Using Your Yealink Desk Phone for Zoom Meeting Audio (Companion Mode)

You can switch to use your Yealink desk phone for audio during a Zoom web meeting if you choose. This may be desirable if it's a more private conversation and you don't want to have others overhear a conversation, or if the speakers or microphone on your computer are difficult to hear clearly. You can quickly switch from using your computer microphone and speakers to your desktop phone after setting up a Zoom Meeting button on your Yealink desk phone. This is referred to as Companion Mode.

When companion mode is set up, your Yealink phone works in conjunction with your computer to be used with Zoom web meetings.  For example, when you are invited to a Zoom web meeting, your Yealink phone also rings and you have the option to start a Zoom web meeting (on your desktop or laptop computer) as you answer the call, or to just answer as a voice call.

Adding the line key for companion mode

Before you can use companion mode with your desk phone, you need to add the Zoom meeting key to your line keys (buttons):

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal. https://link.mnsu.edu/zoomphone 
2. In the navigation menu, click Phone.
3. Click the Settings tab.
4. In the Keys & Positions section, click View or Edit.
5. Click Manage Keys.
6. In one of the keys, click Set Key, then select Zoom meeting as the Key Type.
7. (Optional) In the Alias (Optional) column, enter an alias that is displayed on the phone’s screen. By default, the meeting line key is labeled Zoom, but you can label it Zoom Meeting.

Joining a scheduled Zoom meeting and using your desk phone as the audio device

1. Join a meeting using the Zoom laptop or desktop app.
   The meeting line key (button) on your Yealink desk phone will turn solid red to indicate you can use companion mode.
   Note: By default, the meeting line key is labeled Zoom. You may have changed this while setting up companion mode.
2. Press the Zoom Meeting line key on your desk phone.
   • You will join the audio portion of the meeting using your desk phone. If you're already using your computer for audio, it will disconnect and use your desk phone for audio.
   • You can continue to use the Zoom desktop client for video and screen sharing.

Receiving a meeting invite and joining the meeting using your desk phone as the audio device.

1. Using the Zoom desktop client, click Join when you receive a meeting invite.
   An incoming call will also show on your desk phone, and the meeting line key will flash green.
   Note: By default, the meeting line key is labeled Zoom. You may have changed this while setting up companion mode.
2. When you receive the incoming call on your desk phone, press one of these options:
   • Zoom: Join the meeting using your desk phone for audio, and the desktop client for video / screen sharing.
   • Audio: Only join meeting audio using the desk phone.
   • Ignore: Decline the meeting invite.

     The meeting line key will turn solid red when you join the meeting.

Recommended meeting settings

To improve your experience, change these settings if you frequently use companion mode:

Waiting Room

In your web portal settings, disable Waiting Room in so that you don't have to manually admit participants to join the meeting. This is useful if you frequently join meeting audio using your desk phone without using the desktop client for video / screen sharing.

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.   https://link.mnsu.edu/zoomphone 
2. Click Settings.
3. In the Meeting tab, make sure to disable Waiting Room.

Video preview

In your desktop client settings, disable video preview. This will allow you to instantly join the meeting without showing the video preview window before you can join.

1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
2. Click your profile picture then click Settings.
3. In the Video tab, make sure to disable Always show video preview when joining meeting.
   Note: You can also disable this feature by unchecking Always show video preview when joining meeting in the video preview window when you join or start a meeting.

Computer audio

In your desktop client settings, enable the settings to automatically join audio by computer. This will allow you to join the meeting without showing the join audio window.

1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.    https://link.mnsu.edu/zoomphone 
2. Click your profile picture then click Settings.
3. In the Audio tab, make sure to enable Automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting.
   Note: You can also enable this feature by checking Automatically join audio by computer when joining a meeting in the join audio window when you join or start a meeting.