# Hosting/Attending a Meeting
## Starting Your Personal Meeting
To start your personal meeting simply press the "Start Meeting" button on the Meetings page or on the [Home Screen](/desktop-user-guide/home/home-page.md). This will enter you into the [Pre-Meeting](#pre-meeting-screen) screen.
## Joining a Meeting from History
You may join a Favorited Meeting or a Meeting from your Meeting History by selecting the appropriate meeting and clicking the Join Meeting button via the Meeting Detail section on the page.
## Entering the Video Meeting
### Pre-Meeting Screen
When an attendee enters a meeting, the first screen presented is the Pre-Meeting screen. The Pre-Meeting allows the user to properly set the audio and video inputs and ensure all functions are working before entering the meeting. Once it is determined all functions are properly working the user must simply click the "Join Meeting" button to enter the meeting room.
### Meeting Lobby/Password
The meeting host has the option to enable the meeting lobby and/or a meeting password to ensure an extra element of privacy. If the host has enabled the meeting lobby the attendee will be granted access to the meeting upon approval by the host.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Note:** If a meeting password exists the attendee may bypass waiting in the meeting lobby by entering the meeting password.
{% endhint %}
It is recommended that you set a meeting password each time you schedule a meeting. This ensures that your meeting is secure and only the participants that you want to join are able to join. You can set a meeting password via the Security Options menu. Meeting passwords are active for the current meeting only, and should be updated each time you schedule a new meeting.
The More Actions menu is detailed in-depth in our dedicated [More Actions guide page](/desktop-user-guide/video-meetings/in-meeting-more-actions-menu.md).
Once you have you have entered the room the meeting will start when at least one other participant joins. For details on in-meeting controls and options please view the [In-Meeting Controls & Options](/desktop-user-guide/video-meetings/in-meeting-controls-and-options.md) guide page.
### Waiting for the Meeting Host
Upon entry, if the host has not yet joined and opened the meeting room a message will be displayed communicating to attendees that the meeting will begin upon the host's arrival. Once the host or an authenticated member from the host's organization joins, the meeting will begin and all waiting participants will join. The host must authenticate and launch the meeting room for the meeting to begin, otherwise all participants (web & dial-in) will remain in a waiting state.
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