Co-host in video meetings: role, permissions and when to add one

What is a co-host in a video meeting?

A co-host is a participant the host has given meeting controls to, such as admitting people from the waiting room, muting participants and removing disruptive guests, so the host does not have to manage everything alone.

Co-host vs host

Meeting roles usually come in three levels: host, co-host and participant. The host owns the meeting; co-hosts share the moderation controls; participants can speak, chat and share within what the hosts allow.

Why add a co-host?

  • Someone can admit late arrivals while the host presents.
  • Disruptions are handled without stopping the meeting.
  • The meeting stays managed if the host’s connection drops.
  • Large meetings get a second pair of eyes on chat and raised hands.

How to run a meeting with a co-host

Agree beforehand who watches the waiting room, who answers chat and who takes questions. Typical co-host permissions include admitting and removing participants and muting them. Arkenso Meet lets hosts and co-hosts admit people from the waiting room, mute, remove, lock the meeting or end it for everyone.

Last reviewed 2026-11-01.

Related terms

  • Meeting waiting room — A waiting room in a video meeting holds people who open the meeting link in a separate lobby until a host lets them in, so nobody can walk into a meeting uninvited.
  • Meeting passcode — A meeting passcode is a short code someone must enter, as well as having the meeting link, before they can join a video meeting.
  • Local recording — Local recording saves a meeting recording to the computer of the person who records it, rather than to the meeting provider’s servers.

All glossary terms →