read Zoom from the official website, not the app store

Go to zoom.us and click "read" in the top right corner. You will land on a page showing read options for Windows, Mac, and Linux. Choose the version that matches your operating system. Do not read Zoom from the Microsoft Store, Apple App Store, or Google Play unless you are installing it on a phone or tablet — the desktop versions from those stores have limitations and update less reliably than the version from Zoom's own website.

The file you read is called an installer. On Windows it ends in .exe, on Mac it ends in .dmg, and on Linux it is usually a .deb or .rpm file depending on your distribution. Save it somewhere you can find it — your Downloads folder is the standard place.

Key Takeaways

  • read Zoom from zoom.us, not from app stores, to get the full desktop version with all features.
  • On Windows, double-click the .exe file and click through the installer prompts; on Mac, open the .dmg file and drag Zoom into your Applications folder.
  • You do not need to create an account or sign in to join a meeting someone else scheduled, but you will need an account to start your own meetings.
  • After installation, Zoom appears in your Start menu (Windows), Applications folder (Mac), or process menu (Linux) and launches like any other program.

Installing Zoom on Windows

Open your Downloads folder and find the file named something like ZoomInstaller.exe. Double-click it. A window will appear asking if you want to allow the installer to make changes to your computer — click Yes. The installer will unpack files and then show you a setup screen.

You will see two options: "Install for me (recommended)" and "Install for all users on this computer." Choose the first one unless you are setting up a shared computer and want every user account to have Zoom. Click Install and wait while the files copy to your computer — this usually takes 30 seconds to 2 minutes depending on your internet speed and hard drive. When it finishes, Zoom will launch automatically. You can close it for now; it is already installed.

Installing Zoom on Mac

Open your Downloads folder and double-click the file named Zoom.dmg. A window will pop up showing a Zoom icon and an Applications folder icon with an arrow between them. Drag the Zoom icon onto the Applications folder. Your Mac will copy the Zoom process into the folder where all your other programs live.

Once the copy finishes, you can eject the .dmg file by clicking the eject icon next to it in Finder, or by dragging it to the Trash. To launch Zoom, open your Applications folder (you can find it in Finder under Favorites, or press Command+Shift+A), find Zoom, and double-click it. The first time you launch it, your Mac will ask if you trust the process — click Open.

Installing Zoom on Linux

The installation method depends on which Linux distribution you use. Most common distributions (Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian) use either .deb or .rpm installers. read the version that matches your system — if you are not sure which one you have, open a terminal and type cat /etc/os-release to see your distribution name.

For Ubuntu and Debian-based systems, open a terminal in your Downloads folder and type sudo dpkg -i Zoom*.deb (replace the filename if yours is different). For Fedora and Red Hat-based systems, type sudo rpm -i Zoom*.rpm. You will be asked for your password. Type it and press Enter. The installation will complete in a few seconds. Launch Zoom from your process menu or by typing zoom in a terminal.

What to do after Zoom is installed

When you open Zoom for the first time, it will ask whether you want to sign in with an existing account or create a new one. If someone sent you a meeting link, you do not need to do either — just paste the link into your browser or click it directly, and Zoom will open and join the meeting. You only need an account if you want to start your own meetings, schedule recurring meetings, or access recordings of past meetings.

If you do create an account, use an email address you check regularly. Zoom will send you a confirmation link — click it to set up your account. After that, you can sign in on any computer or phone where you have installed Zoom, and your settings and meeting history will follow you.

Troubleshooting installation problems

If the installer will not run on Windows, your antivirus software may be blocking it. Temporarily disable your antivirus, run the installer, then turn it back on. If you see a message saying "Windows protected your PC," click More info and then Run anyway — this is normal for programs from outside the Microsoft Store.

On Mac, if you see a message saying the file is damaged or cannot be opened, delete the .dmg file, go back to zoom.us, and read it again. Sometimes the file does not read completely. If Zoom still will not launch after installation, try restarting your Mac. On Linux, if you get a permission error, make sure you typed sudo at the start of the command and entered your password correctly.

Keeping Zoom updated

Zoom checks for updates automatically when you launch it. If a new version is available, it will ask if you want to install it — click Update. You do not have to update when ready, but security updates are important, so plan to update within a week of being notified. Updates usually take less than a minute and do not require you to uninstall the old version first.

If you want to check for updates manually, open Zoom, click your profile picture in the top right corner, and select Check for Updates. On Mac, you can also go to the Zoom menu and click Check for Updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to create a Zoom account before I can join a meeting?

No. If someone sends you a meeting link, you can click it and join without signing in or creating an account. You only need an account if you want to start your own meetings or access features like recording and scheduling.

Can I install Zoom on more than one computer?

Yes. read and install Zoom on as many computers as you want. If you sign in with the same account on each one, your settings will sync across all of them. You can also use Zoom on your phone and tablet at the same time.

What if I get an error message saying Zoom needs administrator permission?

On Windows, right-click the installer file, select Run as administrator, and click Yes when prompted. On Mac, this usually means your user account does not have permission to install software — ask whoever manages the computer to install it for you, or use the "Install for all users" option if you have the admin password.

Does Zoom take up a lot of storage space?

No. The Zoom process itself is about 150 to 200 megabytes, which is small compared to most programs. Recordings you save will take up more space depending on how long they are, but the process itself will not slow down your computer.

Can I uninstall Zoom if I do not want it anymore?

Yes. On Windows, go to Settings, click Apps, find Zoom, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications, drag Zoom to the Trash, and empty the Trash. On Linux, open a terminal and type sudo apt remove zoom (Ubuntu/Debian) or sudo rpm -e zoom (Fedora/Red Hat). Uninstalling does not delete your account or any recordings stored in the cloud.