Start a webinar

You can start a webinar at anytime (or multiple times such as for practice), including before or after its scheduled start time (up to 30 days after the scheduled start date for one-time meetings which expire at that point). You can also start an instant session without prior scheduling.

Tip: Check out our recommended best practices for a smooth experience hosting your session!

GoTo

Start an instant session — Desktop app or web

Sign in to the GoTo web or desktop app.
From Webinars, select Start a standard event now.

Results: A new webinar will launch. Familiarize yourself with the available in-session features and invite others to join. Send your attendees the GoTo Webinar In-Session Attendee Guide for an optimal experience.

Start a scheduled session — Desktop app or web

Sign in to the GoTo web or desktop app.

Note: If you are using a Linux or Google Chrome device, you will need to use the web browser to host your session as those systems are not compatible with our desktop app. When using the web option, use a Google Chrome or Edge brower.
From Webinars > Upcoming, select the session you want to start.
Select Start this webinar.

Start a scheduled session — Mobile app

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

Start webinar or view session details on mobile app or iPad

Open the GoTo mobile app on your device.
Select Webinars.
From Upcoming, find the desired session and then select Start > Start session.

Tip: You can select the session to see more details including the participants (broken out by role), and any engagement tools created for the session (uploaded videos, surveys, polls, etc.). If needed, you can also view these details for previous sessions from the Webinars > Past tab.
When ready, select the Broadcast icon and then Start Broadcast to allow attendees in and officially begin your session.

What to do next: For a list of features available to you when hosting sessions on the mobile app, see Feature comparison by join method.

Classic

A few important things to note:

Your session is available to start up until the scheduled end time. At that point, the session can no longer be launched and will be available in the Past Webinars section in your dashboard. However, as long as it is started before the scheduled end time, the session can continue beyond the scheduled end time without any issues.
While you can schedule multiple overlapping sessions, you can only run one at a time. If you need to host multiple webinars that overlap in date and time, then you'll need to have your account admin add an additional organizer seat to your account, schedule the second webinar from that additional organizer's account, and then host it from a separate computer. If your account also includes GoToMeeting or GoToTraining, it is possible for you to host a meeting, a webinar, and a training at the same time as long as each session is run from a different computer or mobile device.
If you are already in a webinar and need to leave without ending it for everyone, you can promote any staff member or attendee in the webinar to be organizer so the session can continue on without you while you switch to the next webinar.
Linux and Google Chrome devices are not supported. Please check our system requirements to ensure you're using a compatible device to host your session.
If desired, you can practice a webinar beforehand with the other staff members.

Start a scheduled session — Desktop app

Sign in to your account at https://dashboard.gotowebinar.com.
From your dashboard, find the session you want to start.

Fastpath: You can also easily start a session from the desktop app (select My Webinars > Start) or by using the join link found in the confirmation email (select Join Webinar).

Troubleshooting: If you do not sign in to the dashboard to start your webinar, you may be prompted to re-authenticate for security purposes in order to perform certain tasks such as updating various materials mid-session or accessing recordings post-session. Should you run into any trouble while re-authenticating, please complete our Contact Us form. For a smoother, uninterrupted experience, we highly recommend you to switch to our new and enhanced GoTo experience for running your webinars, which eliminates the need for re-authentication, among other benefits.
Select the More icon next to the desired event, and then select Start.

Tip: If you are on the event details page, you can also start your session from here by selecting the Play icon.

Result: The GoTo Webinar desktop app will automatically launch you into session in pre-broadcast mode. You and other staff members will be able to speak amongst yourselves until you're ready to start the broadcast. No camera's or audio will be shared with attendees at this point, but they will see any shared screens while they wait in the hallway for the broadcast to begin.
When you are ready to start the broadcast for everyone, select Start broadcast from the webinar's control panel or dial *1 from your phone, depending on your audio selection.

Remember: Once a broadcast has been started, it cannot be paused or stopped. You can however pause screen sharing, the session recording, and/or webcams as needed.

Result: All attendees will now hear your audio and see any shared camera's in addition to the shared screen (if applicable).

What to do next: See Use the control panel to run your session to guide you through hosting a successful session.

Start a scheduled session — Mobile app

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

Open the GoTo mobile app on your device.
Select Webinars.
From Upcoming, find the desired session and then select Start > Start session.

Tip: You can select the session to see more details including the participants (broken out by role), and any engagement tools created for the session (uploaded videos, surveys, polls, etc.). If needed, you can also view these details for previous sessions from the Webinars > Past tab.
When ready, select the Broadcast icon and then Start Broadcast to allow attendees in and officially begin your session.

What to do next: For a list of features available to you when hosting sessions on the mobile app, see Feature comparison by join method.

Start an instant session — Desktop app

From the classic GoTo Webinar desktop app, select Webinar Now.
Result: A new session will be launched immediately in pre-broadcast mode. You and other staff members will be able to speak amongst yourselves until you're ready to start the broadcast. No camera's or audio will be shared with attendees at this point, but they will see any shared screens while they wait in the hallway for the broadcast to begin.
When you are ready to start the broadcast for everyone, select Start broadcast from the webinar's control panel or dial *1 from your phone, depending on your audio selection.

Remember: Once a broadcast has been started, it cannot be paused or stopped. You can however pause screen sharing, the session recording, and/or webcams as needed.

Result: All attendees will now hear your audio and see any shared camera's in addition to the shared screen (if applicable).

What to do next: Invite attendees to join your impromptu session.

Were you able to complete your task?

Start a webinar

GoTo

Start an instant session — Desktop app or web

Start a scheduled session — Desktop app or web

Start a scheduled session — Mobile app

Classic

Start a scheduled session — Desktop app

Start a scheduled session — Mobile app

Start an instant session — Desktop app

GoTo Connect

GoTo Meeting

GoTo Webinar

GoTo Training

join.me

Grasshopper

OpenVoice

GoTo Resolve

Rescue

GoToAssist

Pro

Central

GoToMyPC