Zoom‘s meteoric rise as the video conferencing platform of choice has made it a vital communications tool for remote workers, students, families, and friends everywhere. With an estimated 300 million daily Zoom meeting participants as of 2021, it has become deeply ingrained into workflows and personal connections.
But with such wide ubiquity comes the downside risk of security vulnerabilities and software bugs that negatively impact experiences if not quickly patched. That‘s why keeping your Zoom desktop and mobile apps regularly updated is so important!
In this detailed guide, we’ll explore Zoom update best practices, walk through how to check your current version and install the latest releases across platforms. Let‘s get started!
Why You Absolutely Should Keep Zoom Updated
Before we dig into the update how-to, it‘s worth underscoring why consistently running the most recent Zoom client version matters:
Prevent Security Risks
Like all software, vulnerabilities are uncovered in Zoom which could be exploited if not addressed through updates. Out-of-date apps may leak data or expose you to phishing scams.
Fix Annoying Bugs
Updates squash pesky bugs that hamper performance. Ever run into Zoom freezing, unexpected quitting of calls, or display oddities? Updating likely resolves it.
Access New Features
Zoom continuously rolls out new capabilities in their platform like custom backgrounds, touch up appearance filters, emoji reactions, and enhanced recording options. Updates let you leverage these productive features.
Avoid Compatibility Issues
Zoom tweaks their architecture over time. If core infrastructure changes aren‘t reflected on your end via updates, older clients can suffer deprecated functionality or fail to work entirely.
Boost Stability & Speed
Optimization updates fine tune Zoom’s reliability and lower latency. Performance enhancements directly translate to smoother video and less lag for you!
Based on a 2022 survey of 300 IT professionals, roughly 70% cited security as the top driver for keeping apps updated, with software stability and bug fixes not far behind.
Simply put, staying on top of Zoom updates is a win-win! Now let‘s get your version checked and upgrades installed…
Step 1: How to Check Your Current Zoom Version
The update process begins by identifying your existing Zoom app version. This can be checked on:
Zoom Desktop App
Once logged into the Zoom desktop client, look in the top left corner next to the Zoom logo for the version number:
You can also click your profile picture, then Check for Updates to view the version and potential updates:
Zoom Mobile Apps
On Android or iOS mobile apps, tap the Settings icon and scroll down to see the version:
Now that you know how to find your current Zoom version, let‘s set you up with automatic update capabilities so you stay up-to-date with no effort required!
Step 2: Enable Automatic Zoom Updates
Rather than repeatedly checking and having to manually download updates, automate this process instead!
Here‘s how to configure Zoom desktop and mobile to auto-update in the background:
Automatic Zoom Desktop Updating
- Click your profile picture and select Settings
- Under the General tab, check the box for "Automatically keep Zoom up to date"
- Choose your preferred auto-update frequency:
- Update to all new releases – Instantly upgrades to every Zoom version
- Update to releases with critical security updates only – More conservative updates applied
And you‘re all set! Zoom will now handle updating itself automatically based on your chosen cadence.
Automatic Zoom Mobile Updating
The Zoom mobile app leverages the standard auto-update capability built into the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.
As long as you have "Auto-Update Apps" enabled on your device, the Zoom mobile app will automatically update whenever new versions are published without any action needed on your part.
Check your App/Play Store settings to confirm auto-updates are switched on.
Based on analytics data, over 65% of all mobile apps now support auto-updates given the clear benefits for security, stability, and feature access.
Now let’s run through manually checking and installing updates just in case you ever need to…
Step 3: Manually Updating Zoom Desktop
While automatic updates are generally recommended, you may choose to manually control exactly when Zoom gets upgraded on your Windows PC or Mac.
Here is the quick 4 step process to manually check and install the latest Zoom desktop update:
- Launch the Zoom desktop app and sign into your account
- Click your profile picture then select Check for Updates
- If a new update is available, click the prompt to Download & Install
- Wait for the update to fully install. Zoom may close/reopen.
Once fully updated, double check the new Zoom desktop version number displayed to confirm a successful upgrade!
Example Manual Update Screenshots
Click "Check for Updates" to view available updates
Initiate update installation when prompted
Through either the automated or manual process, you‘ll stay totally up-to-date with the latest Zoom desktop version features and fixes!
Now let‘s tackle updating….
