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This page provides Zello setup instructioins for Android phones. Instructions for iPhones are HERE.
ZELLO ICONS
The following icons are used throughout the Zello user interface. This legend explains each icon's meaning:
Search for the Zello app in the Google Play app store and tap INSTALL to download it and install directly onto your Android device. After download is complete, tap OPEN to open Zello and create your account.
After installing, the "Z" logo badge appears on your home screen. Tap the badge to launch Zello. You’re on your way enjoying live conversations!
You can use Zello to communicate with your friends who also have Zello installed on their Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, or Windows PC.
If this is your first time using Zello, follow these steps to create a new Zello account.
If you’ve created a Zello account on another device or platform, tap Sign in and follow the prompts to sign in.
If you need help with the password or username, do the following.
Now you're all set with your new password.
The Main Screen is Zello Central, where you can perform all routine tasks. Tap RECENTS to see missed messages and recent activity. Tap CONTACTS to add, delete, or manage contacts. Tap CHANNELS to add, delete, or manage channels.
The Zello Menu is identified by the icon at the upper right corner (3 vertical dots). By tapping on the Menu icon, you can change your Status, access more Options, Sign out, (not recommended; you might miss an important call), or Exit the app.
NOTE: If you stay signed in and simply close the Zello app, if you receive a call the app will automatically open.
Do this sound test to confirm others can hear you.
If you can’t hear anything, verify your microphone is on, speaker is on (lower left), and volume slider (lower right) is turned up to a comfortable volume. Run the test again until you hear yourself speaking.
If you want to make changes to your account profile information:
Update the following fields if needed:
When you’re done updating your profile, tap SAVE.
Now let’s fill up your Contacts list. Tap the CONTACTS tab, and then the Add Contact icon at lower right corner. The Add a contact screen displays. You should add every member of your Watch Group who has a cell phone.
You have three ways to add a contact:
If using the search field, enter a Zello username, email, or phone number into the search field and tap the Search icon (looking glass). If the user is not found, you can send an invite by email or text message. If the user has a Zello account, tap the username and Zello sends a connection request.
Until contacts approve your request, they will show as “Requesting authorization" in your Contacts list. As soon as your friends go online, they will see a notification of a Contact request with options to either Accept, Decline, or permanently Block your request. If they agree to accept your invite, their status will change to Available or Busy.
For additional User Account Tasks, go to the Zello User Guide on the Zello Website
You can use Zello to talk to your friends and family privately with group conversations as described previously, or join one of many public or private Zello channels. Channels are live talk forums created and moderated by other Zello users. There are tens of thousands of Zello channels to choose from. But if you can't find a channel you're interested in joining, just create your own!
You can add channels in two ways: You can add existing channels by searching by name, keywords, or by scanning the channel's QR code as described below:
You can search for channels by using keywords, topics, or a specific name:
The fastest way to add a channel is by scanning the QR code which looks similar to the image below. The channel QR code is located on the bottom left of the channel's profile picture.
Scan this QR Code for Zello Channel ![]() |
To scan a QR code and add a channel. Use this QR code for “All Pkb/WC Neighborhood Watch” which is the common channel for the entire Neighborhood Watch Co-op. All members should have this channel. Watch Captians should create a separate channel for their own Watch Group.
To talk in the channel, make sure you are connected (Power icon is blue) and then push and hold the big button until solid red to talk. As long as no one else is trying to talk, you can talk as long as you want. If other users are trying to talk, the talk time before interruption is set by the owner in the channel profile (1 second to 10 minutes).
When you’re connected to multiple channels, you’ll hear every conversation for all active channels, which can become rather confusing. You can set your Status to Solo (solid blue circle) to talk to a single contact, while silencing other contacts and channels. Missed messages from silenced contacts and channels can be replayed in History.
If you want to mute all channels and contacts, you should change your Status to Busy. However, if you only want specific channels to be muted, tap the Pull-down menu on the channel's talk screen and select the Mute channel option. All missed messages will be sent to the channel's History and can be replayed at a later time. “All Pkb/WC Neighborhood Watch” should never be muted as it will be used to send emergency notifications to all members.
You should create your own channel for your Watch Group. Once created, you become the “owner” of the channel. Contacts who join your channel are “subscribers”. The number of subscribers allowed per channel is unlimited, but there is a maximum of 3500 who can be online and active at any given time. Channels are permanent until deleted by the owner. For more information about Channels, see Channel Quick Start Guide.
Follow these steps to create your channel.
Happy with your channel settings? Tap Create to start inviting contacts to your channel. As the owner, you can edit your channel profile settings at any time.
On the channel talk screen, tap the Pull-down menu icon
Tap Invite friends, then select the the members of your Watch Group from either your Zello contacts list or Address book.
Tap INVITE to send a channel invitation to the contacts you’ve selected.
Another way to invite someone to a channel is to press and hold on a channel from the Channel list and tap Invite friends from the pop-up menu.
To share a link to the channel through other messaging apps, social media, email or gmail:
For additional functions and options, see the Zello User Guide.