The Zoom for Gmail add-on puts Zoom directly in the Gmail sidebar — start an instant meeting, schedule one for later, or view your upcoming meetings without switching tabs.
This guide covers deployment and setup. For the complete picture of all Zoom + Google integrations, see the Complete Guide to Zoom and Google Workspace.
Prerequisites
- Google Workspace (any edition)
- Google admin access (for org-wide deployment)
- Paid Zoom account (Pro or higher)
Step 1: Deploy the Add-on (Admin Install)
- Sign in to the Google Admin console.
- Go to Apps > Google Workspace Marketplace apps.
- Click Add app to domain install list.
- Search for Zoom for Gmail.
- Click Admin install.
- Select deployment scope:
- Entire domain — all users
- Specific OUs — targeted deployment
- Accept permissions and click Install.
The add-on appears in users’ Gmail sidebar within a few hours.
Alternative: User Self-Install
- Ensure the Zoom for Gmail add-on is on your Marketplace allowlist (Google Admin > Apps > Marketplace > Settings).
- Users open Gmail > click the + icon in the right sidebar > Get add-ons.
- Search for Zoom for Gmail > Install.
Step 2: First-Time User Setup
When a user first opens the Zoom panel in Gmail:
- Click the Zoom icon in the Gmail right sidebar.
- Click Sign in to Zoom.
- Authorize the connection (SSO users are redirected to their identity provider).
- The Zoom panel loads with meeting options.
This is a one-time authorization per user.
Using the Gmail Add-on
Start an Instant Meeting
- Open Gmail.
- Click the Zoom icon in the right sidebar.
- Click Start Meeting.
- A Zoom meeting starts immediately in a new tab.
- Copy the meeting link and paste it into your email reply.
Schedule a Meeting
- Click the Zoom icon in the sidebar.
- Click Schedule Meeting.
- Enter meeting topic, date, and time.
- Click Schedule.
- The meeting is created in Zoom. Copy the link into your email.
View Upcoming Meetings
The Zoom sidebar panel shows your upcoming scheduled meetings with one-click join buttons.
Deploy Both Add-ons
Most organizations deploy the Gmail and Calendar add-ons together:
| Add-on | Where It Works | Primary Use |
|---|---|---|
| Zoom for Google Workspace (Calendar) | Google Calendar | Schedule Zoom meetings in calendar events |
| Zoom for Gmail | Gmail sidebar | Start/schedule meetings from email context |
Deploy both from the Google Admin console for a complete experience. See How to set up the Zoom Google Calendar add-on for the Calendar add-on setup.
Common Issues
- Zoom icon not in Gmail sidebar — Deployment takes up to 24 hours. If deployed, the user may need to enable it: Gmail > right sidebar > click the + to see available add-ons > enable Zoom. Also check that the deployment scope includes the user’s OU.
- “Unable to authenticate” error — The user’s Zoom account may not exist or the OAuth token expired. Have the user sign out of the add-on and re-authorize. If using SSO, verify the user can sign into Zoom directly first.
- Add-on panel is blank or loading forever — Try disabling and re-enabling the add-on. Clear Gmail cache by doing a hard refresh (Ctrl+Shift+R). Check if a browser extension is blocking the add-on’s iframe.
- Meeting link not inserting into email draft — The Gmail add-on doesn’t auto-insert links into drafts in all versions. The user may need to manually copy the meeting link from the sidebar panel and paste it into the email body.