Attendee Guide for Standard Webinars

Select your experience

If you engage with us more than once, you will likely have a few different experiences based on the platform and webinar type that your host is using. Take a look at the following join images and select the corresponding guide for your particular experience today:


You're in the right place!	Use this guide.	Use this article.	Use this guide.

Prepare for your session

Don't waste your time and energy scrambling to join your important session last minute. For a seamless experience when it's go time, take a few minutes to register and prepare your setup ahead of time with these simple steps.

Required: Register for the desired session by selecting the registration link in your webinar invitation (from email, facebook, etc.) and completing the required fields (name, email, etc.).

Tip: Look for and select the hyperlink that starts with https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/ and ends with a unique registration code. If you registering from a mobile phone, you will need to copy the registration link and paste it into a browser tab to be able to complete it and join your session. Should you need the link again, you will need to reach out to the organizer directly.

Result: Upon successful registration, you'll receive a confirmation email with a custom join link. Depending on the organizer's setting, they may have to approve your registration before you receive the confirmation email.
If registering in advance (recommended), mark the time and date on your calendar. Be sure to account for any differences in time zones.
Have the confirmation email available as it contains quick links to add the session to your digital calendar, join your session, and other important information that you'll want to have handy, such as the 9-digit webinar ID and the name and email of the organizer should you need to reach out.
Make sure your method of choice meets our minimum system requirements for standard webinars. You can also run a quick system check to make sure everything is in working order.

Tip: Don't worry, you don't have to read all of the requirements! Just check out the top portion and then skip down to the platform you intend to use. Keep that article handy at go time just in case plans change.
If you plan on using headphones, make sure they work with your desired device and are charged (if applicable). Should you have multiple audio devices connected, you'll be able to select the right one when you actually join the session.

Join your session

Use the unique join link from your confirmation email to quickly join your session in the browser or download the desktop app. You can use the session ID provided in the confirmation email to join from the mobile app.

Join from a browser

Join your session from the browser for the simplest experience.

From the confirmation email, select Join Webinar or use the join link provided.
Select Join in this browser and then OK, I'm ready (if the session has started) or Join when meeting starts (if the organizer has not started the session yet).

Note: If you see Join with password, then the organizer has added a password to the webinar that you need to enter before you can join. Check the webinar invitation for the password or contact your organizer directly. We do not store that information for security purposes.

Result: If the presenter has shared their screen, you will see that while you wait for the broadcast to actually begin, but no audio or cameras will be available before the webinar broadcast officially starts. You will be put into listen-only mode, which means that once the broadcast starts, you will be able to hear the audio, but you will not be able to unmute yourself.

If the webinar is no longer available, it is likely because the session has been canceled (you should have received a cancelation email in this case). In either case, please contact the organizer directly to see about potentially rescheduled sessions. If you are having trouble with audio, see Resolve issues hearing/being heard. If you are having trouble with visuals, see Resolve issues with seeing the presentation.

What to do next: Learn how to engage in your session as an attendee.

Join from a computer

You can join your session, thus prompting the download of the desktop app, up to an hour before the scheduled start time for your session. We highly recommend doing this early in that hour window to avoid any potential delays at the start of your session.

Before you begin: Ensure that your device meets the minimum system requirements for a standard webinar.

From a supported computer, open your confirmation email, and then select Join Webinar.
Result: The GoTo Opener “helper” app will launch in your default browser and ask your permission to install itself and the GoTo Webinar desktop app. Follow the browser prompts as instructed to allow the download.
Troubleshooting: If you run into trouble downloading the desktop app, see the following resources:
- Why isn't the download working?
- I can't join my session
Once you successfully download the desktop software, you should be launched into the hallway (or preview window) of your session where you will remain until the presenter starts the broadcast.
Select Join when meeting starts (if the organizer has not started the session yet) or OK, I'm ready (if the session has already started).

Note: If you see Join with password, then the organizer has added a password to the webinar that you need to enter before you can join. Check the webinar invitation for the password or contact your organizer directly. We do not store that information for security purposes.

Join from your mobile device

Before you begin: Download the GoTo mobile app. If the app is already downloaded, make sure you're on the latest version.

Attention: If you view that download article, you will see information about downloading the GoTo desktop app as well as the GoTo mobile app. The GoTo desktop app is not the compatible with the platform your host chose for this session, but the mobile app is. Should you want to use a desktop app instead, please join using the steps in Join from a computer to prompt the download of the correct v10 desktop app. Again, it becomes available for download within an hour of the session's scheduled start time, it cannot be downloaded before that.

Open the GoTo mobile app.

Tip: You can also open the confirmation email from your mobile phone to join using the link on a mobile device. This will launch you into the GoTo app (or prompt you to download it if you haven't already).
Select Join a session.

Note: If you happen to be a GoTo customer with login credentials, you can sign in to the app, and then select Webinars > + > Join a session.
Enter the webinar or session ID found in your confirmation email (or any reminder emails), and then select Join.

Note: If you see Join with password, then the organizer has added a password to the webinar that you need to enter before you can join. Check the webinar invitation for the password or contact your organizer directly. We do not store that information for security purposes.

Messages you might see

Here are a few messages you might encounter and what they mean:

Webinar is no longer available — The session has been canceled (you should have received a cancelation email in this case). Please contact the organizer directly to see about potentially rescheduled sessions.
Webinar is full — The session already has the maximum number of attendees that are allowed. You will not be able to join the session unless one of the attendees who has already joined leaves the session. This is because each organizer's GoTo Webinar account has a subscription plan with a maximum number of attendees that they can have in any given webinar.
Webinar has ended — This session has already occurred. Please contact the organizer who invited you to see if they have a recording that you can watch or if there is an additional session that you can join.

Set up audio

Once the webinar launches after selecting Join, you'll be prompted to set up your audio in the preview window.

Select the audio mode you want to use:
- Computer audio uses your computer's mic and speakers.
- Phone call requires you to dial in from a phone. Use the provided phone number when prompted.
Select Continue.

Why don't I see the "Computer audio" and/or "Phone call" options?

If your screen doesn't look like the one shown above, it's possible that the organizer disabled one or both of GoTo Webinar's built-in audio options (for example, they might have made it a Computer audio-only webinar, with no phone numbers provided). They might even have provided custom audio information, in which case you should follow the instructions they provided in the Audio pane. Alternatively, if your computer doesn't meet the system requirements for the GoTo Webinar, then you were likely launched into session in your web browser. If you joined using this method, then you will be able to make your audio selection from the toolbar once the organizer starts the broadcast.

Why does my screen look different than the one shown?

If your computer doesn't meet the system requirements for the GoTo Webinar desktop app, then you were likely launched into session in your web browser. If you see the message "Waiting for <organizer name> to start the webinar", then you have successfully joined! You'll be able to make your audio selection from the toolbar once the organizer starts the broadcast, but be sure to select Allow when GoTo Webinar asks you for permission to use your mic and speakers.

Watch the webinar

Once you've finished setting up your audio, you're all set! Depending on whether or not the webinar has started yet, you'll see one of the following messages:

The meeting will begin when the organizer arrives — This means that the organizer has not yet started the broadcast. If the presenter has shared their screen, you will be able to see that, but you won't see any camera's or hear any audio until the broadcast has officially started.
Waiting to view <organizer>'s screen — This means the webinar has officially begun, but the organizer is not presenting any visual content. You should be able to hear the audio at this point.

That's it. Now sit back and enjoy the webinar! If desired, view Engage in a webinar (Classic) to learn what features and tools are available to you in-session, such as how to raise your hand, ask questions, access handouts, and more.