# Set Host Name Using Start\_URL **URL:** \ **Category:** API and Webhooks\ **Created:** [November 4, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139 "2020-11-04T19:22:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cedricgidget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@cedricgidget](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/cedricgidget)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2020, 7:22pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/1 "2020-11-04T19:22:55Z")
**Description** Hi, I have a business account and I am trying to set the hosts name with the start\_url. It seems like it is possible to do this by passing certain parameters into the start\_url according to [this thread](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/could-you-change-the-host-name-at-start-url-meeting/19121) and [this thread](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/could-you-change-the-host-name-at-start-url-meeting/5723/2), but I don’t understand how to do it. When trying the approach in [this thread](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/could-you-change-the-host-name-at-start-url-meeting/5723/2): [https://zoom.us/wc/](https://zoom.us/wc/){{ MEETING\_ID }}/join?un=Y3VzdG9tIG5hbWU=&prefer=1&zak={{ TOKEN\_FROM\_START\_URL }} I am asked to enter my name (which is great), but then I am asked to enter the meeting passcode (which I was hoping the zak token would take care of). Ideally, I am trying to find a way for hosts who click the start\_url to have their name set before they start the meeting, instead of having to rename themselves in the meeting. Thanks! **Which App Type (OAuth / Chatbot / JWT / Webhook)?** JWT **Which Endpoint/s?** [Create a meeting](https://marketplace.zoom.us/docs/api-reference/zoom-api/meetings/meetingcreate) ---
**Author:** ![tommy](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/devforum.zoom.us/tommy/32/72769_2.png) [@tommy](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/tommy)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/3 "2020-11-06T16:25:47Z")
Hey @cedricgidget, Have you tried using the [start\_url](https://marketplace.zoom.us/docs/api-reference/zoom-api/meetings/meetingcreate) for this? If clicked, it will start the meeting as the host with their name. 🙂 Thanks, Tommy ---
**Author:** ![cedricgidget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@cedricgidget](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/cedricgidget)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/4 "2020-11-06T17:41:35Z")
Hi Tommy, Thank you for the help. Sorry if I didn’t explain well, we have guest users that are not on the account owner using the start\_url to be a host. If they use the start\_url, it seems like the name of the account owner will show and not theirs (even if they have a Zoom account). While they can rename themselves after joining, I was wondering if it is possible to have their Zoom name display or somehow pass their name into the parameters to have their name display and not the name of the account owner. ---
**Author:** ![will.zoom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/devforum.zoom.us/will.zoom/32/14417_2.png) [@will.zoom](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/will.zoom)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 7:37pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/5 "2020-11-09T19:37:46Z")
Hi @cedricgidget, Thanks for clarifying. Since the start\_url is intended for a given host, this would be expected. However, have you considered adding these users who you wish to start the meeting as alternative hosts? If someone is marked as an alternative host and joins with the “join\_url”, they’ll be able to start the meeting this way. If you require registration, those join\_urls can be unique and reflect their name as well. Let me know if this is helpful, Will ---
**Author:** ![cedricgidget](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ac8455/32.png) [@cedricgidget](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/cedricgidget)\ **Post date:** [November 9, 2020, 8:40pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/6 "2020-11-09T20:40:42Z")
Hi Will, Thank you for this, I did look into Alternative hosts, but it seems like only a licensed user on the account can be designated as one. The hosts will be guest users (not part of our account), similar to what t[his user here is trying to achieve with coaches](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/change-the-host-name/23349/3). When searching around, it seems like there some potential options, such as [this thread](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/could-you-change-the-host-name-at-start-url-meeting/19121) and [this thread](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/could-you-change-the-host-name-at-start-url-meeting/5723/2), but I am not sure. The solution recommended for the the [coaches thread](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/change-the-host-name/23349), however, does not seem like it will solve my problem (even though it seems like a similar use case) as it seems like the host name would have to be permanently updated using the [Update User endpoint.](https://marketplace.zoom.us/docs/api-reference/zoom-api/users/userupdate). ---
**Author:** ![will.zoom](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/devforum.zoom.us/will.zoom/32/14417_2.png) [@will.zoom](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/will.zoom)\ **Post date:** [November 10, 2020, 9:52pm UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/7 "2020-11-10T21:52:59Z")
Hi @cedricgidget, That’s true—the alternative host will need to be under your account in order for that to work. For users who aren’t under your account, there’s not an out-of-the-box solution for designating the host name via the start URL. However, I can definitely appreciate the use case (as others have pointed out in those other threads as well). If you’re so inclined, you might consider posting this as a feature request as well (#feature-requests) ---
**Author:** ![system](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/uploads/zoomdeveloper/original/3X/6/1/614bdd549b610bbaa46ff934617683a02bdaa03c.png) [@system](https://devforum.zoom.us/u/system)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2020, 7:53am UTC](https://devforum.zoom.us/t/set-host-name-using-start-url/35139/8 "2020-12-11T07:53:07Z")
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