# Joining as a contact

This section details how to join a VR collaboration session on Windows when you have been invited as a contact by the host/administrator. This assumes you already have a SimLab account registered with the email address the invitation was sent to.

### Joining via In-App Notification (SimLab VR Viewer)

If you are signed into the SimLab VR Viewer, the application will provide real-time notifications about scheduled sessions you are invited to.

**Prerequisites:**

- SimLab VR Viewer is installed and running on your system.
- You are **Signed in** to the SimLab VR Viewer application (refer to Section 1.3).

**Action (In-App Join):**

1. **Notification Prompts:** The Viewer will display timed messages leading up to the scheduled start time:
    
    
    - *Example: At 4:45 PM for a 5:00 PM session, you will receive a notification stating you have **15 minutes** before the session starts.*
    - *A similar prompt will appear at the **5-minute** mark.*
2. **Host Initiates Session:** When the host/administrator clicks **Start Collaboration** within their SimLab VR Viewer, you will receive the final launch prompt in the Viewer.
    
    
    - **Message:** "\[Host Name\] has invited you to join a Collaborative VR Experience session."
3. **Click the 'Join' Button:** Click the **Join** button within the notification window to immediately launch and enter the collaborative VR session lobby.

[![Collaborationinvitation.png](https://simlab-soft.com/help/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/scaled-1680-/collaborationinvitation.png)](https://simlab-soft.com/help/uploads/images/gallery/2022-05/collaborationinvitation.png)

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### Joining via SimLab Dashboard (VR Collaboration Scheduling Page)

All scheduled collaboration invitations can be managed and joined directly from the SimLab Soft website.

**Action (Dashboard):**

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the SimLab Soft website.
2. **Log in** to your SimLab account.
3. Navigate to **SimLab Dashboard**.
4. Locate the **Invitation** tab or button.
5. **View List of Sessions:** A list will display all collaboration sessions you are invited to, including the Host's Name, Session Name, Date, and Time.
6. **Locate Active Session:** Sessions that are currently active or running will feature a **Join Session** button.
7. **Click 'Join Session':** Clicking this button will initiate the launch of the SimLab VR Viewer application on your Windows machine, and you will be connected to the collaborative session.

[![Join_Session.jpg](https://simlab-soft.com/help/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/join-session.jpg)](https://simlab-soft.com/help/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/join-session.jpg)

### Joining via Email Invitation Link

You can bypass the in-app experience and join directly using the link provided in the email invitation.

**Action (Email Link):**

1. **Open the invitation email** sent by the host/administrator. The email will contain the session details (Topic, Date, Time, VR Experience name) and a direct invitation link.
2. **Click the Invitation Link** inside the email. This will open a web page in your default browser.
3. **Web Page Validation:** The web page will display the session details and the countdown until the start time.
4. **Click 'Join Session' Button:**
    
    
    - **If you are currently logged in to the SimLab website:** Clicking **Join Session** will automatically launch the installed SimLab VR Viewer application on your Windows machine and place you into the collaboration lobby.
    - **If you are not logged in:** You will be prompted to enter your SimLab account credentials (email and password) before the Viewer application is launched.

[![JoinSession_Link.jpg](https://simlab-soft.com/help/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/joinsession-link.jpg)](https://simlab-soft.com/help/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/joinsession-link.jpg)