoom application window showing how to change which account you are logged in as