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Starting the Zoom desktop client

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While meetings can be started and scheduled from the Zoom web portal, you can also schedule and start meetings directly from the Zoom application. It is also important to access the Zoom application to set and utilize certain in-app settings/features, such as Virtual Background, audio/video settings, as well as other options.

Note: The Zoom Desktop Client and Mobile App have different features than the Zoom web portal. The Zoom web portal is primarily used for changing your meeting settings and Zoom Phone settings. You can also use the web portal to customize your profile.

Prerequisites for starting the Zoom desktop client

Opening Zoom

  1. Find the Finder icon in your Dock.
  2. Right-click on the icon, then click New Finder Window.
  3. In the new window, click Applications. Find zoom.us in your apps list and double click the icon to start the app.

Note: If Launchpad is on your dock, you can click that to access your applications list, and open Zoom from there.

Saving Zoom to your Dock

  1. Once the Zoom client is open
  2. Right-click on the Zoom icon in your Dock.
  3. Hover your mouse over Options, then click Keep in Dock. 

Windows

Note: On all versions of Windows, you can pin the Zoom desktop client to your taskbar, by right-clicking on Zoom desktop client, and then clicking Pin to Taskbar.

  1. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar.
  2. In your apps list, scroll until you get to the Zoom folder.
  3. Click on the Zoom folder.
  4. Double click on Start Zoom, to launch the application. 

  1. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar.
  2. Click the down arrow, in the bottom left corner, to access All Apps. 
  3. Scroll to the apps until you see Zoom, then click Start Zoom.

  1. Click the Windows icon in the taskbar.
  2. Click All Programs.
  3. In the programs list, click on the Zoom folder.
  4. Double click Start Zoom.

Android

  1. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to the top. Alternatively, tap on the All Apps iconApps menu, tap it.
  2. Tap Zoom.

iOS

  1. Go to the Home Screen.
  2. On the Home Screen tap Zoom.

Virtual Desktop Infrastructure

  • Using the VDI client is recommended for all virtual environments. This includes environments that use media extensions which Zoom does not currently support. Using the standard desktop client in a VDI environment is not supported or recommended. 

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